The new class of weight loss drugs, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1), were originally developed to treat diabetes. Along the way something curious began to happen. People lost weight and lost their desire to gorge on food. About half the adult population is obese or severely obese, while nearly one-third more (31%) are merely overweight. The US has so many overweight people researchers are investigating the benefits of prescribing the drugs beyond the morbidly obese. Drugmakers also began to investigate GLP-1s effect on other conditions, possibly because drugmakers want to coerce or convince health plans to cover the drugs for more people. Research is finding more side effects, most good and some bad.
A recent study found weight loss drugs are quietly wrecking marriages:
A Swedish study on gastric band patients found those who lost weight quickly were roughly twice as likely to divorce; its lead researcher tells the Telegraph similar patterns may follow the GLP-1 boom, as one partner’s “new life” leaves the other behind.
Some, like Emily, say newfound attention from others exposed how sexually dormant their marriages had become. Others report the opposite—partners who slimmed down but seemed emotionally “flat,” less interested in food, fun, and sex.
Some report that GLP-1 receptor agonists can reduce patients’ libido, dulling or dampening their desire and experience:
“Sex is based on drive and reward as well, and many neuronal networks involved in food and sex drives overlap,” he said.
“When we take GLP-1s, we are essentially dampening the internal processes that drive us to address our evolutionary needs. By inhibiting the pathways that drive us towards food acquisition, we are subsequently affecting the overlapping systems that drive us to have sex.”
It is easy to understand how one overweight partner becoming slim could impact a marriage, especially if the other partner is overweight and unwilling to lose weight. Perhaps the reason one partner took the initiative was because he or she was tired of their partner and wanted to improve their future prospects.
GLP-1 drugs may even reduce gambling and shopping addictions:
Reports of GLP-1 users losing interest in gambling, compulsive shopping, and other behavioral addictions are multiplying across social media and clinic waiting rooms. The dopamine science theoretically supports it. But the clinical evidence is thin.
There is even evidence weight some loss drugs can reduce heavy drinking, found in both human and animal studies.
Additional potential benefits include:
[T]he group taking the drug had a lower incidence of schizophrenia, alcohol and drug use disorders, and less suicidal ideation.”
There is emerging evidence GLP-1 drugs reduce obesity-related cancers:
New research presented at the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium shows a reduced risk of colorectal cancer among GLP-1 users. While the evidence is strongest for colorectal cancer, “It’ll be interesting to see if this is a ‘pan-cancer’ effect, meaning these drugs could reduce the risk of other obesity-related cancers,” said Dr. Saltzman.
The GLP-1 drug, tirzepatide, may reduce heart attack risks by 33%. Some of the other diseases GLP-1s are thought to treat or mitigate, include:
- Heart disease
- Fatty liver disease
- Sleep apnea
- Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome
- Prediabetes
- Smoking
There are also studies claiming weight loss drugs reduce kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, but also appear to reduce the risk of:
- Seizures
- Coagulation disorders
- Certain infectious illnesses
- Some respiratory conditions
Yet, GLP-1s are also associated with higher risks:
But researchers found that GLP-1 medications were linked with a significantly higher risk of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Certain kidney problems, low blood pressure, and dizziness were also more likely among the people who took GLP-1 drugs.
Finally, there is also an increased risk of arthritis and joint pain, gallbladder disease (including gallstones and inflammation), muscle mass loss, bone density reduction and increased fracture risk from rapid weight loss.
The new class of weight loss drugs are truly wonder drugs. However, it’s not clear whether many of the benefits are independent of weight loss, or because of it. For instance, the diabetes drug Metformin is often touted as a longevity drug in people who do not have diabetes or are overweight. It remains to be seen whether many of the benefits highlighted above would accrue to regular weight people and those who are only slightly overweight.