Obesity has been gaining ground in France since the 1990s
According to a study by the League Against Obesity, more than 47% of French people declare themselves to be overweight, and 17% consider themselves obese. This prevalence has never stopped increasing since the 1990s, warns Inserm:
- In 1997, 8.5% of French people were obese;
- This proportion almost doubled (15%) in 2012;
- Today, 17% of French people say they are “obese”.
But it gets worse: the increase is even more marked among young people, since the number of those suffering from morbid obesity increased sevenfold between 1997 and 2020.
Obesity is a major public health scourge on a global scale. This pathology, defined by excess fat mass, affects a growing proportion of the population and is at the crossroads of serious pathologies such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and certain cancers.
The effectiveness of existing treatments, focused on changing lifestyle habits and on medicinal and surgical solutions, is regularly called into question, particularly because of recurrences and side effects.
Faced with this observation, medical research is moving towards therapeutic alternatives such as CBD and GLP-1 agonists.
CBD to regulate appetite and improve quality of life
Cannabidiol, better known by the acronym CBD, is a non-psychoactive compound extracted from hemp, particularly Cannabis L. Sativa and Cannabis Indica strains. Its popularity has skyrocketed since its legalization in France at the end of 2020, thanks to its numerous health benefits such as pain relief, calming (anti-stress) and... regulation appetite.
Preliminary studies suggest that CBD could contribute to weight loss weight in several ways, including reducing appetite, reducing chronic pain that can give rise to bulimic behaviors, and improving the quality and quantity of sleep.
CBD interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, and the latter oversees many physiological processes such as the regulation of metabolism, energy balance and appetite.
Some studies indicate that CBD may help reduce appetite, promote the transformation of white fats into brown fats, and speed up metabolism.
GLP-1 agonists, a promising avenue
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a class of drugs that target the action of the hormone incretin. These drugs are approved by the American FDA (but not by the ANSM in France) for the treatment of obesity.
GLP-1 agonists, such as high-dose semaglutide and liraglutide, have shown promising results in the management of obesity, with placebo-adjusted weight loss of 12% to 18% (see here).
These medications mimic the action of GLP-1, a natural hormone that regulates appetite and food intake. By activating GLP-1 receptors, they slow "gastric emptying", increase satiety and reduce appetite, which can lead to reduced food intake and weight loss. GLP-1 agonists also appear to improve several health markers, such as blood sugar and lipid profile. Ask your doctor for advice.
