Weight loss drugs protect against cancer

Not only is weight under control, but also your overall health. Preparations based on the hormone GLP-1, widely used for the treatment of diabetes and obesity, turned out to be more useful than previously thought. Scientists from Israel found: people taking such drugs, the risk of developing cancer associated with excess weight was significantly lower than even those who had undergone surgery to reduce body weight.

The discovery was presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Spain and published in the medical journal eClinicalMedicine. The focus is on first-wave drugs such as liraglutide and exenatide. Although surgery reduces body weight more drastically, GLP-1 was found to have a particular protective effect independent of weight loss.

To compare the effectiveness of the two methods, the researchers analyzed the medical records of more than six thousand people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. All participants had no history of cancer and had either been treated with GLP-1 drugs or had undergone bariatric surgery. The mean age was 52 years and BMI at baseline was over 41.

During a follow-up period of 7.5 years, 298 people were diagnosed with weight-related cancers. The most common was breast cancer in postmenopausal women, followed by bowel and uterine tumors. Interestingly, the frequency of such diagnoses was almost the same in patients in both groups, despite the fact that surgery provides more pronounced weight loss.

When the experts took into account the degree of weight loss in each participant, it turned out: the GLP-1 drugs themselves reduced the risk of cancer by 41% more effectively than surgery. This means that they have an additional defense mechanism not directly related to weight loss.

As experts suggest, it may be about the drugs’ ability to reduce inflammation in the body, one of the factors that contribute to the development of malignant tumors. A new generation of GLP-1 drugs with stronger effects could potentially offer even more benefits. But further confirmation and long-term follow-up are needed to rule out side effects, especially in other cancers.

The authors emphasize: these data are important not only for medical professionals, but also for a general audience. Drugs originally developed for sugar control and weight loss open new horizons for modern medicine. And patients have a chance not only to change their weight, but also to reduce the risk of serious diseases, including cancer.