Obesity rates have increased substantially over the last three decades, and it is currently estimated that 500 million adults have obesity worldwide.
Obesity
Obesity leads to serious complications, such as heart failure, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and sarcopenia.
Implementing nutritional diets and exercise regimens are the first line of treatment but this approach suffers from poor patient compliance and metabolic readjustment resulting in eventual regaining of excess weight. The most effective drug therapies for weight loss are GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP peptides, but these drugs in many cases are associated with side effects such as bloating, nausea, and vomiting, leading to difficulties for sustained compliance and maintenance of the weight management efficacy. Therefore, obesity remains a global health crisis, and novel therapies that reduce fat mass and weight-related comorbidities, while preserving lean mass are urgently needed.