Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 12: Weight loss injections may hold surprising potential in preventing cancer — beyond simply helping patients lose weight, according to new research presented at the European Congress on Obesity.

Researchers have discovered that GLP-1 receptor agonists — drugs such as semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and liraglutide (Saxenda) — may provide a direct anti-cancer effect, possibly by reducing inflammation, a known contributor to cancer development.

The study, published in eClinicalMedicine, revealed that people taking first-generation GLP-1 drugs had comparable rates of obesity-related cancers to those who underwent bariatric surgery — despite the latter group typically experiencing greater weight loss.

Importantly, the data suggested that these medications were 41% more effective in reducing obesity-related cancer risk independently of weight loss. The researchers analyzed health records of over 6,000 obese or diabetic individuals with no previous cancer history and followed them for an average of 7.5 years.

Out of these, 298 developed obesity-related cancers, most commonly breast, bowel, and womb cancers. However, rates were nearly identical among those taking GLP-1 drugs and those who had surgery — even though surgery usually results in more substantial and sustained weight loss.

“This study adds to the growing evidence that weight loss alone cannot fully explain the anti-cancer benefits of GLP-1s,” said Dr. Yael Wolff Sagy, co-lead author of the study. “These drugs may be working through multiple mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory pathways.”

Prof. Dror Dicker, the study’s co-author, added, “Newer, more potent GLP-1 receptor agonists might offer even greater protection, but more research is needed to confirm their long-term safety and to ensure they do not raise the risk of non-obesity-related cancers.”

While these findings are promising, experts caution against overinterpretation. Professor Naveed Sattar of the University of Glasgow emphasized that the study was observational, not a randomized trial, and involved patient groups with substantial differences in health backgrounds. “Large-scale, long-term trials are essential to determine whether these drugs truly lower cancer risk,” he said.

For now, weight loss — whether through lifestyle changes, medication, or surgery — remains a powerful tool for lowering the risk of at least 13 cancers, including pancreatic, gallbladder, and oesophageal cancers. But this research opens the door to a new potential benefit of widely used obesity treatments — one that could change how we think about preventing cancer.