Weight Loss Drug Ozempic, Other Related Medications Reduce Risk of Obesity-Related Cancer [Study]

Ozempic, a drug for type 2 diabetes, has been used by many for weight loss. Researchers learned that it could reduce one's risk of obesity-related cancer.

Ozempic, Other Weight Loss Drugs Reduce Risks of Cancer

A new study has learned that Ozempic and similar medications may be more effective than other kinds of diabetes and weight reduction medications in lowering the risk of malignancies linked to obesity. Patients on Ozempic and other medications in the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) class are less likely to develop 10 of the 13 malignancies linked to obesity.

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine analyzed the medical records of more than a million individuals with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin, metformin, or GLP-1 medications. According to the study, patients taking GLP-1 medications had the lowest chance of acquiring fat-related malignancies.

The study used electronic health records (EHRs) from 113 million patients in the United States. Of these, 1,651,452 were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between March 2005 and November 2018 and were provided GLP-1 medications, insulin, or metformin. Of the 13 malignancies associated with obesity, none of these individuals had a prior diagnosis.

The researchers state that further extensive research is necessary to fully understand the possible cancer-preventive benefits of Ozempic and related medications. Also, the study authors acknowledge the paper's limitations despite the fact that it offers preliminary data. For example, there are inherent limitations with EHRs, such as misdiagnosis, underdiagnosis, and overdiagnosis.

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Obesity-Related Cancer: How Obesity Cause Cancer?

Obesity and cancer risk are related. Excess body fat raises the chance of colonic, post-menopausal breast, uterine, esophageal, kidney, and pancreatic cancers, according to several studies.

The precise mechanism by which obesity raises that risk is less understood. Experts surmise that a major contributing factor is the inflammation brought on by visceral fat, or the fat that envelops your essential organs.

Excessive visceral fat is problematic since it interferes with your body's natural functions. This includes how your body regulates hormones like estrogen and insulin, according to Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., an MD Anderson professor of Behavioral Science. All of this can change the timing and manner in which cells proliferate and die, which can raise the risk of cancer.

Visceral fat cells are plentiful and vast in number. There isn't much place for oxygen in this extra fat. Additionally, inflammation is brought on by that low-oxygen atmosphere.

The body's normal reaction to injury and illness is inflammation. For instance, the area surrounding a deep cut turns red and hurts to the touch. This slight inflammation surrounding the wound facilitates the healing process and aids in regenerating the damaged tissue.

However, chronic inflammation brought on by an excess of visceral fat can harm your health and raise your cancer risk.

Uncontrolled cell reproduction can lead to cancer by damaging neighboring cells and causing sickness. There is a greater chance of something going wrong; a tumor will develop as more cells divide and multiply.