A new Chinese-developed GLP-1 weight loss drug could prove a new competitor to blockbuster drugs Ozempic/Wegovy and Zepbound, clinical trial results show. Ecnoglutide helped people lose between 9% to 13% of their body weight on average after 40 weeks of treatment, according to phase 3 trial findings published June 21 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. That average weight loss rose to more than 15% by week 48 on the heaviest dose of ecnoglutide, researchers reported in updated trial results presented Saturday at the American Diabetes Association’s annual meeting in Chicago. Overall, nearly 93% of trial participants lost 5% or more of their body weight, nearly seven times the weight loss achieved by a control group given a placebo, researchers said. Those results outperformed the Chinese clinical trials of semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound), which helped 85% to 88% of participants lose 5% of more of their weight, researchers noted in their paper. Participants “continued to have weight loss at week 48 without reaching a plateau, indicating that even greater weight loss might be achievable with extended ecnoglutide treatment,” lead researcher Dr. Linong Ji of the Peking University People’s Hospital in Beijing said in a news release. “Considering the high potency of ecnoglutide, it might also serve as a viable option for individuals who do not achieve sufficient weight reduction with existing GLP-1 receptor agonists…  read on >  read on >

Want to lose weight and reverse type 2 diabetes? Trade your diet soda for a tall glass of water, a new small-scale study argues. Women were more likely to drop pounds and see their type 2 diabetes go into remission if they drank water rather than diet beverages, according to a study presented Sunday at a meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). “These findings challenge a common belief in the U.S. that diet drinks have no potential negative effects for managing weight and blood sugar,” lead researcher Dr. Hamid Farshchi, CEO of D2Type Health, said in a news release. About 1 in 5 Americans imbibe a diet drink on any given day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although they’re calorie-free, diet sodas might have other effects on the body, researchers said in background notes. A July 2023 study in the journal Diabetes Care found that people who consumed more artificial sweeteners were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. In that paper, researchers speculated that artificial sweeteners might disturb blood sugar and body fat metabolism, alter the gut bacteria that play a role in digestion, or cause increased hunger. For the new study, 81 women with type 2 diabetes and excess weight completed a six-month weight-loss program followed by one year on a weight maintenance program. Half the women…  read on >  read on >

Want to lose weight and reverse type 2 diabetes? Trade your diet soda for a tall glass of water, a new small-scale study argues. Women were more likely to drop pounds and see their type 2 diabetes go into remission if they drank water rather than diet beverages, according to a study presented Sunday at a meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). “These findings challenge a common belief in the U.S. that diet drinks have no potential negative effects for managing weight and blood sugar,” lead researcher Dr. Hamid Farshchi, CEO of D2Type Health, said in a news release. About 1 in 5 Americans imbibe a diet drink on any given day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although they’re calorie-free, diet sodas might have other effects on the body, researchers said in background notes. A July 2023 study in the journal Diabetes Care found that people who consumed more artificial sweeteners were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. In that paper, researchers speculated that artificial sweeteners might disturb blood sugar and body fat metabolism, alter the gut bacteria that play a role in digestion, or cause increased hunger. For the new study, 81 women with type 2 diabetes and excess weight completed a six-month weight-loss program followed by one year on a weight maintenance program. Half the women…  read on >  read on >

The first two years of a baby’s life are critical for brain development, and how the brain grows during that time may help predict future learning, behavior and health. That’s according to experts at Cedars-Sinai, who are working to better understand how brain connections and genetics influence a child’s development. “We want to use advanced imaging as a tool to detect deviations as early as possible so that we can hopefully bring them back to the normal trajectory,” said Wei Gao, director of Neuroimaging Research at Cedars-Sinai and a professor of biomedical sciences. Gao said a baby’s brain first develops areas that control movement and senses, followed closely by social and emotional skills. “The first year is where you need to pay very special attention to the social-emotional development of the baby,” Gao said in a news release. “You want to provide sensitive support to the baby so the baby can develop a secure attachment with you as a caregiver. That has long-term impacts to their later achievements and quality of life.” He and his team created one of the first detailed maps showing how parts of the brain connect during early childhood. In a new study, they are tracking more than 7,000 children from birth through age 10. By combining brain scans with information about each child’s environment and genetics, researchers hope to learn…  read on >  read on >

The first two years of a baby’s life are critical for brain development, and how the brain grows during that time may help predict future learning, behavior and health. That’s according to experts at Cedars-Sinai, who are working to better understand how brain connections and genetics influence a child’s development. “We want to use advanced imaging as a tool to detect deviations as early as possible so that we can hopefully bring them back to the normal trajectory,” said Wei Gao, director of Neuroimaging Research at Cedars-Sinai and a professor of biomedical sciences. Gao said a baby’s brain first develops areas that control movement and senses, followed closely by social and emotional skills. “The first year is where you need to pay very special attention to the social-emotional development of the baby,” Gao said in a news release. “You want to provide sensitive support to the baby so the baby can develop a secure attachment with you as a caregiver. That has long-term impacts to their later achievements and quality of life.” He and his team created one of the first detailed maps showing how parts of the brain connect during early childhood. In a new study, they are tracking more than 7,000 children from birth through age 10. By combining brain scans with information about each child’s environment and genetics, researchers hope to learn…  read on >  read on >