Moderate Drinkers Who Take Weight-Loss Drugs Report Drinking Less
Many people who take obesity medications, such as Wegovy or Mounjaro, report reducing their alcohol consumption, a new study finds. The study, which included over 14,000 WeightWatchers members, found that about half of them cut back on their drinking after starting the medication.
The study’s lead author, Lisa Matero, a health psychologist and researcher at Henry Ford Health, said that the main finding is that approximately 50% of patients who consumed alcohol at baseline reported decreased alcohol use after initiating their anti-obesity medication. Those who had the highest levels of drinking were about 19 times more likely to cut back, and those who lost more weight were also more likely to reduce their drinking.
The study found that the reductions in alcohol use held up among people taking the new generation obesity medications and older drugs, including metformin. “I think what surprised me was that there was a reduction of alcohol use across all different types of anti-obesity medications,” Matero said.
The study also suggests that being enrolled in a weight management program may encourage healthy behavior change, which could be part of the explanation for the findings. A growing body of evidence on GLP-1 drugs points to significant effects on behaviors, including reduced appetite and changed food preferences.
Dr. Robert Kushner, a GLP-1 researcher at Northwestern University, said that reductions in alcohol consumption fit with the known effects of GLP-1 drugs on the brain’s reward system. “The drugs circulate throughout the body, including the brain, to reduce appetite and diminish the reward of food,” he said.
The study’s findings have implications for the treatment of both obesity and addiction. Dr. Lorenzo Leggio, clinical director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said that the evidence is preliminary, but the drugs may be effective for treating alcohol addiction. He noted that there are randomized controlled trials underway to further investigate the potential benefits of these drugs.