As your waistline shrinks, the benefits of GLP-1s are expanding
GLP-1s are continuing to offer millions of folks an ever-wider range of benefits beyond weight loss and control of Type 2 diabetes. I've told you before about how they help promote recovery from alcohol use disorder, may help folks with stage 1, 2, or 3 lung, breast, colorectal or liver cancer reduce their risk of progressing to stage 4, and improve outcomes for folks with cardiovascular, kidney, liver, arthritis, and sleep apnea disorders. Well, now two new studies are adding important potential benefits to that list.
Two GLP-1s, liraglutide and semaglutide, have been found to improve remission rates in as little as four weeks in people with ulcerative colitis (UC) -- a notoriously hard-to-manage disorder. And by 12 weeks, the medications reduce symptoms by 60% to 72%.
In addition, a study in JAMA Psychiatry looked at the heart-health difference between taking GLP-1s like Ozempic and SGLT2 inhibitors like Jardiance for folks with serious mental illness. Turns out, GLP-1s significantly lower the risk of cardiovascular events and death over a four-year period for those people, compared to SGLT2s. And even at year one, all-cause mortality risk was 49% lower among GLP-1 initiators.
If you are overweight or obese, have Type 2 diabetes and are struggling to control UC or mental illness, talk with your doctor about the benefits for you of taking GLP-1s. And for the support that you need to manage Type 2 diabetes, achieve a healthy weight, control gastrointestinal disorders, and decrease stress, check out "YOU: The Owner's Manual, revised" and "What to Eat When."
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at drmikerealage@gmail.com.
(c)2026 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2026 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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