"For healthcare providers, these findings suggest that anti-obesity medications may offer dual benefits," one doctor reports of the research.
You hoped that weekly injection would help get your health on track, and research shows many users are getting even more than they bargained for. According to new findings, taking weight loss drugs may curb the desire to consume alcohol in addition to reducing food intake.
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The weight-loss company-turned-lifestyle-business WeightWatchers will publish its new study on November 26 in a Journal of the American Medical Association. In the study abstract, a team of eight doctoral researchers stated that it hadn’t yet been widely investigated whether patients taking anti-obesity medications also decreased their alcohol use. Michelle Cardel, PhD, RD, chief nutrition officer at WeightWatchers and co-author of the study, tells: “This study was inspired by our WeightWatchers Clinic patients, as we heard that many weren’t craving alcohol anymore after taking GLP-1 medications.”
Employing a series of surveys, the researchers tracked changes in alcohol consumption among patients using the diabetes medication Metformin, Naltrexone, and various GLP-1 medications that include the active ingredients semaglutide (such as Ozempic), tirzepatide (such as Mounjaro and Zepbound), and liraglutide (like Saxenda). Participants’ average age was 43 years, and 86% were female. They reported at least weekly alcohol use at the start of the study.
Among the 14,053 participants, a noteworthy 45% reported a decrease in alcohol consumption after starting weight loss medication. This held true for all of the medication types the team analyzed, including GLP-1 medications.
One of the most remarkable takeaways, Dr. Cardel adds, was this: “We found that those who drank at heavier levels were more likely to reduce their consumption after starting the medications.” She explains that many of the participants realized they’d previously been drinking out of social obligation rather than out of genuine desire. This discovery, many found, made the decision to cut back easier.
Dr. Cardel also reveals, “We found that men were more likely to reduce alcohol consumption than women.”
Some participants went so far as reporting that they felt ill after drinking while on their course of medication.
Dr. Cardel says this unlocks a new understanding about the power of these medications to help people jumpstart healthier habits. “For healthcare providers, these findings suggest that [anti-obesity medications] may offer dual benefits, not only aiding in weight management but potentially reducing alcohol cravings and consumption,” she says. “This insight could inform treatment options, especially for those with higher alcohol use or at risk of alcohol use disorder.”
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Dr. Cardel adds that cutting back on alcohol can come with profound health benefits, including “better sleep, improved mental health, reduced risk of heart disease and cancer, better absorption of nutrients like vitamins B1 and B12, folic acid and zinc, and more,” she says.
At the end of the day—in our fast-paced times, sometimes just a little support can move the needle to help us live more consciously. Talk with your doctor before changing your medications, diet, or habits.
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