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Off-label GLP-1 use highlights the cultural pressures driving body anxieties

New obesity drugs that were designed to treat diabetes and obesity are increasingly being used off-label by people without these conditions to achieve slimness and social approval rather than health gains. This perspective maps how such pharmacological thinness interacts with stigma, beauty ideals, digital culture, and inequality, and calls for multinational, intersectional research to understand its full impact.

13 Nov 2025

GLP-1 drugs linked to improved survival in colon cancer patients

A new University of California San Diego study offers compelling evidence that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists - the class of drugs behind Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, for example - may do more than regulate blood sugar and weight.

11 Nov 2025

Novel triple receptor agonist shows potent efficacy in lowering high triglycerides

In a small, short duration trial (12 weeks), a new medication called DR10624 reduced triglyceride levels in most patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia by more than 60%, according to a preliminary late-breaking science presentation today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025.

11 Nov 2025

Diabetes drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide show real-world heart benefits

In a large real-world analysis across three U.S. healthcare databases, semaglutide and tirzepatide showed cardiovascular benefits consistent with randomized trials. Semaglutide lowered heart attack and stroke risk versus sitagliptin, while tirzepatide performed comparably to dulaglutide and semaglutide over one year.

10 Nov 2025

Do GLP-1 drugs cause cancer? New review says no, may even protect

A comprehensive review in The Journal of Clinical Investigation finds no overall link between GLP-1 receptor agonists and increased cancer risk, countering early safety concerns. Instead, evidence suggests possible protective effects for certain cancers, supported by metabolic and immune-modulating mechanisms.

4 Nov 2025

GLP-1 drugs calm inflammation beyond diabetes and weight loss

This Journal of Clinical Investigation review describes how glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)–based medicines reduce systemic and tissue inflammation through both weight-dependent and weight-independent mechanisms. It details preclinical and clinical evidence linking GLP-1 receptor activation to cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, neural, and joint anti-inflammatory effects while outlining uncertainties and future research needs.

4 Nov 2025

WHO reviews highlight limited long-term data on GLP-1 drug safety

Three new Cochrane reviews find evidence that GLP-1 drugs result in clinically meaningful weight loss, but industry-funded studies raise questions. The reviews were commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) to inform upcoming guidelines on the use of these drugs to treat obesity.

30 Oct 2025

Diabetes remission possible with GLP-1 drugs, Italian study confirms

In a large real-world Italian cohort, GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy led to measurable rates of type 2 diabetes remission, depending on how remission was defined. The most pragmatic definition (Remission 3) was linked to improved glycemia, weight, and a lower risk of microvascular and cardiovascular events.

29 Oct 2025

Semaglutide protects the heart beyond weight loss, SELECT trial shows

Semaglutide lowered the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events across all body weight and waist circumference levels in people with overweight or obesity and cardiovascular disease. Early waist reduction explained only a third of this benefit, showing that semaglutide’s heart protection extends beyond fat loss.

26 Oct 2025

Exercise can mitigate depression-like behaviors induced by high-fat, high-sugar diets

Researchers led by Professor Yvonne Nolan at University College Cork have identified specific metabolic pathways through which exercise counteracts the negative behavioral effects of consuming a Western-style cafeteria diet.

21 Oct 2025

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic may slow how quickly alcohol hits the bloodstream

Preliminary study shows GLP-1 receptor agonists alter alcohol response, suggesting potential for reducing cravings and intoxication in obese individuals.

17 Oct 2025

Using a lab-designed protein to regulate blood glucose levels

Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered a new way to regulate blood glucose levels using a lab-designed protein, possibly opening the door to a new treatment avenue for people with Type 1 diabetes.

9 Oct 2025

GLP-1 therapeutics may have the potential to treat alcohol and drug addiction

A popular class of therapies for treating diabetes and obesity may also have the potential to treat alcohol and drug addiction, according to a new paper published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

9 Oct 2025

SMOC1 gene plays a surprising role in the development of type 2 diabetes

Scientists at City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., and a leading research center for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses, have uncovered a gene called SMOC1 that plays a surprising role in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by converting pancreatic cells that normally produce insulin into those that increase blood sugar.

7 Oct 2025

Study finds surge in the use of weight loss drugs among bariatric surgery patients

New research findings show a significant increase in the use of weight loss drugs among patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery, signaling an evolution in the management of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

3 Oct 2025

Prediabetes can go into remission without weight loss

Research shows up to 22% of prediabetic individuals achieve remission without weight loss, emphasizing metabolic health over weight loss in diabetes prevention.

2 Oct 2025

Study shows prediabetes remission does not always require weight loss

Remission of prediabetes can occur even without weight loss, protecting against type 2 diabetes in up to 22% of individuals. Metabolic improvements, healthier fat distribution, and enhanced β-cell function, not body weight change, drive this benefit.

30 Sep 2025

Scientists outline how future therapies could change type 1 diabetes care

Researchers writing in The Lancet review breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes treatment, from immunotherapies that delay onset to stem-cell β-cell replacement and automated insulin delivery. They stress that equitable access, validated surrogate endpoints, and scalable technologies are crucial for lasting impact.

24 Sep 2025

New quintuple agonist shows promise for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes

Much excitement has built in recent years on the new class of incretin drugs that include glucagon-like-peptide-1 inhibitor (single agonists such as semaglutide) and also dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (dual agonists such tirzepatide).

21 Sep 2025

Study points to a surprising new ally in the fight against type 2 diabetes

A new study from Duke University School of Medicine is challenging long-standing views on blood sugar regulation - and pointing to a surprising new ally in the fight against type 2 diabetes.

19 Sep 2025