WEIGH TO GO
‘Skinny jabs’ like Wegovy reduce the risk of 10 types of cancer more than other drugs, study says
But the 'miracle' medication still comes with some serious side effects
SO-called 'skinny jabs' may reduce a person's risk of 10 types of cancer, according to a new study.
Researchers found those taking glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) like Ozempic and Wegovy were less likely to be diagnosed with obesity-related diseases like bowel and pancreatic cancer than people on other weight loss and diabetes drugs.
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Scientists studied the health records of 1.6million people with type 2 diabetes who were taking either insulin, metformin or a GLP-1RA between 2005 and 2018.
Looking for diagnoses of 13 different cancers associated with obesity over 15 years, they found those taking a GLP-1RA had a lower risk of being diagnosed with 10 of these compared to patients on insulin.
This included oesophageal, bowel, womb, gallbladder, kidney, liver, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer, as well as meningioma - the most common type of brain tumour - and multiple myeloma - a form of blood cancer.
All are associated with obesity in some capacity, with excess body fat linked to an increased risk and worse prognosis.
No decrease in cancer risk was associated with GLP-1RAs compared with metformin.
Corresponding author Nathan Beger, from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, said: "These findings provide preliminary evidence of the potential benefit of GLP-1RAs for cancer prevention in high-risk populations.
"They support further pre-clinical and clinical studies for the prevention of certain obesity-associated cancers."
GLP-1RAs can be prescribed to lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients and to support weight loss in some people.
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The medication mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1, which is naturally released in the stomach when we eat.
It helps the body make more insulin, the hormone that controls the amount of sugar in the blood, when needed, and reduces the amount of glucose, or sugar, the liver makes.
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GLP-1RAs also slow down how quickly food is digested and reduce appetite, so users eat less.
There are many drugs on the market, including semaglutide, which is available under the brand news Ozempic and and Wegovy.
The popularity of these 'skinny jabs' is booming after trials showed they caused rapid weight loss and may bring other health benefits - like warding off Alzheimer's, boosting fertility and curing snoring.
With Wegovy, users can expect to see 15 per cent weight loss on average. That is a 31lb for a person weighing 15st, taking them to 12st 11lb.
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Some jabs are available on the NHS, but eligibility hinges on body mass index and weight-related health issues like hypertension.
Private demand, including from celebs like Jeremy Clarkson and Boris Johnson, is said to have squeezed NHS supplies.
The jabs can be bought online for about £150 per month or even from unlicensed beauticians.
SIDE EFFECTS
But while they may help people shed some pounds, and potentially help lower someone's risk of cancer, they come with a host of potential side effects.
Ian Budd, pharmacist at Chemist4U and MyBMI, said: "This commonly may include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, headache and dizziness.
"The frequency and severity of side effects can vary, and some people may experience none at all."
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Other side effects reported include vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, flatulence and acid reflux.
But what they can do to the body in the long-term is still being studied, Ian added.
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Weight loss jabs are a hot media topic at the moment, with hundreds of success stories from people who shed the pounds.
In March 2023, the NHS announced it would make Wegovy, a drug made by Danish firm Novo Nordisk, available on prescription to thousands of obese Brits.
It contains the drug semaglutide, which is said to have helped reality star Kim Kardashian and Twitter boss Elon Musk lose weight.
Wegovy, which helped a third of people reduce their weight by 20 per cent in trials, is now available from pharmacies like Boots.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less and therefore lose weight.
To do this, semaglutide mimics the role of a natural hormone, called GLP-1.
GLP-1 is part of the signalling pathway that tells your body you have eaten, and prepares it to use the energy that comes from your food.
London GP and founder of wellgoodwellbeing.com, Dr Zoe Watson, said: “Your body naturally produces an appetite regulating hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1.
“These jabs work by regulating your appetite, which can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight.”
Aren’t they diabetes drugs?
Semaglutide, the active drug in Wegovy, was originally sold under the name Ozempic specifically for diabetes patients.
But people started noticing it helped suppress their appetites, stopping them eating as much and helping them shed the pounds.
Novo Nordisk then developed Wegovy, which contains the same chemical but at higher doses specifically to aid weight loss.
Wegovy is not prescribed for diabetes patients.
Can I get them?
Wegovy is offered on prescription to obese adults given specialist weight loss treatment.
The NHS currently also offers a similar drug called Saxenda, or liraglutide.
Both are only available on Tier 3 and Tier 4 weight management services, which means you have to be referred to weight management clinics led by experts.
GPs can’t prescribe them on their own either, Dr Watson said.
The jabs have to be taken as part of an overall programme to help with lifestyle changes and psychological support to get the best effect from the medication prescribed.
Despite being approved for use, supply of Wegovy on the NHS has been postponed indefinitely because of a surge in worldwide demand.
Supply was also halved in the US because of the skyrocketing demand.
Are there any risks?
Like all medicines, the jabs do not come without side effects.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, thyroid tumours, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
What other options are there?
Mounjaro (brand name for tirzepatide) also came onto the market in early 2024.
Like Wegovy, tirzepatide stems from a drug originally designed to treat diabetes.
The weekly injection helped overweight people drop more than two stone in 18 months.
It is available with to order with a prescription online from pharmacies including Superdrug and LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor.
It works in a similar way to Wegovy and Saxenda, but is more effective.
Dr Mitra Dutt from LloydsPharmacy says: “Based on clinical trials, 96 per cent of people were able to lose more than five per cent of their body fat using Mounjaro. In similar trials, 84 per cent of people lost more than five per cent of their body weight on Wegovy, and 60 per cent on Saxenda.
“Mounjaro works by activating two hormonal receptors (GIP and GLP-1), which enhance insulin production, improve insulin sensitivity, and work to decrease food intake."