Weight loss jabs could help cut alcohol consumption, study suggests
It is thought the drugs help curb cravings for alcohol, experts said, although more research is needed.
Weight loss jabs, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by reducing food cravings.
The study, led by academics in Ireland and Saudi Arabia, included 262 obese people who had been prescribed liraglutide or semaglutide, which are available under the brand names Saxenda and Wegovy respectively.
They were categorised based on the amount of alcohol they consumed each week prior to starting treatment.
The groups included non-drinkers, rare drinkers who had less than 10 units a week, and regular drinkers, who reported having 10 or more units each week.
Some 188 of the 262 patients were followed up for an average of four months.
Average alcohol consumption fell from 11.3 units a week – about six or seven pints of beer – to 4.3 units a week, or roughly two pints of beer, after four months on the drugs.
Among regular drinkers, intake decreased by 68%, from 23.2 units a week to 7.8 units a week.
Professor Carel le Roux, of University College Dublin, said: 'The exact mechanism of how GLP-1 analogues reduce alcohol intake is still being investigated but it is thought to involve curbing cravings for alcohol that arise in subcortical areas of the brain that are not under conscious control.
'Thus, patients report the effects are 'effortless'.'
The findings, which are being presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, suggest a 'potential therapeutic role' for weight loss jabs in people who are obese and regularly drink alcohol, researchers said.
However, they stressed larger trials are needed to validate the results.
Prof Le Roux added: 'GLP-1 analogues have been shown treat obesity and reduce the risk of multiple obesity-related complications.
'Now, the beneficial effects beyond obesity, such as on alcohol intake, are being actively studied, with some promising results.'
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
14 hours ago
- Reuters
Focus: To stay on weight-loss drugs, US patients cut doses and maybe vacations
Aug 13 (Reuters) - Doctors advise most patients on GLP-1 obesity drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound to stay on them to keep the weight off, but as more U.S. insurers restrict coverage people are trimming costs by stretching doses or forgoing expenditures like vacations to pay for the medication out of pocket. A half dozen doctors who spoke with Reuters said insurance coverage has tightened in 2025 as many employers drop it for the expensive GLP-1 drugs. While patients on these medications are counseled on proper diet and exercise, clinical trials show that people who stop taking these drugs are apt to regain weight, opens new tab. Novo Nordisk's ( opens new tab Wegovy and Eli Lilly's (LLY.N), opens new tab Zepbound are weekly injections with U.S. insurer list prices of more than $1,000 a month. For customers willing to pay cash, both drugmakers will ship directly for $499 a month if refills are purchased at fixed intervals. "A significant number of my patients now pay cash," said Dr. Nidhi Kansal, an obesity specialist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. "People find a way to scrounge up $6,000 a year, which sucks, because that's a vacation or two." More than a billion people worldwide are obese, according to the U.N. World Health Organization, which has said the GLP-1 drugs could help end the obesity pandemic. A tech industry job change for Yelena Kibasova, a 40-year-old who lives in the Minneapolis area, meant loss of coverage for her Zepbound prescription that helped her achieve and maintain a 150-pound (68-kg) weight loss. "My new company does not cover GLP-1s, so now I am in a kind of purgatory," Kibasova said. "I stopped doing my nails. I stopped doing my hair. Those things are not as important as me staying at a healthy weight." The doctors interviewed by Reuters said patients once leery about long-term obesity treatment are now more comfortable staying on a drug. The doctors said that conversations about temporary use happen only when a patient is trying to lose a certain amount of weight for issues such as fertility treatment or an organ transplant. These obesity specialists said they are hopeful that competition will help bring down prices as new weight-loss options emerge, including new oral drugs that may be available next year. Lilly last week announced trial results for its easier-to-manufacture pill, which was shown to cut patient weight by 12.4%, a few percentage points less than injected drugs. The company hopes to launch it in August 2026. Kenneth Custer, Lilly's head of cardiometabolic health, told Reuters the pill is being tested in several settings, including as a maintenance therapy. Custer declined to comment on how it might be priced. Dr. Anne Peters, an endocrinologist at Keck Medicine USC in Los Angeles, said it is important that patients who reach their weight-loss goal not stop a prescription "cold turkey," so the dose can be tapered down over several months. Peters said about a third of her patients are able to reduce their dose and maintain weight loss, while the rest need to stay on the medication. An analysis of U.S. pharmacy insurance claims found that nearly two-thirds of patients who started on Wegovy or Zepbound in 2024 were still on the medications a year later. Peters said she uses "every technique in the book" to secure insurance coverage for patients, but noted that a growing number of plans no longer pay for the treatments, and patients have to pay out-of-pocket. U.S. pharmacies supply self-injection pens pre-loaded with doses of Wegovy or Zepbound. Lilly's direct-to-consumer service also offers vials. "Some patients can stretch out the vials longer. Get 15 mg, and then give a 10 mg dose for instance," Dr. Peters said, noting that the drug's instructions advise that such an approach should not be taken. Doses of 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg are recommended for weight-loss maintenance. Patients also are turning to lower-cost compounded versions of the GLP-1 drugs, or are even mixing them at home with raw ingredients, both of which Peters and other doctors advise against due to safety concerns. Dr. Angela Fitch, former president of the Centennial, Colorado-based Obesity Medicine Association and chief medical officer at online primary care provider Knownwell, said nobody wants to be on a medication, but patients who respond to a GLP-1 drug "really don't want to go off of it when they recognize that it has such a value to them." Both Wegovy and Zepbound were first launched, under the brand names Ozempic and Mounjaro, as diabetes treatments. The class has been linked to a range of benefits, including improved heart health and less sleep apnea. Fitch said the most common reason for her patients to stop taking a GLP-1 drug is loss of insurance coverage. She said her experience is that about 10% of patients are able to reach a target weight and maintain it without further treatment. "We are in a dip where people are dropping coverage," Fitch said, adding that the direct-to-consumer options are an "upper-ish middle-class thing."
