Experts are suggesting that weight loss injections should be further studied as potential agents for preventing cancer, following a recent study that showed a decreased risk of obesity-related cancers associated with the medication. Obesity is known to increase the risk of various cancers, including breast, bowel, pancreas, kidney, liver, and stomach cancers.
GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, which are commonly used for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, have shown broader health benefits beyond their primary purposes, according to research.
In a new study, researchers examined the use of GLP-1 drugs to determine if they were linked to a reduced risk of obesity-related cancers. The study involved over 161,000 obese patients without diabetes or prior obesity-related cancer diagnoses.
During the study, half of the participants received weight loss injections while the other half received advice on diet and exercise. The analysis, published in the Annals of Oncology, revealed a 41% reduced risk of being diagnosed with an obesity-related cancer among those who used GLP-1 drugs during the two-year follow-up period.
The study found that the risk reduction was not significant among black individuals. Dr. Aparna Kamat, the senior author of the study and director of the Division of Gynaecologic Oncology at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, stated that the use of GLP-1 drugs was associated with a lower incidence of cancers directly related to excess body weight.
Dr. Kamat highlighted that there was an overall 41% reduction in cancer risk, with even greater reductions observed in certain groups, such as men and those with gynaecologic cancers like endometrial cancer.
While the study showed a 50% reduction in obesity-related cancer risk among white patients, this reduction was not observed among black patients, possibly due to different factors like access to care and biological differences.
The study also compared different formulations of GLP-1 drugs and found that tirzepatide users experienced the greatest reduction in obesity-related cancers.
Dr. Kamat emphasized that while the findings suggest the potential of GLP-1 drugs in cancer prevention, further research is needed before considering cancer risk reduction as a primary reason for prescribing these medications.
Professor Pedro Ramirez, the second author of the study and chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Houston Methodist Hospital, pointed out that GLP-1 drugs may offer benefits beyond weight management and that additional long-term clinical trials are necessary to explore their potential in preventing cancer.
The study underscores the importance of understanding the broader health impact of GLP-1 drugs as their usage continues to rise globally, signaling a potential shift in the approach to obesity treatment and cancer prevention.
