Beyond the Scale: 4 Proven Health Benefits of GLP-1s

GLP-1 medications are best known for their ability to help with weight loss and diabetes control. But some are also FDA-approved to protect your heart, slow kidney disease, treat obstructive sleep apnea and manage a serious form of liver disease.

If you’re being treated for one of these conditions, your insurance may even cover a GLP-1. Here’s how these medications can improve your health, plus how to know if they’re right for you.

FDA-Approved Health Benefits of GLP-1s

For people who are obese or overweight, weight loss has whole-body benefits. “The more weight you lose, the more likely your comorbidities will either improve or resolve altogether,” says Sergey Terushkin, M.D., chief of bariatric surgery at Old Bridge Medical Center.

That being said, emerging research shows that there are benefits for disease risk even when people don’t lose a significant amount of weight, he notes.

Here’s what specific GLP-1s are approved to do:

Lower Your Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

Heart disease and stroke are the top causes of death in the U.S., Dr. Terushkin notes. 

Wegovy, with the active ingredient semaglutide, is FDA-approved to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and death from cardiovascular disease in adults with obesity or overweight who already have heart disease.

Ease Sleep Apnea

Zepbound is FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity. Mounjaro contains the same active ingredient, tirzepatide, but doesn’t carry this approval. 

OSA usually goes hand in hand with obesity, Dr. Terushkin says, which is one reason a GLP-1 for sleep apnea can help.

In clinical trials, people on tirzepatide had far fewer breathing interruptions after one year than those on a placebo.

Protect Your Kidneys If You Have Diabetes

If you have type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), Ozempic (with the active ingredient semaglutide) is FDA-approved to reduce the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure and death from cardiovascular disease. 

One study found the risk of death from any cause was 20% lower in people with type 2 diabetes and CKD taking semaglutide.

Support a Healthier Liver

MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) is a serious form of fatty liver disease that inflames and damages liver cells; it can lead to scarring (fibrosis) and liver failure. 

Wegovy (with semaglutide as the active ingredient) has accelerated FDA approval to treat adults with MASH who have moderate to advanced fibrosis but not cirrhosis (permanent liver scarring).

Benefits Still Being Studied

These uses aren’t FDA-approved yet, but they could be in the future:

Curb Alcohol Cravings

In a small study of adults with alcohol use disorder and obesity, those taking semaglutide cut their heavy drinking days by 41% over 26 weeks, compared to 26% in the placebo group.

Ease Knee Arthritis Pain

Semaglutide may relieve knee osteoarthritis pain by reducing joint load and quieting inflammation. In a large trial of people with obesity, those on semaglutide lost about four times as much weight as the placebo group and experienced less pain and better functioning.

Are GLP-1s Right for You?

If you have a personal or family history of certain thyroid cancers or are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, these medications aren’t right for you. But your doctor can recommend other treatment options.

If you’re still unsure, bring it up with your primary care doctor. “Ask: Am I a candidate?” Dr. Terushkin recommends. 

A comprehensive weight loss center can also help you weigh all your options, he adds.

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Sergey Terushkin, M.D., FACS, FASMBS, DABOM, DABS-FPMBS
• Learn more about weight management services at Hackensack Meridian Health.