Weight-loss jabs could help obese people control asthma, study suggests
Weight-loss jabs, also known as glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonists (GLP1-RAs), work by mimicing the hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels.
They were initially developed as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes.
A number of types of the drug are recommended to help tackle obesity on the NHS, including semaglutide, or Wegovy, and tirzepatide, or Mounjaro.
Previous studies have suggested the drugs may slash the risk of illnesses like dementia and stroke, with an international team of experts exploring their potential impact on obese people with asthma.
Professor David Price, University of Aberdeen chair in primary care respiratory medicine, said: 'People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments.
'We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids.'
For the study, published in Advances in Therapy, researchers analysed the records of 10,111 people on GLP1-RAs and 50,555 people who were not on the drugs.
After a follow-up period, the team found that those taking weight-loss jabs lost more weight and had improved asthma control.
Researchers said the findings suggest medics 'should pay attention to the relationship between GLP-1 RA and the risk of respiratory diseases'.
Prof Price added: 'We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms.
'In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year.
'Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further.'
Prof Alan Kaplan, chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, said: 'Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs.'
Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, said: 'Research has previously shown that people living with obesity who lose weight see improved control of their asthma, so it's encouraging to see this study show this is still the case when the weight loss is driven by drugs, like the new class of weight loss drugs.
'Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack, so people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening.
'Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative.
'It's too early to say whether these drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely.
'More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control. Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
21 minutes ago
- ITV News
Patients left in tears as NHS GPs fail to prescribe obesity jabs
ITV News Health Correspondent Rebecca Barry and Senior Producer Helena Lambert expose delays in the NHS roll-out of weight-loss drugs The vast majority of GPs in England are not prescribing weight-loss injections on the NHS despite the medication being approved for use, ITV News has found. Since June, general practitioners in England have been allowed to prescribe Mounjaro to severely obese people who have related health problems. At the time, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting described it as an "important step", bringing "revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay". But exclusive research conducted by ITV News has found that only four local NHS health systems in England are making the medication available to patients through GPs. Suzanne Hall from Southport feels let down by the NHS over the delayed roll-out of the drugs. The mum-of-two is on the NHS waiting list for bariatric surgery, but would prefer to try weight-loss injections first. She has managed to lose five stone in six months, through diet and exercise, but still weighs 20 stone, and her obesity is affecting her physical and mental health. The 45-year-old has multiple health problems linked to her weight, including sleep apnoea, high blood pressure and pre-diabetes. It also worsens her ulcerative colitis. When she asked her GP if she could try the jabs, she was told they still aren't available in her area. "I'm just frustrated," Suzanne told ITV News. "I just need a little bit of help, but for some reason, people like me aren't getting the help and support they need." She wishes she could buy the medication privately, but cannot afford it. "I'm working class. We're talking hundreds of pounds. I don't have hundreds of pounds at the end of the month to go and buy Mounjaro injections." In December 2024, Mounjaro was approved for the treatment of obesity on the NHS in England. The drug was initially only available through specialist weight-loss clinics. From June 23 2025, GPs in England were allowed to start prescribing Mounjaro to people with a body mass index (BMI) of over 40 and health conditions linked to their obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or obstructive sleep apnoea. But our investigation exposes a postcode lottery. ITV News obtained information from 33 of the 42 Integrated Care Boards across England. In 29 of the local health systems, patients still can't access Mounjaro through their GP. Only four areas are currently prescribing the weight-loss jabs in NHS primary care settings. They are NHS Suffolk and North East Essex, NHS South West London, NHS West Yorkshire and NHS Sussex. Around 29% of adults in the UK are obese. It's estimated that weight-loss injections are used by 1.5 million people in the UK, mainly through private prescriptions. The government's recently announced 10-Year Plan for the NHS promises to "launch a moonshot to end the obesity epidemic". It includes a pledge to "harness recent breakthroughs in weight-loss medication and expand access through the NHS". At the Clifton Medical Centre in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, more than 200 patients have asked for the weight-loss injections, but they cannot currently access them on the NHS. "I've had patients in tears in front of me," Dr Matthew Capehorn told ITV News. Around 70% of adults in Rotherham are obese or overweight, but GPs in the town can't yet prescribe Mounjaro because local health bosses say the necessary support services for diet and exercise still haven't been set up. "We've got a medication that's approved by the NHS that can help them - and I'm having to say to them yes, it is available, but I can't prescribe it yet," Dr Capehorn, a GP and obesity expert, said. "I don't want to be an NHS doctor saying 'sorry, but you're going to have to go out and self-fund this medication,' because it's not cheap. I want to do what's best for my patients." An NHS spokesperson said: "Weight-loss drugs have a vital role to play in helping many more people manage their weight and lead healthier lives, and the NHS is developing and rolling out a range of lifestyle support that will be available locally and online to ensure they can be prescribed by GPs as part of holistic care. "The NHS is fully supporting the phased rollout of tirzepatide for eligible patients, having issued guidance and provided funding to local ICBs in March. "These represent brand new services in primary care that are being established and scaled up over time, starting with those who are in the most need – and in the meantime, eligible patients can get weight-loss support from a range of other services including the NHS Digital Weight Management programme." A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We expect NHS Integrated Care Boards to be making these drugs, which can help tackle the obesity crisis in the UK, available as part of the phased rollout so those with the highest needs are able to access them." "As we shift our focus from treatment to prevention with our 10 Year Health Plan we are determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay."
