Weight-loss injections could reduce the risk of developing certain cancers by up to 41 percent, according to a new study. Researchers are urging that these medications be examined as potential cancer prevention agents after the findings linked the treatment to a lower incidence of obesity-related cancers.
Study Overview
Carrying excess weight has long been associated with an increased likelihood of 13 types of cancer, including breast, bowel, pancreatic, kidney, liver, and stomach cancers. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) medications—such as Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic—are commonly prescribed to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have indicated that these drugs may offer broader health benefits beyond weight management.
In the recent research, scientists examined the use of GLP-1 drugs and whether they were associated with a decreased risk of obesity-related cancers. Specialists from the United States analysed data on more than 161,000 patients who were obese, did not have diabetes, and had not been diagnosed with an obesity-linked cancer.
Key Findings
Of the participants, half received weight-loss injections, while the other half were provided with advice on diet and exercise. The average age of participants was 47, and they were monitored for two years. The analysis, published in the Annals of Oncology, showed that those who took GLP-1s were considerably less likely to be diagnosed with an obesity-related cancer during the monitoring period, with a decreased risk of 41 percent.
However, the findings revealed that the scale of the reduction was not observed among Black participants, according to reports. Dr Aparna Kamat, senior author of the study and director of the Division of Gynaecologic Oncology at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, said: "Our study found that over an average follow-up of two years, GLP-1 RA use was associated with a significantly lower incidence of cancers directly fuelled by excess body weight."
Dr Kamat added: "Overall cancer risk was reduced by 41 percent, and we saw even larger reductions in certain subgroups, including men, where the risk dropped by nearly 70 percent. Among gynaecologic cancers, there was a 58 percent reduction in the incidence of endometrial cancer, one of the malignancies most closely linked to obesity."
Demographic Differences
The reduction in obesity-related cancer risk among white patients was about 50 percent, but this risk reduction was not observed among Black patients. Dr Kamat noted: "This may reflect additional causes such as access to care, differing risk profiles, and other biological differences."
The study also examined different GLP-1 RA formulations and found that while all reduced the incidence of obesity-related cancers, the greatest reduction was seen among tirzepatide users.
Implications for Cancer Prevention
Dr Kamat said the results suggest the impact of GLP-1 medicines "may reach further and transform how we think about cancer prevention." She cautioned: "Our findings do not prove causation, and cancer risk reduction should not yet be a standalone reason to prescribe GLP-1 RAs. However, for obese, non-diabetic patients who are already candidates for these medications, our data provide an additional and potentially important reason to have that conversation."
She added: "For policymakers and other researchers, our study is a clear signal that GLP-1 RAs deserve serious investigation as cancer prevention agents, particularly as obesity-related cancers increasingly affect adults in their 40s and 50s."
Expert Commentary
Second author of the study, Professor Pedro Ramirez, chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Houston Methodist Hospital, stated: "Our study suggests GLP-1 RAs may have benefits that extend beyond weight management. It should be noted that while the findings do not prove that GLP-1 drugs directly prevent cancer, they provide early evidence that deserves further study in long-term clinical trials."
Professor Ramirez concluded: "This study highlights the potential for a major shift in how we think about obesity treatment and cancer prevention. As the use of GLP-1 RA medications continues to grow worldwide, understanding their broader health impact is critically important."
