Latest news with #ClalitHealthServices
Irish Examiner
20-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Weight loss injections may have an anti-cancer effect ‘beyond weight loss'
Weight loss injections may have a powerful anti-cancer effect, new research suggests. Experts already know that losing weight reduces the risk of cancer, but now they think weight-loss jabs may have a role beyond simply helping people shed pounds. This may be because weight loss jabs cut inflammation, researchers said, with newer drugs possibly having the biggest effect. However, one expert said much more research is needed. Weight loss jabs, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by reducing food cravings. Major names of GLP-1 receptor agonists, some of which are used to treat diabetes, include semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic), tirzepatide (Mounjaro), liraglutide (Saxenda) and exenatide (a drug which has now been discontinued). The new research, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, was presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga. This study adds to the growing evidence showing that weight loss alone cannot completely account for the metabolic, anti-cancer, and many other benefits that these medications provide It found that first generation GLP-1 receptor agonists such as liraglutide and exenatide may have anti-cancer benefits beyond weight loss. Researchers first of all discovered similar rates of obesity-related cancer among patients treated with the drugs and those given bariatric surgery. Co-lead author, Dr Yael Wolff Sagy from Clalit Health Services in Tel-Aviv, Israel, said they also found a 'direct effect' of GLP-1 receptor agonists beyond weight-loss 'to be 41% more effective at preventing obesity-related cancer'. She added: 'We do not yet fully understand how GLP-1s work, but this study adds to the growing evidence showing that weight loss alone cannot completely account for the metabolic, anti-cancer, and many other benefits that these medications provide.' Keeping a healthy weight reduces the risk of 13 different types of cancer, including breast, bowel, pancreatic, oesophageal and gallbladder cancer. The protective effects of GLP1-RAs against obesity-related cancers likely arise from multiple mechanisms, including reducing inflammation In the new study, researchers analysed electronic health record data for obese people and those with type 2 diabetes, all with no prior history of cancer, who were treated with first-generation GLP-1 receptor agonists. Over a typical follow-up of 7.5 years, 298 patients were diagnosed with obesity-related cancer, most commonly breast, bowel and womb cancer. The analysis found that obesity-related cancer occurred in 150 of 3,178 bariatric surgery patients and in 148 of 3,178 patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, despite the 'relative advantage' of bariatric surgery in weight reduction, which is already known to cut cancer risk. Further analysis suggested GLP drugs had a direct effect on reducing obesity-related cancer beyond weight-loss, with a 41% lower relative risk compared to bariatric surgery. Co-lead author, Professor Dror Dicker from Hasharon Hospital, Rabin Medical Centre in Israel, said: 'The protective effects of GLP1-RAs against obesity-related cancers likely arise from multiple mechanisms, including reducing inflammation. 'Our study is unique in that the long-term follow-up allowed us to compare the effects of GLP1-RAs and surgery with potential long latency periods of cancer. 'New generation, highly potent GLP1-RAs with higher efficacy in weight reduction may convey an even greater advantage in reducing the risk of obesity-related cancers, but future research is needed to make sure that these drugs do not increase the risk for non–obesity-related cancers.' Naveed Sattar, professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said larger trials with carefully matched groups of people were needed to test the theory. 'This study, whilst interesting, cannot confirm or refute any links of incretin-based therapies with cancer as the design was not a trial but rather observational, and there were quite marked differences between the groups in baseline characteristics that simply cannot be matched,' he said. 'It is better to wait to see further large outcome trials versus placebo to get closer to the truth.' He said larger trials 'are needed to understand links between such medicines and cancer risks, and several should report over the next five years.' Read More WeightWatchers files for bankruptcy after growth in weight-loss drugs
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Weight loss drugs could slash cancer risks by 41% compared to surgery, researchers claim
