Weight loss jabs may be changing more than just users’ food choices, according to a report which claims many people are also drinking less alcohol during tretament. A survey found the frequency of alcohol consumption typically fell from around three days per week to two after people started using GLP-1 medications. The average number of alcohol units consumed per week also dropped by 16%, from 4.3 to 3.6 units.
Some 34% of people who had taken weight loss drugs reported experiencing reduced cravings for alcohol. The online research involving 1,000 UK adults — including 207 who had taken GLP-1 medications — was published by insight consultancy KAM in partnership with the charity Drinkaware.
Some 22% of people taking GLP-1 drugs said they felt the effects of alcohol more quickly and 18% experienced discomfort such as nausea when drinking.
Nonetheless, 71% said alcohol was central to their enjoyment of social occasions.
The survey found that increasing use of the medication may also be shaping the drinking habits of non-users.
Almost half of those who had never used weight loss drugs said they knew someone who had. Of those, 30% said they drink less alcohol when socialising with them and 20% were socialising in different ways when with users, such as opting for coffee or more food-led occasions.
Annabelle Bonus, director of research, impact and strategy at Drinkaware, said: « This report adds to our growing evidence of a shift towards moderation in the UK, as drinking behaviours continue to evolve alongside the rise of GLP-1 medications.
“We will continue to provide clear, evidence-based information and advice to everyone — whether they are using GLP 1 medications or not — helping people better understand their drinking and supporting moderation as a cultural norm across the UK. »
The survey findings were published in the report Drinking Differently: GLP-1 and Alcohol. Clinical trials of people taking weight loss jabs have found evidence of similar effects.
One study involving 48 people with alcohol-use disorder found that low doses of semaglutide cut the amount they drank by around 40%.
The findings, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, suggested the benefits of the jabs may be even greater than effects seen with existing drugs to curb alcoholism.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina in the US stressed that larger and longer studies would be needed.
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