First point. We are talking about a possible “social” and not health-related side effect. Which, moreover, may not be entirely negative, given that it is associated with the tendency to privilege healthier foods in the diet.
Second point. We are faced with one pilot studywhich does not allow definitive conclusions to be drawn. But it is possible that the spread of pharmacological treatments for obesity in the USA is associated, in some cases, with a potential curb food waste. With future impact on resources and greenhouse gas production.
The hypothesis is highlighted by original research conducted by Jamil Mansouri and Brian E. Roe, of Ohio University, published in Nutrients. The survey shows that one in four people, following treatment with these therapies, would tend to throw away a greater quantity of food compared to the period before the treatment. but for others, the change in eating habits would lead, over time, to effects also beneficial for the environment.
How the treatments work
Let’s say it. The effect on food consumption is not only expected but even sought after when drugs of this type are prescribed. And we must not forget that, compared to what happens in Italy, in the USA we can really talk about “Ozempic-mania”on the basis of the best-known commercial name (it is not the only one) of the semaglutide molecule. Suffice it to think in this sense that, according to observations made last spring, more than five out of a hundred Americans they said they take these drugs to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
In particular, the research analyzed the results of a population of approximately 500 adults being treated with obesity drugs. In almost 70% of cases the interviewees were hiring semaglutidewhile almost a quarter of participants were being treated with tirzepatide. The first drug is an agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor and in addition to its action on type 2 diabetes, it contributes to reducing calorie intake mainly by modifying hunger and satiety signals in specific regions of the nervous system. Tirzepatide is the first agent in a new class of drugs with a molecular structure designed to activate both the GLP-1 and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptors, the two predominant incretins in the intestine.
On the clinical front, those taking these treatments for at least a year showed a drop of around 20%. But, as mentioned, the study had no scientific objectives in terms of weight loss. The analysis was carried out with an online questionnaire that examined sociodemographic factors, personal characteristics and questions regarding changes in eating habits, weight and food waste since the start of taking the drugs. In particular, an answer was evaluated “since I started this therapy, I have discovered that I waste more food than I buy”. Overall result? One in four people said they having wasted more food since taking the drugscompared to 61% who disagreed with a potential increase in waste. On the other hand, the duration of treatment (i.e. the prolonged assumption of treatment) and the tendency to consume more fruit and vegetables appeared associated with less waste.
The tendency to choose and discard
In the USA, according to estimates by the National Academies, the problem of food waste is particularly important. On average, about a third of what is available would be lost, about half of which would be due to direct “elimination” by people.
Coming to the study, treatment with drugs of this type, after a year or more of therapy, was associated with less food waste compared to what was observed after just three months (or less) of treatment. It must also be said that somehow the effect on the tendency to throw away some foods does not appear generalized and is not based solely on the effects of the drug, but on a progressive (desirable) change in change choices at the table.
In particular, the results seem to show a greater tendency to “trash” foods that are no longer suitable for the diet. In fact, a tendency emerged among those interviewed to: prefer vegetables, proteins, fish and to choose lipids that are more suitable for health, progressively decrease in income from foods such as fried foods and sweets and other unhealthy foods. These in many cases have therefore been eliminated. The addition of vegetables diet, the most commonly wasted food group in the USA, appears linked to less waste of these more easily perishable foods.
Now, experts from overseas are aiming to also evaluate the economic impacts of these treatments, and not only on the economic front but also on the health side. food expenses. All this to also understand what the impact of changes in dining habits could be on energy costs, the use of natural resources and the impact on greenhouse gases.
The importance of the doctor-patient relationship
What matters, in any case, is to always avoid “do it yourself”. If on the economic and environmental front it is still too early to make predictions, in fact, it remains a reality, which arises from the relationship between doctor and patient. The latter must be informed to understand that they may gradually find themselves having to make a different “expense”, to reduce food waste and have an advantage on the economic front. It is essential that the treatment path followed is accompanied by a expert doctor who tries to improve their lifestyle in the meantime, and then maintain the weight they have achieved.