Blockbuster weight loss drugs may help people avoid obesity-related cancers, new research suggests. Obesity contributes to 13 types of cancer, and health experts are worried about the growing toll as obesity rates continue to rise globally. The new study, published in the Lancet journal eClinicalMedicine, suggests that weight loss drugs such as Saxena or Trulicity could help curb these risks. Researchers compared nearly 6,400 people with obesity and diabetes who either underwent bariatric surgery or took GLP-1 receptor agonists, which are weight loss drugs that work by mimicking a hormone in the body that makes people feel full for longer. In the years after their treatments, there were 5.76 obesity-related cancer cases per 1,000 person-years among patients who had bariatric surgery, compared with a rate of 5.64 among those who took GLP-1s. Related Experimental daily pill found to aid weight loss in what could be alternative to jabs like Ozempic Because surgery is more effective at lowering people's weight, the researchers concluded that weight-loss drugs could be even better at preventing obesity-related cancers – to the tune of 41 per cent, they said. 'Our study found a similar incidence of obesity-related cancer among patients treated with first-generation [GLP-1 drugs] and with bariatric surgery… despite the relative advantage of surgery in maximising weight loss,' Yael Wolff Sagy, a study author and a researcher at Clalit Health Services in Israel, said in a statement. 'But accounting for this advantage revealed the direct effect of GLP-1RAs beyond weight-loss to be 41 per cent more effective at preventing obesity-related cancer'. Notably, though, when the researchers took people's ability to manage their blood sugar levels into account, the medicines' edge over surgery dropped to 13 per cent. Related Global expert panel suggests overhauling how obesity is diagnosed, says BMI is not enough The benefit from the drugs could be because they help reduce inflammation, the researchers said, adding that newer medicines such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Zepbound could have an even greater effect. 'We do not yet fully understand how GLP-1s work, but this study adds to the growing evidence showing that weight loss alone cannot completely account for the metabolic, anti-cancer, and many other benefits that these medications provide,' Sagy said. The study is the latest to suggest drugs designed to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes could be used for much more than weight loss. Other research indicates they could help people with addiction, dementia, liver problems, and more. But the analysis has some limitations. Only 298 people were diagnosed with obesity-related cancers during the study period, for example, and it's not clear whether people sustained their initial weight loss over time. Larger studies with more patients could affect the statistical analysis that identified the 41 per cent risk reduction from medicines compared with surgery. Related France won't pay for weight loss drug Wegovy. What about other European countries? Independent experts also noted that the study was observational, meaning the authors reviewed existing data, rather than conducting a randomised control trial where some patients receive a drug and others get a placebo or dummy treatment in order to compare their outcomes. Randomised trials are considered the gold standard for medical research. 'Larger outcome trials are needed to understand links between such medicines and cancer risks, and several should report over the next five years,' Naveed Sattar, a professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow in the UK, said in a statement. 'It is better to wait to see further large outcome trials versus placebo to get closer to the truth'.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Weight-loss drugs' impact on cancer risk revealed in new study
Weight-loss medications and bariatric surgery have both been found effective at helping people shed excess pounds — and now a new study explores their link to obesity-related cancer (ORC) risk. Obesity is a known risk factor for certain types of cancers, and has also been shown to impact cancer survival. Obesity-related cancers include multiple myeloma, meningioma, adenocarcinoma of esophagus; stomach, colorectal, liver or bile duct, gallbladder, pancreas, uterus, ovary, renal-cell kidney, thyroid, and postmenopausal breast cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Semaglutide Found To Have Shocking Benefit For Liver Disease Patients In New Study Researchers at Clalit Health Services in Tel Aviv, Israel, conducted an observational study of the medical records of 6,356 participants aged 24 and older who had obesity and diabetes, with no history of obesity-related cancer. Between 2010 and 2018, half of the participants took GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) — injectable medications for obesity and type 2 diabetes — with at least six drug purchases within 12 months. The other half underwent bariatric metabolic surgery (BMS). Read On The Fox News App After adjusting for other factors, the researchers determined that ORC occurred in 5.62 cases per 1,000 person-years in those who had the surgery, and in 5.89 cases per 1,000 person-years among those who took GLP-1s. Overall, the study determined that "the direct effect of GLP1-RAs compared to BMS on the risk for ORC beyond their effects on weight-loss is estimated as 41% relative risk reduction." Here's Why Belly Fat Is More Common As We Age, And 3 Ways To Prevent It The findings were published in the journal eClinicalMedicine. "The results point at the existence of additional pathways beyond weight loss in which GLP-1RAs