HEALTHY LIVING
their body weight, compared to a 3.2% decrease for those on the placebo. Participants taking the drug
experienced a reduction in their pain score of 41.7 points, while the placebo group’s pain only decreased by 27.5 points.
Weight Loss Drug May Ease Knee Pain
Researchers find yet another benefit to new obesity drugs. ::
BY CHARLOTTE LIBOV A
new study finds that semaglutide, the popular diabetes and weight loss drug sold as Ozempic and
Wegovy, may have another use to add to its growing list of benefits — pain relief from knee arthritis. Semaglutide, like tirzepatide
(Mounjaro, Zepbound), belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 medications. These drugs have become
blockbusters due to their weight loss effect. Wegovy was recently FDA- approved to treat cardiovascular disease as well, and Zepbound is the first drug approved by the FDA to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. New research finds that semaglutide could play an important role in offering relief from the disabling pain of knee osteoarthritis. Nearly one in five Americans older than 45 suffer from knee osteoarthritis.
Obese adults are more likely to develop the painful condition because weight puts extra stress on the knee joints. This can damage cartilage and
trigger inflammation, leading to pain and degeneration of the joint. In addition, fat cells in people who are obese produce chemicals that stimulate damaging inflammation in the knee joints. The only treatments for the pain of
knee arthritis are painkillers — which can damage organs with long-term use — and if the pain persists, knee replacement surgery.
STUDY RESULTS For the double-blind study, 407 overweight or obese men and women with knee osteoarthritis were divided into two groups. Both followed a reduced-calorie diet
and exercised, and half took a weekly dose of semaglutide, while the other half took a placebo. Study participants ranked their
pain from 0 to 100 on a self-report questionnaire, with the higher numbers indicating more pain. At 68 weeks, those taking semaglutide lost an average of 13.7% of
Participants taking semaglutide experienced a reduction in their pain score of 41.7 points, while the placebo group’s pain only decreased by 27.5 points.
86 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | MARCH 2025
WHAT IT MEANS While the study authors acknowledge that much of the improvement in knee pain probably came from weight loss, there is evidence the reduction in inflammation, known to be an effect of semaglutide, was responsible as well. But Tahir S. Chaudhri, M.D., an
orthopedic surgeon with HCA Florida in Sebring, Florida, pointed out several cautions.
Chaudhri, who was not involved
with the research, noted that the study was done by Novo Nordisk, the company that makes semaglutide, and involved a relatively small number of patients, so more research would be needed to establish it as a treatment for knee pain. Still, since many patients with knee osteoarthritis are overweight, the drug could play an important role in helping them slim down, he said. “A very small percentage of my
patients are able to lose weight on their own,” he noted. “Although GLP-1 drugs have great
potential to cure disorders such as osteoarthritis, achieving wider access is no easy feat,” said Kevin Huffman, a board-certified bariatric physician. “New uses generally need large-
scale clinical trials to get approved, and this can take years and cost millions of dollars.” But even if the drug is found to
be an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis, accessibility and affordability of GLP-1 drugs will continue to be a roadblock for many Americans. According to a recent Kaiser Family
Foundation poll, more than half of adults surveyed who have taken a GLP-1 drug said that despite having insurance, it was still difficult to afford them.
KNEE/MIHA CREATIVE/SHUTTERSTOCK / SEMAGLUTIDE/APROTT©ISTOCK
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