More than just weight loss: Diet drugs beneficial for 42 conditions
NEWS
More than just weight loss: slimming medication proves to be more widely applicable
New research shows that modern weight-loss medications, such as Ozempic , do much more than just lose weight. A large-scale American study, published in Nature Medicine , shows that these drugs reduce the risk of as many as four or two different conditions, ranging from heart and kidney problems to liver failure, pneumonia, and even psychosis.
The researchers analyzed health data from more than two million US veterans with type 2 diabetes . Of the participants, 200,000 were using GLP-1 medications (such as Ozempic), while the rest were taking other diabetes medications. After an average of four years, the researchers observed that the GLP-1 users not only lost significantly more weight but also developed fewer serious illnesses. For example, they had a 25% lower risk of pneumonia, a 24% lower risk of liver failure, and an 18% lower risk of schizophrenia . There was also evidence of brain protection, with a lower risk of Alzheimer's and addiction problems.
The benefits appear to be partly explained by the fact that weight loss reduces many disease risks. Anti-inflammatory effects and improvements in metabolic processes likely also play a role.
However, experts emphasize that there's a downside : users may experience nausea, gastrointestinal complaints, and an increased risk of kidney stones or headaches, among other things. It also remains important to be cautious when interpreting observational studies; further research is needed to determine how significant and sustainable the long-term health benefits are.
What this study particularly demonstrates is that weight-loss medication may be much more widely applicable than previously thought. It opens new doors for the treatment of a wide range of conditions, and possibly even for diseases like Alzheimer's in the future.
Based on reporting in de Volkskrant (Jan. 2025) and the original research in Nature Medicine (June 2024).