Fat jabs slash risk of silent killer which affects thousands of Brits a year by HALF, incredible study finds
Users had a lower danger than those who had slimming surgery — even if they did not lose as much weight, a study found.
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Fat jabs could become a super weapon in the fight against cancer
Credit: Getty
It suggests injections like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have anti-cancer effects on top of reducing the risk by burning fat.
Cancer experts now want to test tens of thousands of people in a crucial clinical trial..
They believe the effects on inflammation, hormones and chemicals in the blood might offer added protection on top of the benefits of weight loss.
Dr Matthew Harris, of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, said: 'Injectable weight loss medications give a genuinely promising possible option for cancer prevention in the future.'
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Experts believe their effects on inflammation, hormones and chemicals in the blood might add extra protection on top of the benefits of weight loss.
A study compared 3,200 patients who lost weight with GLP-1 injections with 3,200 who had surgery.
Follow-up tests showed the cancer rate in surgical patients compared with jab patients.
Study author Dr Yael Wolff Sagy, of Clalit Health Services in Israel, said: 'When we took into account the differences in weight reduction, we found the jabs were 41 per cent more effective at preventing cancer.
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'This indicates there is an additional mechanism beyond simple weight loss. We believe this effect may come from reducing inflammation.
'This is potentially very exciting news for patients at high risk of obesity-related cancer and possibly other cancers.'
Professor Mark Lawler, from Queen's University Belfast, was not part of the study but commented: 'We already know that bariatric surgery cuts obesity-related cancer risk by about a third and these data suggest that GLP-1s may cut that risk by nearly 50 per cent.
'This work could herald a whole new era of preventative cancer medicine.'
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Dr Harris and dozens of international researchers told the European Congress on Obesity that a trial pitting the jabs against cancer should be a priority.
It could involve comparing disease rates among tens of thousands of patients with and without the drugs over a number of years.
Obesity is the second most common cause of cancer in the UK, behind smoking, and around a third of Brits are severely overweight.
Dr Harris added: 'There is going to be a massive increase in obesity related cancers so if we're able to prevent them it could be a really significant public health intervention.'
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Experts hope the trial could be under way within three to five years.
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.'
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Julia Hartley-Brewer slams government plan for NHS to offer free 'fat jabs' to tackle obesity crisis
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