Reuters
15 hours ago
- Reuters
Lilly launches Mounjaro pen in India at $160 for starting dose, stepping up Novo rivalry
Aug 13 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab on Wednesday launched the easy-to-use injector pen of its blockbuster weight-loss drug Mounjaro for 14,000 rupees (nearly $160) for its starting dose of 2.5 mg in India, stepping up competition with Novo Nordisk ( opens new tab. Lilly said in June it received approval from India's drug regulator for its once-weekly Mounjaro Kwikpen, two days after Novo Nordisk launched Wegovy in multiple dose strengths in a similar pen device. Mounjaro Kwikpen is available in six dose strengths — 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg — with pricing calculated for a month's supply. The smallest two doses are priced at 14,000 and 17,500 rupees, respectively, and the 7.5 mg and 10 mg doses cost 22,000 rupees. The 12.5 mg and 15 mg doses cost 27,500 rupees, the company said. "If we look at how the highest doses of Mounjaro and Wegovy are priced, it appears (that) Mounjaro's pricing is attractive and competitive," said Vishal Manchanda from Systematix Institutional Equities. Wegovy's smallest doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg cost 17,345 rupees a month, and its highest doses of 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg cost 24,280 rupees and 26,015 rupees a month, respectively. Lilly began selling Mounjaro in India in late March for diabetes and obesity in 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials. Both drugs have seen strong demand since then, with sales in July doubling month-on-month. The drugs belong to a class of therapies known as GLP-1 receptor agonists that help control blood sugar and slow digestion, making people feel fuller for longer. ($1 = 87.6650 Indian rupees)
Medical News Today
a day ago
- Medical News Today
GLP-1 microdosing for weight loss: Experts weigh the pros and cons
Over the last few years, the popularity of taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss has greatly increased. More than half of Americans taking GLP-1s say it was difficult to afford. Online health platform Noom recently launched its Noom Microdose GLP-1Rx Program to reportedly address barriers to GLP-1s, including medication cost. Over the last few years, the popularity of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1) used for weight loss has greatly increased. Type 2 diabetes medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro are sometimes prescribed off label for weight loss, while Wegovy and Zepbound are approved for the treatment of obesity. Industry researchers estimate that while about 12% of United States citizens have used a GLP-1 medication for weight loss, 54% of adults who have taken GLP-1s say it was difficult to afford, and 53% say it was still too expensive even if they received insurance coverage for the medication. Medication cost is just one of the reasons why online health platform Noom recently launched its Noom Microdose GLP-1Rx Program, which, according to the company, also helps lower potential side effects and helps with creating sustainable behavior changes. Medical News Today spoke with five GLP-1 medical experts to find out what exactly is microdosing and how it is different from taking normal amounts of GLP-1 medications, as well as its safety and efficacy. What is microdosing? According to Maria Cecilia C. Asnis, MD, FACE, DABOM, director of The Center for Weight Management at Stamford Health and assistant clinical professor of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, GLP-1 microdosing is the new 'buzzy' term circulating in the conversation regarding these tools for weight management.'However, the concept of flexibility in dosing and personalization of medication management is not new in the clinical space,' Asnis explained to MNT. 'Every individual person has unique needs and goals — and the 'dose' they need to achieve and maintain those goals is also unique. In that same vein, the dose people respond to and tolerate without side effects is also individual.' Babak Orandi, MD, PhD, obesity medicine specialist and transplant surgeon at the NYU Langone Weight Management Program, and associate professor in the Departments of Surgery and Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said that for many doctors who prescribe this class of medications frequently, microdosing is something they have already been trying. 'When I counsel my patients, I tell them that the study sponsors have to escalate the dose monthly in clinical trials but that doesn't mean I have to practice medicine that way,' Orandi explained to MNT. 'Some patients are more responsive to lower doses than others and pushing them to a dose faster or higher than is necessary just leads to side effects.' Similarly, Kayley George, MS, RD, LD, a registered dietitian, and founder of the Ditch the Diet coaching program,told MNT that microdosing through Noom or any other platform is not necessarily different from what doctors prescribe with, for example, Ozempic — the active ingredient, semaglutide, is still the same. 'What Noom is offering, however, is a lower dose than the traditional FDA-approved dosing regimen,' George explained. 