Women Outperform Men in Weight Loss with GLP-1 Drugs, Study Finds
A large-scale study has found that women may benefit more from GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) than men when it comes to weight loss. On average, women lost about 11% of their starting weight, while men lost around 7%. The research, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, analysed data from 64 clinical trials involving tens of thousands of patients.
The study was led by Hemal Mehta and G. Caleb Alexander from the Bloomberg School's Department of Epidemiology. Their team examined how factors like age, race, ethnicity, starting body mass index (BMI), and blood sugar levels affected the drugs' performance. The findings showed no major differences in effectiveness across these groups.
GLP-1 RAs are commonly prescribed for obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Researchers suggested that women might respond better due to possible interactions with estrogen, differences in how their bodies process the drugs, or their generally lower median body weight.
While the main analysis focused on GLP-1 RAs, seven additional studies on tirzepatide—a similar but distinct medication—were reviewed separately. However, tirzepatide was not included in the primary assessment.
The results highlight a notable gender difference in weight loss outcomes with GLP-1 RAs. Women consistently achieved greater reductions in body weight compared to men. The study also confirmed that the drugs work similarly across different ages, races, ethnicities, and baseline health metrics.
