Can GLP-1 Drugs Do More Than Help You Lose Weight?

Weight-loss drugs are everywhere in the headlines. But what might they mean for our health beyond the number on the scales? This week, Professor Afif EL-Khuffash and Dr Anne Doherty explore GLP-1 medicines and the research into their effects on the heart, kidneys, liver and painful knees. They explain how these medicines influence blood sugar and appetite, unpack “food noise”, and discuss why managing obesity involves much more than willpower. They also explore emerging research on alcohol cravings, the findings in Alzheimer’s disease, and the practical realities of treatment, including side effects, nutrition, maintaining muscle and medical supervision. For breastfeeding parents, Afif explains what the available research can tell us, what remains unknown, and why individual circumstances matter. Along the way, Anne questions both the evidence and Afif’s increasingly busy social calendar. Science, scepticism and a little marital cross-examination as we explore what these medicines can offer, and where the questions remain. This episode provides general information and does not replace individual medical advice.