People receiving weight-loss drug Wegovy sustained weight loss for up to four years, shedding an average of 10% of their body weight in that time, as per a new study. Wegrovy is a brand that markets semaglutide injections, that have gained widespread attention for their weight-loss effects. The study also found that Semaglutide injections boost an individual's heart health, even when weight loss doesn't take place.

The study, called SELECT, was published in journal Nature Medicine. "At four years, we see ongoing benefits of semaglutide," said Cheng-Han Chen, MD, interventional cardiologist from Cardiologist, who was not involved in the research. Besides the weight loss, it also lead to a loss in cardiovascular outcomes.

The research was conducted on 17000 adults, who had obesity but did not have diabetes. Overall, people who received once-weekly injections of semaglutide lost on average 10.2% of their body weight over the course of four years. All of the study participants continued to lose weight for about 65 weeks, a year and three months, and then their weight remained at a stable level.

Were There Any Side Effects?

What Did The Results Say?

Of the people on the highest dose of Wegovy, 68% lost at least 5% of their body weight. This compared to 21% of people on the placebo. Additionally, of the total people on Wegovy about 23% lost at least 15% of their body weight. For those in the placebo group, only 1.7% lost that much body weight.

Semaglutide Shows Heart Benefits Beyond Weight Loss

Researchers found that even individuals who did not experience significant weight reduction while on the drug saw a reduced risk of major heart events. Recent analysis of the SELECT trial data revealed that semaglutide significantly lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular-related deaths in adults with obesity or those who are overweight. Notably, the results of this study lead the US FDA to approve Novo Nordisk's Wegovy for reducing heart-related risks in this group.

What Is Semaglutide?

Are Their Any Side Effects Of Semaglutide?

Semaglutide, marketed under the brand name Wegovy, is primarily an antidiabetic medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes. It is also an anti-obesity drug used for long-term weight management. While it can be taken as a subcutaneous injection or orally, it has significant side effects. It primarily impacts your gastrointestinal tract and its side effects include constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and fatigue amongst others.

India has a physical inactivity problem that is contributing to a growing burden of joint and musculoskeletal disorders among its working-age population. Close to half of Indian adults were insufficiently active in 2022, according to a Lancet study, and among women, that figure climbed to 57%. Behind those numbers is a generation whose muscles have quietly stopped supporting their joints and whose weight has quietly started punishing them for it.

Why do Indians struggle with weak, ageing knees?

In an interview with Health and Me, Dr Deepak Gautam, Sr. Consultant Orthopaedic & Robotic Joint Replacement Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, explained how a patient's knees can start ageing faster than their actual biological age.

Young Indians broadly assume joint problems are inherited with age. Clinical practice keeps demonstrating that they are earned much earlier, through years of small daily choices that never feel consequential until they are. The best time to address this is before a patient ever needs to describe where it hurts.

The knee absorbs roughly four times a person's body weight with every step. Add excess weight over several years, and that force erodes cartilage far ahead of schedule. Obesity also drives systemic inflammation through the release of molecules from fat tissue, which attack joint cells independently of any mechanical load. Patients frequently describe their pain as having an insidious onset and, at times, being sudden. Clinically, joint degeneration develops gradually over many years before symptoms become apparent.

Read more: Feeling Weak In Your Knees? Here Are Tips To Maintain Them As You Age

What are the consequences of weak knees?

Muscle weakness makes that threshold arrive sooner. The quadriceps and core do the work of absorbing shock and stabilising the joint under load. Sedentary work strips that capacity away gradually, and screen time beyond three hours a day has been directly linked to weight gain and metabolic deterioration. For a large portion of India's urban workforce, three hours of daily screen exposure is where the morning starts.

None of this stays contained to the joints. Around one in five Indian adults is already managing several chronic conditions at once, and 45.4% of Indians with coronary heart disease remain physically inactive. Musculoskeletal decline and cardiovascular disease tend to share the same lifestyle roots and reinforce each other. Globally, inactivity rates are still climbing and are expected to reach 35% by 2030, up from 31% in 2022.

When should you take action?

Once cartilage degeneration starts, it is very difficult to reverse the process. We can, however, retard the progression of the disease or prevent it from occurring in the first place. That single fact should change how people think about when to seek help. By the time climbing stairs or a regular walk in the market or garden becomes painful, the window for conservative management has already narrowed.

Waiting for symptoms is the wrong strategy. People with sedentary work patterns, weight above the healthy range, or significant screen exposure should have their joint mobility, gait, and muscle strength assessed before pain enters the picture at all. Resistance training twice a week, clinician-guided weight management, and dietary changes that dial down chronic inflammation are not complicated prescriptions. They are what separates someone who stays mobile in their forties from someone who is discussing surgical options.

Many couples are battling infertility and are keen on opting for ARTs to conceive and fulfill the dream of parenthood. However, the country continues reeling under severe heatwave conditions. Currently, a large number of couples who are planning fertility treatments are becoming stressed regarding how heatwaves can impact IVF procedures and even the success rates. Patients frequently ask fertility consultants whether extreme outdoor heat can affect the IVF laboratory environment, embryos, sperm samples, or even egg quality. However, there is no need to panic, as labs are designed to function even under highly controlled conditions throughout the year, and it is possible for couples to conceive successfully.

In an interaction with Health and Me, Dr. Aswati Nair, Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Rajouri Garden, Delhi, spoke about how extreme temperatures can affect the IVF process and what the consequent impact is on the outcome.

Read more: Heatwaves And Toxic Air Create A Growing Health Crisis In Delhi

Does a heatwave affect the IVF lab?