contribute to the decreased risk for obesity-related cancer," lead study author Yael Wolff Sagy, PhD, head of research at Clalit Health Services, told Fox News Digital. Niketa Patel, professor of molecular medicine with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida, noted that obesity is associated with chronic inflammation. "GLP1-RAs are shown to reduce inflammation and thus decrease the risk of developing ORC," she told Fox News Digital. (Patel was not involved in the study.) "Bottom line: Obesity can cause certain cancers, and treatment of obesity with GLP1-RA reduces the risk of only obesity-related cancers." Dr. Britta Reierson, MD, medical director of knownwell, a provider of metabolic health services, said there are several ways in which GLP-1 RAs could have cancer mitigation properties. "First, the anti-inflammatory properties of these medications address a known risk factor for various cancers," the Minnesota-based doctor, who also was not part of the research, told Fox News Digital. "Second, the metabolic regulation and improvement in metabolic health from these medications, including lowering blood glucose levels and decreasing insulin resistance, can reduce cancer risk." Emerging evidence also suggests that GLP-1 RAs may have direct anti-tumor effects, Reierson noted — "potentially through modulation of immune responses and epigenetic changes (changes that occur to gene expression and are passed down to future generations)." First Glp-1 Pill For Weight Loss, Diabetes Shows Success In Late-phase Trial Research suggests that GLP-1 medications help reduce inflammation not just through weight loss, but also in other organs of the body, such as the heart, according to Dr. Susan Savery, MD, a board-certified obesity medicine and primary care physician with PlushCare, a virtual health platform offering primary care, therapy and weight management services. "Over time, chronic inflammation can be a risk factor for cancer development, as it may damage cell DNA," San Francisco-based Savery, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "Our fat cells (adipose tissue) naturally produce inflammatory cells, and GLP-1 medications, similar to bariatric surgery, help reduce this inflammation by decreasing the amount of adipose tissue through weight loss." The study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged. "First, it is an observational study. It means that our comparison groups (persons who had surgery versus those who received GLP1-RAs) may still have some residual differences, despite our methodological efforts," Sagy told Fox News Digital. "However, only this type of real-life observational study can provide the long follow-up period that is necessary to evaluate the risk of developing cancer, which often has very long latency periods." Another limitation is that the primary drug included in the study was liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza), with smaller numbers of people taking exenatide (Byetta) and dulaglutide (Trulicity). "It will be important to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the newer GLP1-RA drugs, which are expected to have a larger effect," Sagy said. "Although the direction of the results is promising, we should wait and see if and how clinical guidelines will consider it." Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Reierson agreed that much more research is needed before GLP-1 RAs could ever be considered as cancer prevention options. "Larger, randomized, controlled trials are necessary to confirm the observed effects and better understand the underlying mechanisms," she said. "It will also be important to investigate the impact of GLP-1 RAs on different types of cancer and assess the long-term safety and potential side effects of using GLP-1 RAs as a cancer therapy." Savery agrees that it's likely too early to predict FDA approval for cancer therapy, but noted that "weight reduction plays an important role in cancer prevention, and GLP-1s seem to offer an additional benefit through inflammation reduction." For more Health articles, visit While GLP-1 RAs are "wonderful tools" that can support people on weight-loss journeys, Savery pointed out that maintaining a healthy lifestyle through nutritious eating and regular physical activity is "the foundation for cancer prevention and better overall health."Original article source: Weight-loss drugs' impact on cancer risk revealed in new study
Fox News
14-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Weight-loss drugs' impact on cancer risk revealed in new study
