Patients Managing Weight With GLP-1 Drugs Urged With Caution
- Patients using popular GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic (semaglutide) can reduce their cancer risk by managing weight, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now providing warning labels amid new risk.
- The FDA warns that patients using GLP-1 drugs can experience pulmonary aspiration, where food or liquid gets caught in the lungs. Semaglutide is an FDA-approved prescription medication for adults with type 2 diabetes, and an added benefit is potential weight loss (obesity is a known cancer risk factor).
- Semeglutide works by impacting the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP) hormone that’s released by the gut in response to food. It causes the pancreas to release insulin. GLP-1 also prevents the release of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Being overweight or having obesity are linked with a higher risk of getting 13 types of cancer.” Some of these cancers include breast, colon, ovarian, and stomach (gastric).
Popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic (generic name: semaglutide) now have an added warning label for concerning side effects for people undergoing general anesthesia or deep sedation treatment.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its labeling for glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) drugs about the risk of pulmonary aspiration, which occurs when something like food or liquid gets into the lungs.
Read More
Helping You Live a Healthy Lifestyle
- ‘A Lifestyle Changer’: Healthy Habits to Adopt After an HCM Diagnosis
- A Healthy Diet During Ovarian Cancer
- 8 Secrets to a Long, Healthy Life: Jacques Houot and the Fountain of Youth
- A Healthy Sex Life Is Possible Following Prostate Surgery
- Dig This: The Obstacles to Eating Healthy, and What You Can Do About It
Cancer Risk and Obesity
Bodyweight can be a sensitive subject for many people on any given day. However, among cancer patients whose treatment and diagnosis may influence their weight, the numbers on the scale fuel an already emotional journey.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Being overweight or having obesity are linked with a higher risk of getting 13 types of cancer.”
Research published in the journal “Cancers” says that “Obesity also increases the risk of dying from cancer and may influence the treatment choices. About 4–8% of all cancers are attributed to obesity.”
Some of the cancers associated with being overweight or obese include:
- Colon
- Breast
- Ovarian
- Esophagus
- Pancreatic
- Multiple myeloma
- Endometrial
- Liver
WATCH: Living a healthy lifestyle.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), fat tissue “produces excess amounts of estrogen,” which is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer. The NCI says a person who is severely obese is “7 times” more likely to be diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
Obesity is associated with high levels of insulin, which can lead to colon, kidney, prostate, and endometrial cancer.
Obesity can affect cancer survivors in various ways, including the chance of cancer recurrence and overall quality of life.
To learn more about your ideal healthy weight, determine your body mass index (BMI).
Body weight that exceeds what the body mass index deems appropriate for your weight and height can help determine body fat content. Although your BMI can help you learn if you are at a healthy weight, underweight, overweight, or obese, other factors may contribute to your overall health.
The NCI analyzed several studies to observe physical activity’s impact on overall cancer risk. The NCI says that “higher levels of physical activity are linked to lower risk of several types of cancer.”
Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and managing stress are some ways people can practice leading a healthy life. For cancer survivors, a healthier lifestyle alongside getting regular checks for recurrence may improve your quality of life.
Side Effects of Ozempic
Some of the possible side effects include:
- inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)
- changes in vision
- low blood sugar, kidney problems
- kidney failure
- serious allergic reactions
“The most common side effects of OZEMPIC may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain, and constipation. Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away,” Lexicomp states. “These are not all the possible side effects of OZEMPIC. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.”
How Obesity Can Impact Cancer Risk
Being overweight or obese is linked with an increased risk of many types of cancer, including the following:
- Breast cancer (in women past menopause)
- Colon and rectal cancer
- Endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus)
- Esophagus cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreas cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Meningioma (a tumor of the lining of the brain and spinal cord)
Being overweight or obese might also raise the risk of other cancers, such as:
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Male breast cancer
- Cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box
- Aggressive forms of prostate cancer
Tips to Live a Healthier Life
Dr. Ken Miller, the director of outpatient oncology at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, recommends these four things for cancer survivors to do to try and avoid another cancer diagnosis:
- Exercise at least two hours a week; walking counts
- Eat a low-fat diet
- Eat a colorful diet with lots of fruits and vegetables; doctors recommend two to three cups a day
- Maintain a healthy weight
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
