Study finds GLP-1 drugs cut obesity-related cancer risk

A new study suggests that widely used weight-loss and diabetes medications may be associated with a significantly lower risk of developing certain cancers linked to obesity. Researchers are now calling for these drugs to be investigated as potential cancer prevention agents.

The study, published in the Annals of Oncology, analyzed data from over 161,000 obese adults who did not have diabetes. Half of the participants were prescribed glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), a class of medication that includes drugs like semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound). The other half received only diet and exercise counseling. Over an average follow-up period of two years, those taking the GLP-1 medications were 41% less likely to be diagnosed with an obesity-related cancer.

The protective effect appeared even stronger in specific groups. Among men, the risk reduction was nearly 70%. For gynecologic cancers, there was a 58% reduction in the incidence of endometrial cancer, a malignancy closely tied to obesity. However, the study noted a significant disparity: while white patients saw about a 50% reduction in risk, this...