The 'hungry gut' gene variant may indicate if Wegovy will work for weight loss

Researchers have identified a gene variant linked to obesity, termed the "hungry gut" gene, which may predict strong responses to the weight-loss drug Wegovy by Novo Nordisk. A study presented at the Digestive Disease Week in Washington showed that individuals with this genetic profile lost significantly more weight compared to those without it. This discovery could help tailor obesity treatments more effectively, especially considering Wegovy's high cost. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings across diverse populations.

Researchers identified a genetic profile associated with a condition they termed "hungry gut," where individuals feel full during a meal but become hungry again shortly because food exits the stomach unusually fast3. In a study involving 84 patients using Wegovy for obesity treatment, those with the "hungry gut" genetic variants exhibited significantly better responses to the drug3. Specifically, these patients lost 14.4% of their total body weight after nine months and 19.5% after a year, compared to those without these genes who lost 10.3% after nine months with no further loss by 12 months. This stark difference in weight loss outcomes between the two groups led researchers to conclude a 95% likelihood that patients with this genetic profile would strongly respond to Wegovy, demonstrating the potential of genetic markers to predict treatment effectiveness3.