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Nurse says she hears 4 final phrases from dying patients in their last moments
End-of-life nurse Julie McFadden has spent 16 years working with dying patients As we approach our final moments, it's hard to predict what our last words might be. However, an end-of-life nurse has observed that many patients tend to utter similar phrases just before passing away, with four expressions particularly prevalent. 'Thank you', 'I forgive you', 'Goodbye' and 'Please forgive me,' are the poignant words that hospice nurse Julie McFadden frequently hears from those on their deathbeds. However, in a conversation with she clarified that these farewells don't always come as one might expect from Hollywood depictions. "It's not usually at their last breath," the California-based medic told the publication. "A lot of people think it's like the movies — a dramatic, last proclamation of something they've always regretted or something they always wanted everyone to know. It's not really like that." Even after 16 years in her role, Julie admits that certain aspects of dying still puzzle her. Discussing with NHS surgeon and podcaster Dr Karan Rajan, she recounted instances of people who seem to 'choose when they are going to die' – a phenomenon that defies easy explanation. According to GloucestershireLive, she said: "They basically will say, 'I'm going to die after this date' or 'I'll wait for my daughter's wedding'. I've literally had a patient say; 'I'm dying tonight' and then die even though they weren't actively dying." When Dr Karan asked what might be occurring in these instances, Nurse Julie confessed: "I have no idea. They did not take anything, they did not do it. I could not believe it... jaw on the floor, like what the heck?" Nurse Julie also delved into the curious cases of patients who report seeing their late loved ones or even pets, clarifying that these visions don't unfold in a cinematic fashion but rather tend to happen around three weeks before death. At the time, she stressed: "Those people who are seeing the dead people are very alert and oriented. They're not like drugged up and on the verge of death. "They're up walking, talking and they are seeing things that we aren't seeing." Moreover, Julie observed that some people may call out for relatives or exhibit child-like behaviours as they approach the end of life. Yet, she noted that experiences can differ greatly, with others passing in a more subdued manner. She told "Sometimes they'll say things that just don't make sense. "But sometimes, they don't make sense to us, but they might make sense to them."
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
People on Mounjaro urged to avoid popular summer drinks as it could ‘make you hungrier'
Drinking alcohol while on Mounjaro could have a range of side effects that may even render your weight loss attempts futile Those taking Mounjaro for weight loss might want to think twice before ordering that cocktail during their summer holidays. Whilst booze doesn't directly clash with the medication, your go-to sugary drink could sabotage your weight loss efforts and trigger side effects that'll put a dampener on your getaway before it's even properly started. Alcohol can send your blood sugar plummeting whilst simultaneously leaving you parched, which amplifies any low blood sugar symptoms you might experience according to experts at ZAVA. This becomes even more pronounced for Mounjaro users, potentially causing dizziness, trembling, irritability or exhaustion. Shedding pounds on Mounjaro may also mean your tolerance for alcohol is reduced. Medical experts cautioned: "Due to the fact that both alcohol and Mounjaro have similar side effects, we recommend that if you are taking Mounjaro, it is best to avoid alcohol, especially after a dose increase or if you already get side effects, however manageable." Alcohol can also ramp up your appetite and weaken your resolve when it comes to making sensible food choices. This means you're more likely to consume extra calories and undo your weight loss progress as a consequence. Cocktails are particularly sneaky calorie bombs, with the humble Piña Colada topping the charts at a whopping 320 calories and 58g of sugar per glass. Coming in second place according to ZAVA's findings is the timeless Margarita containing 248 calories, followed by the Espresso Martini at 225 calories - though the creamy foundation of the latter packs in additional high-fat content. These are dubbed 'empty calories' because they offer zero nutritional value. This results in them being transformed into fat and stored away, causing weight gain as time goes on. However, it's not solely alcohol you need to watch out for if you're determined to stay on your weight loss journey. The specialists highlighted that popular summer beverages bearing vague labels such as "healthy" rather than "low-fat" or "sugar-free" may fail to live up to their claims. They said: "Beverages can be marketed as 'healthy' or 'refreshing' without acting on any promises. If you want to drink healthy beverages, it's best to look for packaging that specifies its low sugar and calorific values. "The main health implications of these sugary beverages are that their calories and sugar content go unnoticed. The high levels of sugar can lead to our blood sugar levels spiking, followed by crashes of fatigue and increased cravings. These crashes trick our brains into thinking that we need more sugar to feel energised again, although our bodies have already consumed a substantial amount of calories and sugar from one drink alone." If you've recently started taking the weight loss drug Mounjaro and find yourself less inclined to reach for a pint in the first place, you're not alone. A recent study has suggested that Mounjaro could potentially curb the desire for alcohol. The limited study examined 962 individuals on tirzepatide, with over 70% reporting a decreased urge to consume alcohol. However, further research is required to substantiate these findings.
