Fat jabs like Ozempic could ‘CURE' binge drinking ‘slashing boozing by two thirds'
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FAT jabs like Mounjaro and Wegovy could slash boozing by two-thirds, a study has shown.
It's not the first time the weight loss medication has shown promise for helping those with poor drinking habits curb their cravings.
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You may be less interested in drinking wine if you start using weight loss jabs
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The class of GLP-1 medications mimic the action of the natural GLP-1 hormone, which plays a key role in regulating blood sugar levels, appetite, and digestion.
They were initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes but have become a breakthrough in obesity treatment, too.
Now, anecdotally, people have reported that their desire to drink is slashed once they start GLP-1.
The study was led by Professor Carel le Roux, of University College Dublin and presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025).
Professor Le Roux said: '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.'
The team looked at data on the alcohol intake of patients who were being treated for obesity at a clinic in Dublin.
It involved 262 adults with a BMI of over 27 with an average weight of 15st 6lb/98kg, and average age of 46 years.
They were prescribed either semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or liraglutide (Saxenda) for weight loss. Mounjaro is the brand name for another medication, tirzepatide.
Thirty-one patients did not drink, 52 rarely drank, and 179 were regular drinkers, based on self reporting.
How to save calories when drinking alcohol
Some 188 of the 262 patients were followed-up for an average of four months. None of them had increased their alcohol intake.
Average alcohol intake decreased from 11.3 units per week to 4.3 units per week after four months of treatment with the GLP-1 meds.
That's the equivalent of drinking almost four large glasses of wine to one and a bit. Or, about six or seven pints of beer to roughly two.
Even more so, among the regular drinkers, intake decreased from 23.2 units per week to 7.8 units.
The reduction of 68 per cent is comparable to that achieved by nalmefene, a drug used to treat alcohol use disorder in Europe, notes Professor le Roux.
He adds: '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'.'
Alcohol use disorder is a relapsing condition that accounts for 2.6 million deaths a year – 4.7 per cent of all deaths globally.
Around one in 20 adults in England are deemed to be heavy drinkers – men who drink more than 50 units a week and women who drink more than 35 units.
Deaths from alcohol use at a record high. More than 8,200 people died because of alcohol in 2023 which is 42 per cent higher than in 2019.
Treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), therapies that aim to strengthen motivation to stop or reduce drinking and medication can be very successful in the short-term.
But 70 per cent of patients relapse within the first year, the study authors noted.
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The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommends semaglutide for adults who have at least one weight-related comorbidity and a body mass index (BMI) score of at least 35, or a BMI of at least 30 and meet criteria for referral to a specialist weight management service. A Lily spokesperson said: "Patients should only use Mounjaro (tirzepatide) when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional and prescriptions should be fulfilled and supplied only by registered pharmacies and providers. Any tirzepatide offered without a prescription or for purchase on social media or black market is unlawful. These products are either fake or being 'resold' by an individual who obtained them through illicit means. Both practices put patients at risk. "Counterfeit, fake, and other unsafe products that are sold in a manner that falsely represents their authenticity, origin, or effectiveness are dangerous. These black-market products are often made in unsanitary conditions, which is especially dangerous for sterile injectables, like tirzepatide. "They may contain the wrong ingredients, contain too much, too little, or no active ingredient at all, or contain other harmful ingredients. No one should ever risk putting them into their bodies. "Lilly has taken steps to help address the risks posed by the proliferation of counterfeit, fake, and unsafe products across the world, including working with regulators and law enforcement, and identifying and removing fraudulent or unsafe content online and on social media — and we will continue to pursue all available avenues to combat fake and black-market medicines. "But our efforts alone are not enough. We applaud the MHRA's warnings on the risks of unsafe fake weight loss pens and the risks of buying medicines online without a prescription, and we welcome their continued partnership in the fight against counterfeit and illegal medicines. "We call upon regulators and law enforcement across the globe to take action against those who threaten the health and wellbeing of patients by selling fake or unsafe medicines." 9 9
