Genetic evidence that diabetes drug GLP-1 receptor agonists achieve weight loss primarily by reducing fat mass more than muscle

Monday, February 24, 2025 – Diabetes and obesity have become pressing health issues worldwide. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a class of medications widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), have shown significant effectiveness in both lowering blood sugar levels and aiding weight loss due to their unique pharmacological mechanisms. A research team assessed the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonist in weight loss through genetic studies, aiming to understand whether the use of these medications reduces weight due to muscle or fat mass loss. This genetic study revealed that GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce weight by reducing more fat mass than muscle mass.

Cocaine user experiences reduced withdrawal cravings with GLP-1 therapy, case study reports

Friday, February 21, 2025 – A doctor from the University of Palermo in Italy has published a case study of an adult cocaine user who experienced reduced withdrawal symptoms when given GLP-1 therapy. In the case study published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports, Doctor Vincenzo Maria Romeo reports on the treatment of an obese adult male patient with a history of cocaine abuse and how he responded to GLP-1 therapy.

Many adults stop GLP-1 therapy within a year with low restart rates, analysis finds

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 – A study conducted using electronic health record data from a collective of U.S. health care systems found that most adults with overweight or obesity discontinued glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) therapy within one year. Discontinuation rates were significantly higher and reinitiation rates were significantly lower for patients without type 2 diabetes.

What are the side effects of GLP-1 medications? A researcher explains

Monday, February 17, 2025 – GLP-1 medications initially were used to help people with diabetes improve their insulin resistance and hunger cravings. However, over the past few years, these medications have become popular due to their weight loss and weight management benefits. Dr. Saundra Nguyen, assistant professor of internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, explains the side effects of GLP-1s.

Boosting protein BCL6 could help GLP-1 users retain muscle while losing fat

Thursday, January 23, 2025 – About one in eight adults in the United States has tried or currently uses a GLP-1 medication, and a quarter of those users cite weight loss as their main goal. But weight loss doesn't discriminate between fat and muscle. Patients using GLP-1 drugs can experience rapid and substantial muscle loss, accounting for as much as 40% of their total weight loss. So how can we lose weight without also losing critical muscle?