Weight-loss medications and bariatric surgery have both been found effective at helping people shed excess pounds — and now a new study explores their link to obesity-related cancer (ORC) risk. Obesity is a known risk factor for certain types of cancers, and has also been shown to impact cancer survival. Obesity-related cancers include multiple myeloma, meningioma, adenocarcinoma of esophagus; stomach, colorectal, liver or bile duct, gallbladder, pancreas, uterus, ovary, renal-cell kidney, thyroid, and postmenopausal breast cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researchers at Clalit Health Services in Tel Aviv, Israel, conducted an observational study of the medical records of 6,356 participants aged 24 and older who had obesity and diabetes, with no history of obesity-related cancer. Between 2010 and 2018, half of the participants took GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) — injectable medications for obesity and type 2 diabetes — with at least six drug purchases within 12 months. The other half underwent bariatric metabolic surgery (BMS). After adjusting for other factors, the researchers determined that ORC occurred in 5.62 cases per 1,000 person-years in those who had the surgery, and in 5.89 cases per 1,000 person-years among those who took GLP-1s. Overall, the study determined that "the direct effect of GLP1-RAs compared to BMS on the risk for ORC beyond their effects on weight-loss is estimated as 41% relative risk reduction." The findings were published in the journal eClinicalMedicine. "The results point at the existence of additional pathways beyond weight loss in which GLP-1RAs contribute to the decreased risk for obesity-related cancer," lead study author Yael Wolff Sagy, PhD, head of research at Clalit Health Services, told Fox News Digital. Niketa Patel, professor of molecular medicine with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida, noted that obesity is associated with chronic inflammation. "GLP1-RAs are shown to reduce inflammation and thus decrease the risk of developing ORC," she told Fox News Digital. (Patel was not involved in the study.) "The anti-inflammatory properties of these medications address a known risk factor for various cancers." "Bottom line: Obesity can cause certain cancers, and treatment of obesity with GLP1-RA reduces the risk of only obesity-related cancers." Dr. Britta Reierson, MD, medical director of knownwell, a provider of metabolic health services, said there are several ways in which GLP-1 RAs could have cancer mitigation properties. "First, the anti-inflammatory properties of these medications address a known risk factor for various cancers," the Minnesota-based doctor, who also was not part of the research, told Fox News Digital. "Second, the metabolic regulation and improvement in metabolic health from these medications, including lowering blood glucose levels and decreasing insulin resistance, can reduce cancer risk." Emerging evidence also suggests that GLP-1 RAs may have direct anti-tumor effects, Reierson noted — "potentially through modulation of immune responses and epigenetic changes (changes that occur to gene expression and are passed down to future generations)." Research suggests that GLP-1 medications help reduce inflammation not just through weight loss, but also in other organs of the body, such as the heart, according to Dr. Susan Savery, MD, a board-certified obesity medicine and primary care physician with PlushCare, a virtual health platform offering primary care, therapy and weight management services. "Over time, chronic inflammation can be a risk factor for cancer development, as it may damage cell DNA," San Francisco-based Savery, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "Our fat cells (adipose tissue) naturally produce inflammatory cells, and GLP-1 medications, similar to bariatric surgery, help reduce this inflammation by decreasing the amount of adipose tissue through weight loss." The study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged. "First, it is an observational study. It means that our comparison groups (persons who had surgery versus those who received GLP1-RAs) may still have some residual differences, despite our methodological efforts," Sagy told Fox News Digital. "However, only this type of real-life observational study can provide the long follow-up period that is necessary to evaluate the risk of developing cancer, which often has very long latency periods." Another limitation is that the primary drug included in the study was liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza), with smaller numbers of people taking exenatide (Byetta) and dulaglutide (Trulicity). "It will be important to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the newer GLP1-RA drugs, which are expected to have a larger effect," Sagy said. "Although the direction of the results is promising, we should wait and see if and how clinical guidelines will consider it." Reierson agreed that much more research is needed before GLP-1 RAs could ever be considered as cancer prevention options. "Larger, randomized, controlled trials are necessary to confirm the observed effects and better understand the underlying mechanisms," she said. "It will also be important to investigate the impact of GLP-1 RAs on different types of cancer and assess the long-term safety and potential side effects of using GLP-1 RAs as a cancer therapy." Savery agrees that it's likely too early to predict FDA approval for cancer therapy, but noted that "weight reduction plays an important role in cancer prevention, and GLP-1s seem to offer an additional benefit through inflammation reduction." While GLP-1 RAs are "wonderful tools" that can support people on weight-loss journeys, Savery pointed out that maintaining a healthy lifestyle through nutritious eating and regular physical activity is "the foundation for cancer prevention and better overall health."
