A groundbreaking study published in The Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine has found that first-generation GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), such as liraglutide and exenatide, reduce the risk of obesity-related cancers by 41% compared to bariatric surgery-even after accounting for differences in weight loss. The findings, presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025), challenge assumptions about how these medications protect against cancer and highlight their potential beyond metabolic benefits.
Researchers from Clalit Health Services (Israel) compared patients treated with GLP-1RAs (≥6 monthly prescriptions of liraglutide, exenatide, or dulaglutide) to those who underwent bariatric surgery between 2010–2018. Over a median 7.5-year follow-up, 298 participants developed obesity-related cancers, with postmenopausal breast cancer (26%), colorectal cancer (16%), and endometrial cancer (15%) most prevalent.
Obesity and diabetes are linked to 40% of cancers, but this study suggests GLP-1 medications could disrupt that trajectory. “Weight loss alone doesn’t fully explain the anti-cancer benefits,” said lead author Dr. Yael Wolff Sagy. Co-author Dr. Dror Dicker emphasized the role of inflammation reduction, noting, “GLP-1RAs likely act through multiple pathways to suppress tumor growth.”
Professor Naveed Sattar (University of Glasgow), uninvolved in the study, cautioned that observational data cannot prove causation but called the results “intriguing.” Professor Mark Lawler (Queen’s University Belfast) hailed the findings as “transformational,” suggesting GLP-1 drugs could halve obesity-related cancer risk compared to surgery’s one-third reduction.
SheMed welcomes this important research and is committed to keeping our community informed about advances in women’s health and weight management. We’ll continue to share updates on new studies like this, helping you make empowered, evidence-based decisions on your health journey.
The SheMed Weight Loss Programme is a female-focused, clinically supervised service designed to support women on their weight loss journey with safety and personalisation at its core. Every participant begins with a comprehensive blood test, ensuring the programme is tailored to their unique health needs and that safety is prioritised from the start. SheMed’s approach includes regular clinical oversight, monthly reviews, and ongoing support, including symptom management and educational resources. Members benefit from progress tracking, weekly check-ins, and a supportive community, all aimed at empowering women to achieve lasting, meaningful results.
Women’s Health and SheMed
SheMed’s commitment to advancing women’s health goes beyond weight loss. In December 2024, SheMed launched an active clinical study to explore how GLP-1 weight loss medications may benefit conditions that disproportionately affect women, such as PCOS, endometriosis, and menopause symptoms. This research addresses the significant gap in women’s health studies-currently, only 1% of UK healthcare research funding is dedicated to female-specific conditions. The SheMed study aims to generate actionable insights on how weight loss treatments can improve not just weight, but also broader aspects of women’s health, helping to shape future care and treatment approaches.
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