Researchers at Henry Ford Health and WeightWatchers International have conducted a study that suggests weight loss medications may alter alcohol consumption in individuals participating in the WeightWatchers telehealth weight management program. According to the findings, published in JAMA Network Open, over 40% of participants who used popular weight loss medications while participating in the program decreased their alcohol use.
The study analyzed data from 7,491 participants between January 2022 and November 2023 and found that those taking bupropion and naltrexone had the greatest likelihood of decreasing their alcohol consumption. However, after adjusting for weight loss, the significance of these effects disappeared, suggesting that weight loss may be a mediator of alcohol use reduction.
The study highlights the potential benefits of using anti-obesity medications to reduce alcohol consumption, particularly among individuals with higher obesity levels and baseline alcohol use. However, several limitations affect the interpretation of the study’s findings, including the absence of a control group and potential conflicts of interest between the authors and WeightWatchers International.
While the results are promising, further research is needed to disentangle the effects of medications from behavioral interventions in influencing alcohol use.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-11-weightwatchers-combined-weight-loss-medications.html