Health Line
13-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
First-Generation GLP-1 Drugs May Help Lower Risk of Obesity-Related Cancers
First-generation GLP-1 weight-loss drugs could help reduce the risk of obesity-related cancers, new research shows. These medications have been around longer than the newer, better-known GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic, but they work in similar ways. Experts say a healthy lifestyle that includes a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep is an important component of any weight-loss strategy. A new study indicates that certain GLP-1 weight-loss drugs can help reduce the risk of obesity-related cancers. The study, conducted by researchers at Clalit Health Services in Israel, was published on May 11 in the journal eClinicalMedicine. The findings were presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity, May 11–14 in Malaga, Spain. In their study, the scientists reported that the direct effect of the GLP-1 drugs liraglutide, exenatide, and dulaglutide was 41% more effective at preventing obesity-related cancers beyond just weight loss. The researchers said they aren't certain why these types of GLP-1 drugs have anticancer properties, but they said the lower risk could come from mechanisms such as reducing inflammation in the body. Tulsi Sharma, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco's regional campus in Fresno, said this latest research bolsters the already-known benefits of these medications. Sharma wasn't involved in the study. 'GLP-1 agonists represent a major breakthrough in weight management and diabetes treatment, offering hope for those who have faced significant challenges in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight,' she told Healthline. 'They have been linked to reducing inflammation and supporting metabolic function, and this makes them more than just weight-loss aids; they are transformative tools for long-term health.' Anticancer benefits of GLP-1 drugs The Clalit Health Services researchers analyzed the health records of 6,356 people. The subjects were at least 24 years old with obesity and type 2 diabetes. None of them had a prior history of cancer. Just over 60% of the participants were female. The average age was 52, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 41.5, above the minimum threshold of 30 for obesity. Half of the subjects were treated with one of the GLP-1 drugs for at least 6 months, and the other half had bariatric surgery. The time period for these treatments was 2010 to 2018. The participants had a mean follow-up period of more than 7 years. In all, 298 participants were diagnosed with obesity-related cancer within the follow-up period. There were 150 cancer diagnoses in the group that had bariatric surgery and 148 in the group that took the GLP-1 drugs. The most common cancer diagnosis was postmenopausal breast cancer, followed by colorectal cancer and cancer of the uterus. The researchers said the similar results in both groups indicates that the anti-cancer benefits of these GLP-1 medications extends beyond the benefits of weight loss alone. The scientists acknowledged that their research is an observational study and future randomized trials and larger studies need to be conducted. Sun Kim, MD, an associate professor of medicine at Stanford University in California, said that she would have liked a third 'control' group added to the study who did not take GLP-1 drugs or had bariatric surgery. Kim wasn't involved in the new study. She also noted that 65% of the group who underwent surgery were using insulin, while only 9% of participants taking GLP-1 drugs were using insulin. 'This is a huge difference. Individuals with diabetes who require insulin can be a different group than those who do not require insulin,' Kim told Healthline. What to know about GLP-1 drugs Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) work by mimicking a hormone in the body that helps regulate blood sugar levels and promotes satiety. The medications studied in the new research are first-generation drugs that have been used as treatments longer than the newer, better-known medications, such as Ozempic. All of these medications are liquid solutions that are injected under the skin. Liraglutide is sold under the brand names Victoza and Saxenda. Victoza is approved for treating type 2 diabetes, while Saxenda can be prescribed for weight loss. A 2023 study reported