Peripheral targets in obesity treatment: a comprehensive update

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Diseases

Background:

• Obesity is a significant global health epidemic linked to metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
• Weight loss drugs are crucial for managing obesity but face scrutiny regarding efficacy, safety, and patient-specific risks and benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review peripheral anti-obesity agents and their molecular mechanisms.
• To discuss the current development and availability of these drugs.

Main Methods:

• Categorization of anti-obesity drugs based on their mechanisms of action.
• Review of molecules targeting energy absorption, energy expenditure, and fat tissue redistribution.
• Inclusion of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as a distinct category.

Main Results:

• Drugs limiting energy absorption include pancreatic lipase and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitors.
• Agents increasing energy expenditure or redistributing fat include angiogenesis inhibitors, beta-3 receptor agonists, sirtuin-1 activators, and diazoxide.
• Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists represent a third class of peripheral anti-obesity agents.

Conclusions:

• Peripheral anti-obesity drugs offer diverse strategies for weight management.
• Understanding their mechanisms and development status is crucial for clinical application.
• Further research is needed to optimize efficacy and safety across patient populations.