New research suggests that certain anti-obesity medications (AOMs), including GLP-1s, may help reduce alcohol consumption. Surveys of over 14,000 participants in WeightWatchers’ telehealth program, presented by Chief Nutrition Officer Michelle I. Cardel, PhD, RD, at Obesity Week 2024, indicate a link between AOMs and decreased drinking.
According to Cardel, these drugs may reduce energy intake and could help lower alcohol use, a point clinicians may consider for patients with high alcohol consumption. Obesity researcher Dr. Joseph A. Skelton of Wake Forest University commented that overlapping brain pathways might explain the effect, though more study is needed.
The study, involving 14,053 participants who started AOMs, showed that 24% reported drinking less after starting treatment, with reductions linked to higher baseline alcohol use. This trend held across AOM classes, with around half reporting reduced alcohol use in each group.
Cardel notes that both biological effects (like reduced cravings and negative reinforcement from hangovers) and intentional choices (a focus on health) seem to contribute. Future studies will examine if AOMs are more effective at reducing alcohol use than non-medication weight management methods.
