Obesity drugs may help people drink less alcohol: Study

A new study suggests that using weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy can lead to less alcohol consumption.

The study, published Wednesday by JAMA Psychiatry, looked into 48 people the medical journal described as "non–treatment-seeking" participants who suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD). Half of the participants were given semaglutide, the active ingredient in weight loss drugs, for nine weeks. The others received a placebo.

At the end of the research period, both groups were presented with their preferred alcoholic beverage but were given the option to refuse the drink for a minimum of 50 minutes in order to receive "monetary reinforcement." Following the pause, the participants were instructed to consume the beverage "at their preferred pace" over a two-hour span, per the study.

Researchers, after the experiment, found that those who took the low-dose semaglutide drank less alcohol than those with the placebo.

“Over 9 weeks of treatment, semaglutide led to reductions in some but not all measures of weekly consumption, significantly reduced weekly alcohol craving relative to placebo, and led to greater relative reductions in cigarettes per day in a subgroup of participants with current cigarette use,” the JAMA study reads.

Weight loss drums like Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound work by imitating a hormone called GLP-1, which stimulates insulin secretion and may also lower appetite. The drugs, originally approved for treatment of diabetes, have also been known to help tackle obesity.

Last year, another study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that semaglutide drugs “substantially decreased” alcohol-related hospitalization risk for a group of people in Sweden with AUD and Type 2 diabetes.

The drugs have also been known to lessen the risks of other medical issues, including potential death risk from COVID-19.

Topics

Less supervision, better results: Study shows AI models generalize more effectively on their own

Training LLMs and VLMs through reinforcement learning delivers better results than using hand-crafted examples.
VentureBeat - 7h
Could obesity drugs help with alcohol cravings? New study suggests potential

A new study suggests that medications that have transformed the treatment of obesity may also help people drink less alcohol
ABC News - 10h
Weight-loss jabs may help reduce alcohol intake, study finds

Semaglutide, active ingredient of Wegovy and Ozempic, found to reduce cravings and cut drinking by 40%. Weight-loss drugs could be used to help people reduce their intake of alcohol, researchers ...
The Guardian - 10h
Study finds rare vision issues in taking GLP-1 weight loss drugs

The cases are rare but concerning due to the number of people taking the medications.
The Hill - 14h
US aid freeze paralyzes NGOs working to help millions of internally displaced people in Somalia

In a desolate makeshift camp on the fringes of Somalia’s capital, tens of thousands of internally displaced people sit under the baking sun not sure if they can have access to food rations and ...
ABC News - 1d
New treatments are needed for alcohol addiction. Are drugs like Ozempic the answer?

There's growing evidence to suggest that GLP-1 drugs, which include Ozempic's semaglutide, may be useful for treating alcohol use disorder.
NBC News - 2d
Alcohol Makes Me Anxious. Is That Normal?

We asked experts if drinking can lead to a spike in anxiety — and what you can do about it.
The New York Times - 2d
Happiness Researchers Studied 50,000 People. Here’s the Surprising Thing They Learned

Need to schedule an important meeting or call? Timing is everything.
Inc. - 2d