Usually, all the IVF labs have Air Handling Units (AHUs), which maintain the internal condition of the lab throughout the year at the same condition and temperature, and all the parameters are maintained throughout the year with the help of this equipment and gadgets. So, the internal environment of the lab does not get affected by an external heatwave. Understand that the temperature-sensitive procedures that are carried out inside the IVF lab, such as handling eggs, sperm, and embryos, are performed in a controlled setting and are monitored constantly. Hence, external heatwaves do not directly impact the IVF lab environment or the development of embryos. But only from the patient's perspective; they need to be hydrated and careful when there is scorching heat outside.

Too much heat can lead to dehydration, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and stress, which can impact the patient’s health during fertility treatment. Women undergoing IVF cycles are put on hormonal medications, and staying hydrated is necessary for everyone. It is the need of the hour for the patients to take charge of their well-being right away!

Read more: Heatwave In India: Temperatures Continuously Rising; Stay Hydrated, Says PM Modi

Precautions to take

The precautions that patients can take are to stay well-hydrated and adhere to a balanced diet with lots of fruits and seasonal fruits like watermelon and muskmelon, which can improve hydration. They can have coconut and lemon water and avoid beverages, carbonated drinks, caffeine, and alcohol. They can follow these crucial tips to stay healthy during the heatwave. Patients should be sure to follow the guidelines given by the fertility consultant.

Even if the heatwaves can lead to discomfort, it doesn’t affect the functioning of modern IVF laboratories. By paying attention to various factors such as hydration, nutrition, and self-care, patients can safely continue their fertility journey even if there is extreme heat outside.

Mrs. Radha Sharma, 78, was brought to the hospital with sudden confusion, irritability, and restlessness. She had no fever, no pain, and no typical urinary complaints. Her family worried it could be dementia or a brain-related issue. However, a simple urine test revealed the real cause— a urinary tract infection (UTI). With timely treatment, fluids, and care, she recovered within a few days. This is a common but often overlooked reality—UTIs in older adults don’t always look like UTIs.

In another case, 72-year-old Mr. Pankaj Verma had repeated UTIs over a year. Each time, antibiotics provided temporary relief, but the infection kept returning. On further testing, doctors found an enlarged prostate that was preventing his bladder from emptying fully. Once this was treated, his infections reduced significantly.

These examples show an important pattern: in the elderly, UTIs are often missed, misunderstood, or keep recurring because the root cause is not addressed.

Why Are UTIs So Common In Older Adults?

As we age, the body goes through changes that make infections like UTIs more likely. In women, menopause leads to a drop in estrogen levels. This weakens the natural lining of the urinary tract, making it easier for bacteria to grow. Women also have a shorter urinary passage, so that bacteria can reach the bladder more easily.

In men, an enlarged prostate is a common issue. It can block the flow of urine, causing some urine to remain in the bladder. This leftover urine becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Other common reasons include weaker immunity, conditions like diabetes, urinary incontinence, use of catheters, reduced movement, and dependence on caregivers for hygiene.

Symptoms Are Not Always clear

Unlike younger people, elderly individuals may not complain of burning urine or urgency. Instead, the signs can be subtle and confusing, such as:

• Sudden confusion or unusual behavior
• Increased falls
• Weakness or tiredness
• Loss of appetite

These symptoms are often mistaken for ageing or dementia, which can delay treatment.

Men vs Women: What’s the Difference?

UTIs are more common in older women due to hormonal changes and bladder control issues. Many women also experience repeat infections. In men, UTIs are less common but usually more serious. They are often linked to problems like prostate enlargement or urinary blockage, which need proper evaluation. Chronic illnesses play a big role. Diabetes, for example, increases the risk because excess sugar in urine helps bacteria grow. Poor sugar control also weakens the body’s ability to fight infections.

Conditions that affect bladder control, such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease, can also lead to incomplete emptying of the bladder, increasing infection risk.

Diagnosis Needs Careful Attention

Not every bacterium found in urine needs treatment. Many older adults have bacteria in their urine without symptoms—a condition called asymptomatic bacteriuria. Treating this unnecessarily can lead to antibiotic resistance. Doctors usually rely on urine tests, cultures, symptoms, and medical history before deciding on treatment.

Treatment: More Than Just Antibiotics

While antibiotics are important, they are only one part of the solution. Repeated courses without finding the cause often lead to recurring infections.

Treatment should also focus on:

• Drinking enough fluids
• Managing diabetes or other health conditions
• Treating prostate problems in men
• Avoiding unnecessary catheter use
• Reviewing medications that may affect bladder function

Early treatment is crucial. Ignoring symptoms can allow the infection to spread to the kidneys, which can be serious. Recurrent UTIs are common in the elderly. This can happen due to:

• Incomplete treatment
• Underlying problems like prostate enlargement
• Ongoing issues, such as incontinence or catheter use
• Antibiotic resistance

Prevention: Simple But Effective Steps

Preventing UTIs doesn’t always require complex measures. Small daily habits can make a big difference:

• Encourage regular water intake
• Avoid holding urine for long periods
• Maintain proper personal hygiene
• Manage conditions like diabetes well
• Limit catheter use
• Consider probiotics or cranberry products (after medical advice).

Caregivers play a key role in ensuring these habits are followed, especially for elderly individuals who need assistance. Immediate medical attention is needed if there is:

• Fever or chills
• Sudden confusion
• Blood in urine
• Lower back pain

UTIs in the elderly are common but often not straightforward. They may present differently, recur frequently, and require more than just antibiotics. The key is early recognition, identifying the underlying cause, and taking simple preventive steps. With the right care, recurrent UTIs can be reduced—helping older adults live healthier, more comfortable lives.

(By Dr. Sunita Goyal, Senior Consultant – Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Ludhiana)