Feb 10, 2026
3 min read
Lose weight and reduce cancer risk at the same time?New research on GLP-1 medications suggests a connection, but experts urge caution.
Weight loss injections protect against cancer?What do new studies show?
Lose weight and reduce the risk of cancer at the same time?New research on GLP-1 drugs suggests a connection, but experts urge caution.
NEW YORK – As more is known about the health benefits of GLP-1 drugs, a growing number of scientists are trying to determine whether the popular weight loss drug can help one of the world's leading causes of death: cancer.Research into the effects of GLP-1 drugs on cancer risk and survival is still in its early stages.So far the results have been quite mixed.
While some studies suggest the drug may be associated with a lower risk of some cancers and better outcomes after diagnosis, researchers have found it has little effect on other types of cancer.In some cases, researchers have linked the drug to a slightly increased risk.Experts note that the drug's potential long-term effects are not yet fully understood.A medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at the Cancer Center.
What the latest research says about GLP-1 supplements
A large study of more than 1.6 million people with type 2 diabetes found that those taking GLP-1 supplements had a "significantly reduced risk" of 10 of 13 obesity-related cancers compared to those taking insulin.This was revealed in peer-reviewed results published in JAMA Network Open in 2024.
Another large study was published in August 2025. It looked at adults with obesity and found that people who took weight-loss drugs had a "significantly lower risk of cancer overall."The researchers noted that the reduced risk was particularly noticeable in uterine cancer, meningiomas (which affect the brain) and ovarian cancer.However, they also observed a "slightly increased risk" of kidney cancer in people taking the medication.
"In general, it has a protective effect," said Jiang Bian, director of research at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.He led a research team on overweight adults.
GLP-1 "may have little or no effect on risk"
A review of 48 randomized controlled trials found that GLP-1 "may have little or no effect on obesity-related cancer risk," researchers wrote in a study published in December in the Annals of Internal Medicine.The study looked at thyroid, pancreatic, colorectal, stomach, oesophagus, liver, gallbladder, breast, ovarian, uterine and kidney cancers, as well as multiple myeloma and the focus was on meningioma.
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However, other recent studies have shown that GLP-1 can also improve the survival rate of some people with cancer.Among older adults with cancer and type 2 diabetes, drug use was associated with reduced mortality.These results were published in JAMA Network Open in July 2025."This gives us a better understanding of the use of GLP-1 in this particular population," said Purdue University pharmacy professor Serena Gu.He was a co-author of the study.
GLP-1 drugs can help colon cancer patients
The drug may also be useful for patients with colon cancer.A study of more than 6,800 people found that those who took GLP-1 had a five-year mortality rate that was more than half that of non-users.This was evident from the results published in November in the journal Cancer Investigation.
The results were consistent when the researchers adjusted for patient demographics, other medical conditions and the severity of the colon cancer diagnosis.So says Raphael Cuomo, professor and cancer researcher at UC San Diego School of Medicine and author of the study.He found that overweight people who took GLP-1 supplements seemed to benefit from a "significant" lower death rate than normal weight patients.
"In this case, we see that these drugs have a very strong impact," he said."Now this needs to be confirmed in random trials, so we need to be sure if these drugs have an anti -cancer effect or whether there are other mechanisms in place.
How GLP-1 can help in cancer
Glp-1 can help people reduce a body in wires in a way," much of the frame is to be with a glyps. Body, shows an adipair, "and then in the cultivation problem."
GLP-1 can also help reduce the risk of diabetes and reduce inflammation.She said, this could help the development of cancer.Research is currently underway to better understand how GLP-1 drugs can work in people with cancer.For example, scientists in the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston Study the effect of the drug on Liposaroma.This is a type of cancer that occurs in fat cells.
"This rare cancer, liposarcoma, provides us with a unique opportunity to study how GLP-1 drugs act on cancer cells themselves," said Erica Pimento.
GLP-1 drugs: 'Long-term therapy is expensive and may have side effects'
Early studies showed that when GLP-1 drugs were injected into tumor cells, the cells showed signs of "activating or reprogramming themselves to behave like normal fat cells," Pimenta said.There is interest in investigating whether these results from the liposarcoma study can be applied to other forms of cancer, he added.In addition, experts advise against using GLP-1 drugs without consulting a doctor.
"The decision to start taking these drugs should not be made lightly," Cuomo said."These are long-term treatments, which can be expensive and have side effects." It's also important to remember that taking the drugs must be accompanied by a healthy lifestyle.This includes, for example, a balanced diet and plenty of exercise."These GLP-1 drugs are not a panacea," Shen says.
Allison is a reporter at The Washington Post who focuses on chronic disease.She previously covered climate and health issues and worked nights on the Post morning team mixing.
The article was first published in English on January 17, 2026 by the "Washingtonpost.com" - as part of a cooperation, it is also now available in translation to readers from the Ippen.Media Portals.
