GLP-1 weight-loss drugs could rewire the body against disease, doctors say
New research and clinical experience point to broader benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists, from cardiovascular to inflammatory conditions, with doctors urging careful, guided use.
GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of medications long used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, are emerging as potential allies against a broader set of diseases. In a Swiss analysis, researchers project that widespread GLP-1 use could reduce the annual death rate by about 6.4% by 2045, with downstream effects on heart disease, cancer risk and inflammatory conditions. The findings add to growing clinical interest in the drugs' multi-system effects.
Dr. Sue Decotiis, a board-certified weight-loss physician in New York City, said GLP-1 medications can target systemic problems throughout the body. "Heart, kidney, diabetes, neurogenetic diseases like Alzheimer's, addiction, psychiatric disorders, autoimmune disease — they all have one thing in common, and that's dysregulated metabolism," she told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview.
GLP-1s — including semaglutides (Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatides (Mounjaro and Zepbound) — have "special effects on multi-systems of the body," Decotiis said. These drugs are effective for weight loss because they increase insulin levels, which turns the body into a "fat-burning machine," in addition to suppressing appetite.
They work by increasing insulin levels and suppressing appetite, effectively turning the body into a fat-burning engine. Fat cells are highly metabolic, and they produce cytokines that contribute to inflammation in the body, potentially leading to autoimmune disease, cancer and other health issues. "By reducing the volume of fat cells in the body, we reduce all these inflammatory cytokines," Decotiis said.
GLP-1 medications have been linked with improvement of certain heart conditions, according to experts.
Even patients who haven't had significant weight loss are "feeling so much better," Decotiis reported. The doctor has also seen an uptick in patients taking GLP-1s to address other conditions beyond obesity and diabetes, like rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease. "Nine times out of 10, they're feeling better," she said. "I've seen people change, even their personality. When you're in pain all the time, a lot of times you're not a very nice person. So, you see real changes in people's lives by getting rid of this inflammation."
For those who believe they may be a candidate for a GLP-1, Decotiis recommends seeking out a certified weight-loss physician for a proper prescription, and discourages self-dosing or "micro-dosing." "If they don't know what your body composition is, they don't know how to treat you," she said. "They don't know when you should stop the drug, when you should taper the drug. … If you do it online, you might save a little money, but you're going to probably put that weight back on and waste a lot of time." She added, "It's important to do it the right way and really treat these drugs with respect, treat your body with respect, and understand that this is a wonderful tool if it's used the right."
The expanding use of GLP-1 medicines beyond obesity and diabetes reflects renewed attention to systemic inflammation as a driver of chronic disease. Experts caution that while findings are promising, GLP-1s are not a universal cure, and long-term effects remain under study.
As doctors weigh benefits and risks, patients who think they may be candidates should discuss with a clinician who can assess body composition, metabolic status and treatment duration, and who can tailor a plan to taper or stop therapy when appropriate.
The medical community emphasizes that these drugs should be prescribed and monitored by qualified clinicians, with careful attention to dosing, side effects and individual response.
