Popular weight-loss drugs may help protect against a deadly disease, doctor says
“So if it’s fixing the overall chronic inflammation of the body, that’s going to help for a lot of reasons,” she said.
“I think this is going to extend beyond breast cancer, but we need to get that scientific proof of a direct cause — is this just an association or a correlation?”
More research needed
Rourke emphasized that researchers have not yet proven that GLP-1 medications directly affect breast cancer cells.
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“But this study has now garnered enough attention, interest and scientific hypotheses that the work is getting started for the randomized controlled trials that we’re all waiting for — and then we can act upon those.”
The main reason that GLP-1s may aid in cancer prevention is that the drugs promote weight loss and reduce chronic inflammation, according to a doctor. (iStock)
To patients who are considering starting GLP-1s, Rourke offered the following advice.
“My bottom-line message on this one is, if you have an elevated BMI, you’re trying to lose weight, you’ve tried a healthy diet, you’ve tried to exercise, and you’re not winning that fight, consider GLP-1s, and you’re going to get a secondary benefit.”
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In particular, post-menopausal women who are struggling with weight gain could get an extra benefit, Rourke added, but she urges them to “call their doctor and have that one-on-one conversation.”
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/popular-weight-loss-drugs-help-protect-against-deadly-disease-doctor-says