STUDY: Weight loss drugs and cancer

A NEW STUDY INTO THE WORLD OF WEIGHT LOSS

“THE WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS SCARE ME; I PREFER THE METHOD OF EATING RIGHT AND STAYING ACTIVE..” — DML

Weight-Loss Drugs May Lower Cancer Risk, Study Suggests

A new study highlights a potential link between weight-loss drugs and reduced risk of obesity-related cancers, offering hope for prevention strategies. Conducted by researchers at Clalit Health Services in Tel Aviv, Israel, the observational study analyzed medical records of 6,356 adults aged 24 and older with obesity and diabetes, none with prior obesity-related cancer. The findings, published in eClinicalMedicine, compare the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and bariatric surgery.

From 2010 to 2018, half the participants used GLP-1 RAs, such as liraglutide, for at least six purchases within a year, while the other half underwent bariatric surgery. Obesity is a known risk factor for cancers like breast, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic, per the CDC. The study found obesity-related cancers occurred at 5.89 cases per 1,000 person-years for GLP-1 RA users and 5.62 for surgery patients. Notably, GLP-1 RAs showed a 41% relative risk reduction for these cancers beyond weight loss alone.

Lead researcher Yael Wolff Sagy, PhD, emphasized that GLP-1 RAs may reduce cancer risk through pathways like inflammation reduction, not just weight loss. Dr. Britta Reierson, a metabolic health expert, noted the drugs’ anti-inflammatory properties and metabolic benefits, such as improved blood sugar control, could lower cancer risk. Emerging evidence also suggests GLP-1 RAs may have direct anti-tumor effects.

Dr. Susan Savery, a PlushCare physician, highlighted that chronic inflammation from fat cells can damage DNA, increasing cancer risk. GLP-1 RAs, like bariatric surgery, reduce this by decreasing adipose tissue. However, the study has limitations, including its observational nature and focus on older GLP-1 drugs. Newer, more potent drugs may yield stronger effects, but further research is needed.

Experts stress that while GLP-1 RAs are promising, a healthy lifestyle—nutritious diet and regular exercise—remains key to cancer prevention. The study’s findings are not yet sufficient for FDA approval of GLP-1 RAs as cancer therapy, but they underscore the drugs’ potential beyond weight management. As research continues, these medications could become a valuable tool in the fight against obesity-related cancers.

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