File photo
NEW DELHI: The new generation of weight-loss injections — already popular globally — is now showing strong results in Indian patients too. A fresh study from a Delhi hospital finds that more than 4 in 10 people lost at least 10% of their body weight, a level doctors say can significantly improve overall health.The research, conducted by doctors at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, led by endocrinologist Dr Ambrish Mithal and published in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, tracked 150 overweight and obese adults on these therapies in routine clinical practice.On average, patients lost about 8% of their body weight in six months — roughly 6 to 10 kilos for many. Nearly three-fourths lost at least 5%, considered the minimum for health benefits such as better sugar control and reduced heart risk. Experts said the findings are based on short-term follow-up of about six months. “This is not the final weight loss. With longer follow-up, especially at one year, the reduction is likely to be significantly greater,” said Dr Ambrish Mithal.But the results were not the same for everyone.People without diabetes responded far better, losing almost double the weight compared to those with diabetes. The study suggests this could be because of deeper metabolic changes and insulin resistance in diabetic patients. The type of drug also mattered. Patients on tirzepatide — a newer dual-action injection — saw greater and faster weight loss than those on semaglutide. Many reached the 10% mark within 9 to 10 months, though doctors caution that the process is gradual, not instant.The study also offers a reality check. Younger patients and those trying these drugs for the first time saw quicker results, while those who had used similar medications earlier lost weight more slowly.Side effects like nausea, bloating and constipation were common, especially in the early phase, but were manageable and did not force patients to stop treatment.Unlike clinical trials, which are tightly controlled, this study reflects what happens in everyday life — where people may miss doses, vary their diet or have other health conditions. Even then, the results held up, giving doctors confidence that these drugs work beyond ideal settings.With obesity and diabetes rising sharply in India, the findings mark a shift in how weight loss is being approached — from diet and exercise alone to medical support that can make a measurable difference.Experts said that the message is simple: these injections are not magic fixes, but when used consistently and alongside lifestyle changes, they can lead to steady, meaningful weight loss over time.
