GLP-1 and GIP analogues in the treatment of obesity

Obesity is a chronic disease and a significant public health problem. It is estimated that more than 650 million adults, 340 million adolescents, and 39 million children are obese. Obesity leads to organ complications including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases. The management of obesity is based on nutritional therapy combined with lifestyle changes and increased physical activity. Pharmacotherapy is also crucial, and incretin analogues are a relatively new group of drugs. Glucose-independent insulinotropic peptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 are natural incretins. These short half-life hormones are degraded by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4. Glucose-independent insulinotropic peptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists increase blood glucose-dependent insulin secretion while inhibiting glucagon secretion and delaying gastric emptying, thus enabling the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity. Glucagon-like peptide-1 also exhibits cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects. This study aimed to review the literature on the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues and verify reports on the use of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide for weight reduction. An analysis of the available literature on the efficacy and safety of liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide was conducted. The potential role of these drugs in weight reduction and possible adverse effects are discussed. Attention was also paid to the pharmacokinetics of the drugs and the mechanism of incretin action in the body.