A new study found that patients treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for obesity reduced their alcohol consumption.

Researchers followed 262 adult patients prescribed either liraglutide or semaglutide. At baseline, 68% of the patients reported regular alcohol use, 20% drank rarely, and 12% didn't drink.

After at least 3 months of treatment with the glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists, alcohol intake dropped. Among those with quantifiable data, average alcohol use declined from 11.8 to 4.3 units per week. High consumers—defined as drinking 11 or more units weekly—reduced intake from 23.2 to 7.8 units.

“No patient reported an increase in alcohol intake,” the study authors noted. Male and female patients showed similar reductions. Among low consumers, alcohol use fell from 5.5 to 2.5 units per week. The reductions were statistically significant in both groups.

The patients also lost weight. Among the 181 individuals with follow-up weight data, the average weight loss was 7.7 kg after about 4 months. A weak positive correlation was found between alcohol reduction and weight loss, suggesting that reduced alcohol intake may have contributed to the weight change.

Notably, even patients who didn't report lowering their alcohol intake still experienced weight loss, aligning with prior evidence supporting the weight loss effects of GLP-1 medications.

Previous animal and human studies have suggested that these drugs may reduce alcohol cravings by acting on brain regions involved in reward processing. The study added real-world evidence outside of controlled trials. Patients received routine obesity care, and their alcohol use and weight were tracked during follow-up visits.

The researchers noted limitations, including reliance on self-reported alcohol intake, which may be prone to underreporting. Nearly 30% of participants were lost to follow-up, and there was no control group.

Despite these limitations, the findings suggest a potential dual effect of GLP-1 therapy—supporting both weight loss and reduced alcohol use. Additional randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these results and further evaluate their role in alcohol use disorders.

The study was conducted in Ireland and approved by a local ethics board. All patients voluntarily provided their information during standard clinical care.

Full disclosures are available in the published study.

Source: Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism