Weight loss medications used for type 2 diabetes shown to have wide-ranging health benefits
A new report finds that injection treatments could offer decreased risk of additional health conditions – although there could be risks for other conditions.
Researchers have identified a series of additional health benefits linked to taking certain weight loss treatments.
People prescribed the popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs including Ozempic and Mounjaro could experience benefits such as increased cognitive and behavioural health, according to scientists at Washington University Medicine and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System.
The GLP-1 medications have been linked to decreased risk of dementia and addiction.
However, the report added that taking the treatment could lead to increased risk of kidney, pancreas and gastrointestinal problems.
In addition, users of the injection medications could also face increased risks for pancreatitis and kidney conditions, among other illnesses.
The report published in Nature Medicine explored how the demand for weight-loss medications sold under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy continues to surge, with a recent study reporting one in eight Americans has taken, or is currently using, the drugs to treat diabetes, heart disease or obesity.
Formally, these drugs are known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and include Mounjaro and Zepbound. Informally, media, patients and even some physicians have dubbed GLP-1 medications as “miracle drugs” because of the profound weight loss among users. While these health benefits are well established, information is limited on the drugs’ effects across the body’s organ systems.
Since 2023, semaglutide (Wegovy) was recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for managing overweight and obesity in some patients on the NHS.
The treatment was launched in the UK as an option for weight management in line with NICE guidance, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
The treatment could help people with pre-diabetes and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
For the latest study, researchers systematically evaluated health outcomes among more than 2 million people with type 2 diabetes taking the weight-loss drugs.
Study lead author Ziyad Al-Aly, MD – photo by Matt Miller
Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, a clinical epidemiologist and nephrologist who treats patients at the Washington University Medicine-affiliated John J. Cochran Veterans Hospital in St. Louis and the study senior author, said: “Given the drugs’ newness and skyrocketing popularity, it is important to systematically examine their effects on all body systems — leaving no stone unturned — to understand what they do and what they don’t do.
“Our approach has allowed us to build a comprehensive atlas mapping the associations of GLP-1RA spanning all organ systems. The study’s results provide insights into some known and previously unrecognised benefits and risks of GLP-1RA that may be useful to inform clinical care and guide research agendas.”
The drugs, taken once a week by injection, simulate naturally produced hormones that curb appetite and slow digestion, creating longer-lasting satiety. A healthy diet and exercise also assist with weight loss.
Patients included people of diverse ages, races and sexes and researchers found that people taking GLP-1RA drugs were associated with significant benefits to neurological and behavioural health, with reduced risks of seizures and addiction to substances such as alcohol, cannabis, stimulants and opioids. People taking the weight-loss drugs also experienced decreased risks of suicidal ideation, self-harm, bulimia and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
The findings also showed a decreased risk of neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Dr Al-Aly said: “Interestingly, GLP-1RA drugs act on receptors that are expressed in brain areas involved in impulse control, reward and addiction — potentially explaining their effectiveness in curbing appetite and addiction disorders. These drugs also reduce inflammation in the brain and result in weight loss; both these factors may improve brain health and explain the reduced risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”
Researchers said that while GLP-1RA drugs display effectiveness against a wide array of health problems, the magnitude of associated benefits is modest — about a 10 – 20% reduction for most outcomes.
Dr Al-Aly added: “However, the modest effect does not negate the potential value of these drugs, especially for conditions where few effective treatment options exist, for example, dementia. This may also imply that these drugs are most beneficial when used in conjunction with other interventions, such as lifestyle changes or other medications.”
The study also confirmed past research findings detailing the drugs’ potential to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular concerns.
“Our approach has allowed us to build a comprehensive atlas mapping the associations of GLP-1RA spanning all organ systems,” said the study’s senior author, Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, a clinical epidemiologist and nephrologist at WashU Medicine. “The study’s results provide insights into some known and previously unrecognized benefits and risks of GLP-1RA that may be useful to inform clinical care and guide research agendas.”
Dr Al-Aly emphasised that the study also highlighted potential downsides to the medications, including an increased risk of gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in rare cases paralysis of the stomach: “These have been well documented in the research and anecdotally. Our study confirmed such findings.”
Researchers also noted potential ways GLP-1RA drugs can negatively affect the pancreas and kidneys. While these adverse effects were uncommon, they could be very serious.
Researchers suggested that physicians must be vigilant for signs of pancreatitis and monitor kidney function among people taking GLP-1RA medications. Kidney problems can be present without symptoms until the condition is at an advanced stage with limited treatment options.
Dr Al-Aky concluded: “GLP-1RA drugs can have broad health benefits. However, they are not without risks. Our findings underscore the possibility for wider applications for these medications but also highlight important risks that should be carefully monitored in people taking these drugs.”
Read the report in Nature Medicine
Watch BBC Panorama special Weight Loss Jabs and the NHS
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