Weight loss drugs catapulted many into a new wellness era, and gave hope to those with diabetes, obesity and who struggled to lose weight.
The global anti-obesity drugs market — including the more well-known weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic — reached $6.15 billion in 2024. That number is expected to increase to over $100 billion in 2030, according to Morgan Stanley, with dozens of new drugs looking to enter the market.
Between August 2021 and August 2023, the prevalence of obesity among adults was 40.3%. That is a decline from the 2020 obesity rate of 41.9%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Now, new research, clinical trials and case reports explore the possibility of using some weight loss drugs to help regulate addiction and reduce alcohol cravings — similar to how the medication reduces food cravings. The National Institute of Health says the possible developments are “exciting” but must be followed by “rigorous science.”
While the theory that weight loss drugs can reduce alcohol cravings is far from confirmed (and years away from federal approval to use in practice), many doctors are looking to the study as a confirmation to what they are seeing with patients in real time: alcohol users reducing their alcohol consumption while on weight loss drugs.
Dr. Drake Bellanger, an obesity specialist at Baton Rouge General, works with patients for weight loss management and is keeping a close eye on this unexpected side effect.
How do some drugs promote weight loss for patients with diabetes and/or obesity?
GLP-1 exists as one of the protein-derived hormones in the gut or intestinal tract. It is integral in the function of how the body uses calories. The weight loss drugs, which includes GLP-1 hormones, stimulate insulin after eating, regulating how the body assesses and responds to sugars.
The medication reduces how high-processed sugars are sent to our fat cells and liver when the body starts to develop what is called metabolic syndrome, a precursor to diabetes.
In diabetes, muscle cells become resistant to insulin, which can lead to obesity, elevations in cholesterol and fatty liver disease.
The medication works to sensitize sugar sensor receptors to become effective again and decrease the number of calories sent to fat cells, instead diverting to more efficient muscle cells.
Weight loss drugs also work in the brain, reducing cravings. This craving area of the brain is also responsible for alcohol use, drug use and addiction.
How did studies find the connection of weight loss drugs to help alcohol addiction?
The studies stem from what we started seeing in patients. Patients would come to me after using the weight loss drug and say, “I don’t drink alcohol like I used to,” or they were able to quit smoking while on the weight loss drugs.
We have gotten to the point where doctors are studying the potential effects of GLP-1 on patients with alcohol addictions. But the initial interest is purely from the patients who are already on these weight loss drugs who reported alcohol use.
In practice, I use the new studies as more confirmatory or educationally to refer patients to some beneficial parts of the medication.
What do you recommend for patients who drink alcohol and also want to lose weight?
I advise patients to manage their own alcohol consumption, similar to how I let them regulate their own diet. I never recommend a very low-calorie diet, or a diet that creates unrealistic expectations.
If a patient tends to regularly drink, or drink socially, they are likely to continue to do so on the medication. I try to guide patients to reduce alcohol consumption to once or twice a week or less.
Red wine is the best when weight loss is the goal, followed by white alcohols and beers, daiquiris and sugary drinks in last. Alcohol, at the end of the day, is calories.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.