Anti-obesity drugs show promise in reducing alcohol consumption

Patients taking weight loss medications reported changes in their drinking habits.

Recent research is drawing attention to the link between obesity medications and reductions in alcohol consumption. The findings come from a study conducted as part of a telemedicine weight management program in which participants began taking these medications for weight control and reported changes in alcohol consumption. The observations provide a new perspective on the behavioral influences of medications designed primarily for weight loss and offer the potential to use these off-label medications to control substance use.

The study analyzed data from people participating in the WeightWatchers telehealth program, focusing on those who began taking weight loss medications between early 2022 and late 2023. To ensure consistent results, participants were required to refill their prescriptions during the study period. The analysis excluded people with prior medication use or bariatric surgery because this group had different profiles regarding the risks of alcohol consumption.

Participants were prescribed one of several anti-obesity medications, including first- and second-generation glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), metformin, or bupropion/naltrexone combinations. These drugs were already known to promote weight loss, but new evidence suggests they may also have effects on alcohol-related behavior. For example, GLP-1 RAs appear to influence the brain’s reward pathways, potentially reducing cravings for alcohol and reducing the reinforcing effects of consuming alcoholic beverages.

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At the start of the study, more than half of the study participants stated that they consumed alcohol regularly. After starting medication, almost half of these people reduced their alcohol consumption, while a smaller percentage increased their consumption. The results showed that participants with higher obesity classes and higher baseline alcohol consumption were more likely to report significant reductions in their drinking habits. Individuals prescribed second-generation GLP-1 RAs also made up a significant portion of the cohort, suggesting that these newer medications may hold particular promise for influencing alcohol-related behaviors.

Among the drugs studied, bupropion/naltrexone combinations initially showed a stronger association with reduced alcohol consumption compared to metformin. However, after taking into account the weight loss achieved by the participants, this association lost statistical significance. This result suggests that the reduction in alcohol consumption may not be solely due to the pharmacological effects of certain weight loss medications, but could also be due to broader lifestyle changes associated with weight loss efforts. Participants may have adopted healthier habits, such as limiting alcohol consumption, to reduce calorie consumption and improve overall well-being.

The study also highlighted the importance of behavioral and environmental factors in shaping outcomes. Participants who participate in structured weight management programs often receive counseling and education that encourages them to reconsider their relationships with food, alcohol, and other behaviors. These interventions, coupled with the physiological changes caused by AOMs, likely contributed to the observed patterns of reduced alcohol consumption.

On average, participants experienced significant weight loss over the study period, losing approximately 12.7% of their original body weight. This highlights the effectiveness of anti-obesity medications as part of a comprehensive approach to treating obesity. While the primary goal of these medications remains weight loss, the additional benefits, such as possible improvement in alcohol consumption behavior, are noteworthy.

The team’s findings open the door for further research into how drugs targeting metabolic and behavioral pathways can have far-reaching effects. Future studies could extend this work by examining whether the observed reductions in alcohol consumption are sustained over the long term or whether they vary between different populations.

Nearly half of weight-loss participants reduced their alcohol consumption after starting obesity medications

Alcohol consumption and drug treatment for obesity