'The traditional Ozempic dosing starts at 0.25 mg [milligrams] once weekly and is escalated typically every four weeks. In contrast, Noom states that their dosing starts at 25% or less of the standard 0.25 mg dose and escalates at a personalized rate.'Is microdosing GLP-1s safe? While microdosing GLP-1 medications may provide a more personalized experience, there are still questions regarding the safety of this practice as there are currently no published studies on the process, and the microdoses may come from a compounding pharmacy. Jennifer Cheng, DO, chief of endocrinology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, told MNT that, right now, GLP-1 microdosing is an experimental means that is not well studied currently, there is no reliable information on the safety and side effects of microdosing GLP-1, and there are no guidelines on how microdosing should occur.'Safety is unknown; [it remains] unknown if [this approach] is good or bad,' Cheng continued. 'It still may trigger the side effects of GLP-1. Giving a smaller dose of Ozempic or any other GLP-1 can still produce these side effects such as nausea, vomiting, muscle loss, upset stomach, headaches, and slowing of bowel movements potentially leading to ileus or obstruction.' George said that microdoses of the drug are only as safe as the pharmacy producing it:'To access these custom doses, Noom must use a specialized compounding pharmacy. 'Their website claims to work with a 'leading 503B FDA-inspected pharmacy to dispense compounded semaglutide medication.' They also highlight that the compounding pharmacies are U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)-compliant.' 'Although they've taken extensive measures to ensure safety, it's still important to understand that compounded medications are not FDA-approved,' she continued. 'This means the final product is not reviewed for safety or efficacy the way commercial drugs are. In addition, compounded medications are typically not covered by insurance.' How effective is GLP-1 microdosing? Mir Ali, MD, a board-certified general surgeon, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, told MNT that while it is usually not harmful to microdose GLP-1 medications, they may be less effective.'Though some patients may feel the effect of these medications at lower doses, most patients require a higher dose to see significant results,' Ali explained. 'It may be useful in patients who have achieved their goal weight and are using lower doses to maintain their weight.' However, 'early data and clinical experience suggest that it is an effective strategy,' Orandi commented. 'People with diabetes, particularly severe diabetes, tend to lose less weight with GLP-1s than people without diabetes, so microdosing is less likely to be as effective, though their dose should only be increased as they tolerate it.' George said that in her professional opinion, microdosing is a potential option for patients with smaller amounts of weight to lose or as a bridge to start, or wean off, regular GLP-1 medications.'It may also be used as a maintenance dose after significant weight loss has already been achieved,' she added. 'I would not recommend microdosing GLP-1s for individuals with significant amounts of weight to lose or known metabolic dysregulation.' Is GLP-1 microdosing right for me? The bottom line is that there are still questions regarding the effectiveness and safety of microdosing GLP-1 medications, and this type of regimen is not for everyone. 'I would like people to know that microdosing is not the normal way these medications are used, though it may be feasible in those who have achieved the desired results or have much less weight to lose,' Ali to George:'Microdosing is a big trend in the weight management space but still not FDA-approved. Noom hit the nail on the head — patients need access to more affordable versions of GLP-1 medications with more tolerable side effects. As more generic, low-cost versions of Ozempic become available and medication innovations improve, I believe we'll see more solutions rolled out in the near future. Compounded microdosing is a good interim solution, but patients considering this option need to be very cautious on where the medication is sourced.'Experts also stressed the importance of having medical oversight while using GLP-1 medications. 'It is essential that people be medically evaluated and followed on these medications in the long term — not just when they are paying to subscribe to a program,' Asnis said. 'In the end, if we can increase access to these tools while maintaining oversight, and put patient outcomes over profits, that is what will ultimately move the needle on the proverbial scale in the pandemic of excess weight.' And Cheng noted that: 'It is better to use FDA approved treatments rather than experimental and unproven treatments.'Moreover, 'it is important to speak with your healthcare professional regarding the use of GLP-1 or microdosing,' he emphasized. 'There are risks, benefits and possible side effects to medications and, if discussed, they can help you navigate through the possible effects.' Finally, Orandi offered strategies to help minimize side effects that people should follow when taking GLP-1 medications in general. 'Eat slowly,' he advised. 'Avoid heavy, fatty foods, particularly in the first 24–48 hours of the injection. [And] don't force yourself to eat when you're not hungry.'