that liraglutide may help improve brain function in people with obesity. Exenatide in its extended-release form is sold under the brand name Bydureon BCise. It is prescribed along with a healthy diet and regular exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. Dulaglutide is sold under the brand name Trulicity. It is prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes to help reduce blood sugar levels and lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. These older medications work in a similar fashion to the newer GLP-1 drugs, although studies have indicated the newer drugs may also benefit brain and heart health. One class of the newer GLP-1 medications uses the active ingredient semaglutide. They are sold under different brand names. Ozempic and Rybelsus have been approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is approved for use in weight management. Semaglutide drugs are available as both oral tablets and injections. The other newer group uses the active ingredient tirzepatide. Mounjaro is approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Zepbound is approved for use in weight management. These medications are available only as injections. Sharma said the reduction of inflammation is a key to all these medications. 'Excess body fat produces inflammatory molecules that can promote tumor growth, and these medications help regulate metabolic pathways, reducing systemic inflammation,' she said. 'They also improve insulin sensitivity, which can lower the risk of insulin-resistant conditions linked to cancer.' Health effects of obesity Obesity is a chronic health condition. Unhealthy eating patterns and a sedentary lifestyle may lead to obesity. Other factors like genetics, aging, lack of sleep, and stress may also play a role. The condition, which may progressively worsen over time, is associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Obesity could also lead to other health complications, such as: 'Obesity adversely affects every organ in the body,' Mir Ali, MD, a general surgeon and bariatric surgeon as well as the medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, told Healthline. Ali wasn't involved in the new study. 'Some of these effects are direct damage to organs, but other effects can be due to chronic inflammation or significant hormonal changes. Therefore, someone who is severely obese is greatly reducing their life expectancy.' Tracey Childs, MD, the chief of surgery at Providence Saint John's Health Center and adjunct associate professor of surgery at Saint John's Cancer Institute in California, said there are also the psychological and social aspects of obesity that can inhibit a person's desire to exercise or be in public settings. Childs was likewise not involved in the new research. 'It can be difficult to get out and around,' she told Healthline. How to safely and effectively lose weight Experts say a multi-faceted plan is the best approach to weight management. 'Many tools are available to help patients that have significant weight to lose, including, but not limited to weight loss medications and surgery,' Ali said. 'Patients who are significantly overweight have a very low long-term success rate with just dieting and exercise, and often require these tools to help them lose weight. I also advise patients that no matter what tool is used, they need to make healthier food and lifestyle choices to have long-term, sustainable results.' 'For those struggling with weight management, it's important to approach the journey with patience and self-compassion,' added Sharma. 'Start by focusing on sustainable lifestyle changes — prioritizing whole, nutrient-rich foods, regular movement, and healthy sleep habits.' Childs noted that GLP-1 drugs can sometimes make weight loss seem relatively easy and lead to weight regain after a person stops using these medications. Childs stresses to patients that they still need to adopt healthy lifestyles and partner with someone who will exercise with them or check in on them. 'Cooperation and accountability are important,' she said. Kim agreed that an overall focus on health is the best strategy for weight management. 'I think it is important for individuals struggling with obesity to have a comprehensive evaluation to understand the effects of excess weight on their health,' she said. 'I try to emphasize with my patient that we are working on improving their health versus fixation on weight loss.'
