GLP-1 weight loss drugs could be risky for women in menopause: Expert

(NewsNation) — Millions of women use GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight during menopause, but a bone health expert says the combination may cause future fractures in women.

Menopause and GLP-1 weight loss trends collide, creating a “perfect storm” for women’s skeletons, says Wendy Kohrt, a bone health researcher at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine.

“Postmenopausal women are already at a time in their lives where they are losing bone at a rapid rate.” he told UCHealth Today. “They are seeking treatment with GLP-1 drugs, which will likely accelerate bone loss even further.”

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Post-menopausal women are already losing bone faster than normal, and now many are adding a drug that accelerates weight loss. can cause bone loss.

Why is this happening now?

About 15% of adult women in the U.S., or about 19 million people, are currently taking GLP-1 medication, according to UCHealth. Among age groups, women between the ages of 50 and 64 use them at the highest rate; About one in five have tried it.

At the same time Women who go through menopause naturally lose bone density faster due to lower levels of estrogen, which normally helps maintain bone.

How does losing weight cause bone loss?

When people lose weight quickly, they often lose muscle, too, and strong muscles maintain strong bones.

In a study conducted in 2006Kohrt found that women who lost about 10 pounds through six months of cardio exercise lost more bone than women who didn’t lose weight, even though the weight loss was mostly fat, not muscle.

“Exercise was not protective,” Kohrt said.

Her team also found that when women regained weight later, they were unable to regain the bone they lost. Research cited by UCHealth found that about two-thirds of people who start GLP-1 lose weight within a year—usually side effects or cost – and many regain most of the weight they lost.

But the bone may not come back with it.

Does exercise protect against this?

Cardio exercises such as walking, running or cycling do not significantly protect bone during weight loss, Kohrt says. Resistance training, such as lifting weights, may be more helpful because it builds muscle, but even that doesn’t completely prevent bone loss.

For women who already have osteoporosis, there is no evidence that exercise alone can prevent fractures; this requires medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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What should women do before starting GLP-1?

Kohrt is a women’s bone density Screen before starting GLP-1, especially since current screening guidelines do not recommend routine osteoporosis checks until age 65. She says this may be too late, given how many young women are currently using the drug.

He also encourages patients to talk to their doctors about weighing the benefits of weight loss against bone risk.

What are the other risks of GLP-1 drugs?

recently JAMA Psychiatry study It found that almost a third of people with an eating disorder reported using GLP-1 injections, and more than 10 percent misused the drugs, raising concerns that some people were using them to fuel an eating disorder.

People with a history of gastrointestinal conditions such as certain thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, or gastroparesis are also advised to avoid GLP-1s.

Meanwhile, drug manufacturers are racing to make medicines easier to use and access. A new oral GLP-1 pill recently showed up to 12% weight loss In a 36-week study, manufacturers claimed fewer side effects than injectable versions.

Starting in July, some Medicare beneficiaries will have access to GLP-1 drugs by paying a flat monthly fee. as part of a temporary program.

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