Latest news with #WeillCornellMedicine
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
After people stop taking GLP-1s, the effects also end, study finds
People who stop taking GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound started to regain weight in a short amount of time, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed 11 different studies to understand weight outcomes after stopping anti-obesity medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1s, which mimic the GLP-1 hormone that is produced in the gut after eating. It can help produce more insulin, which reduces blood sugar and therefore helps control Type 2 diabetes. It can also interact with the brain and signal a person to feel full, which -- when coupled with diet and exercise -- can help reduce weight in those who are overweight or obese. MORE: Compound versions of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss halted by FDA The team, from Peking University People's Hospital in China, found that most began to regain weight within about two months of stopping treatment. In many cases, that weight gain continued for several months before leveling off. The study was published Tuesday in the journal BMC Medicine. However, Dr. Louis J. Aronne, founder and former chairman of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, told ABC News that doesn't mean the medications failed. In fact, they worked exactly as intended, he said. Aronne, who is also a physician at Weill Cornell Medicine, said the findings are consistent with what happens when treatment ends for other chronic conditions. "What happens after stopping an obesity medication is exactly what happens after stopping a diabetes, cholesterol-lowering, or a blood pressure medication," he told ABC News. "The effect of the medicine goes away, and people tend to go back to where they started." Patients who had taken GLP-1s tended to lose more weight during treatment, which meant they had more weight to gain back afterward. 'It's not that the medicine didn't work,' Aronne said. 'It's that they lost more weight, so they had more weight to regain.' Even participants who continued healthy eating and exercise habits after stopping medication experienced weight gain. MORE: Compound versions of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss halted by FDA That doesn't mean those efforts weren't worthwhile, Aronne further explained, but rather that obesity is a chronic disease with complex biological drivers. "You wouldn't stop insulin and expect a person's blood sugar to stay low," he said. The researchers noted several limitations, including a small number of included studies and a focus on weight and BMI without tracking other health markers like blood sugar or cholesterol. These medications may not right for everyone, and decisions about starting or stopping should be made with your doctor, according to MedlinePlus. People with certain medical conditions, including a history of pancreatitis or thyroid cancer, may not be good candidates, and should speak with their doctor to decide what management strategies are right for them. Alexandra-Elise Dakaud Patterson, MD, MS, is a general surgery resident at University of Toledo Medical Center and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit. Solve the daily Crossword
Sydney Morning Herald
16-07-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why some men trying for a family are ditching their hair loss treatments
Stone had known there was a small possibility of reduced libido and erectile dysfunction (between 1 per cent and 2 per cent), but he didn't know that the drug might be linked to his fertility struggles. Finasteride is prescribed at higher doses to treat enlarged prostates and has been known to mildly affect sperm counts. But Dr James Kashanian, a urologist and the director of male sexual health at Weill Cornell Medicine, said the drug has also 'significantly affected' some patients' sperm quality, even at 1 milligram, the dose typically prescribed for hair loss. Unlike with other side effects of the drug, it's not clear how common reduced sperm counts are, and much of the data is anecdotal. While some doctors say that it can be a significant problem, especially among men already struggling with fertility issues, others say it plays a relatively small role. Still, many young men are not aware of any potential risks, said Dr Mary Samplaski, a urologist and the former director of male infertility at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Will Stone had been prescribed finasteride for hair loss through the US telehealth company Hims & Hers. A senior vice president at the company said it provides information about finasteride when patients are prescribed it and includes a warning on its website about infertility and poor sperm quality. In most cases, fertility issues seem to reverse within a few months of going off the medication and there is no evidence it causes birth defects. In Stone's case, he stopped taking it the day his urologist told him to. When he tested again 10 weeks later, his sperm count had jumped to 250 million per millilitre, a 125-fold increase. A 'Male Contraceptive'? In 1999, the first peer-reviewed study to look at finasteride and sperm quantity found no effects. But a small 2013 study, led by Samplaski, focused specifically on 27 men dealing with infertility issues while taking finasteride. Researchers asked them to go off the drug for three months, the amount of time it typically takes for a new population of sperm to form. When the men were retested after going off finasteride, they registered an 11-fold increase in sperm counts on average. Researchers suspect that the reason for the decline in sperm count is that the medication can shift the balance of hormones in the body, said Dr Scott Lundy, the program director of urology at the Cleveland Clinic. It does this by suppressing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which has been found to lead to baldness. Loading For some people, disrupting hormonal ratios can create fertility issues. 'A lot of people don't know that testosterone is a male contraceptive,' said Dr Kirk Lo, a urologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto who worked on the study with Samplaski. However, there are very few high-quality studies looking at finasteride and sperm counts, and not every doctor considers it an important factor in fertility. Dr Kian Asanad, the director of the USC Fertility and Men's Sexual Health Centre, says he couldn't recall a case when taking a patient off finasteride solved their fertility issues independently. 'I keep it in the back of my mind as a possible factor, but I would say it's a less common thing.' In the US, Kashanian says he has had more conversations about finasteride in recent years as more men have come in seeking treatment for infertility. Dr Marc Goldstein, the surgeon-in-chief of male reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, agreed and says that after he lays out the risks of taking finasteride while trying to conceive, some patients will choose to stay on the medication. 'Vanity reigns supreme,' he says. But others, like Stone, are happy to go off the hair treatment. After his sperm count rebounded, last year he and his wife had a healthy baby boy. He has no plans to go back on finasteride any time soon. 'I'd have gladly lost every hair on my head to have the kid we have now,' he says.
The Age
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Age
Why some men trying for a family are ditching their hair loss treatments
Stone had known there was a small possibility of reduced libido and erectile dysfunction (between 1 per cent and 2 per cent), but he didn't know that the drug might be linked to his fertility struggles. Finasteride is prescribed at higher doses to treat enlarged prostates and has been known to mildly affect sperm counts. But Dr James Kashanian, a urologist and the director of male sexual health at Weill Cornell Medicine, said the drug has also 'significantly affected' some patients' sperm quality, even at 1 milligram, the dose typically prescribed for hair loss. Unlike with other side effects of the drug, it's not clear how common reduced sperm counts are, and much of the data is anecdotal. While some doctors say that it can be a significant problem, especially among men already struggling with fertility issues, others say it plays a relatively small role. Still, many young men are not aware of any potential risks, said Dr Mary Samplaski, a urologist and the former director of male infertility at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Will Stone had been prescribed finasteride for hair loss through the US telehealth company Hims & Hers. A senior vice president at the company said it provides information about finasteride when patients are prescribed it and includes a warning on its website about infertility and poor sperm quality. In most cases, fertility issues seem to reverse within a few months of going off the medication and there is no evidence it causes birth defects. In Stone's case, he stopped taking it the day his urologist told him to. When he tested again 10 weeks later, his sperm count had jumped to 250 million per millilitre, a 125-fold increase. A 'Male Contraceptive'? In 1999, the first peer-reviewed study to look at finasteride and sperm quantity found no effects. But a small 2013 study, led by Samplaski, focused specifically on 27 men dealing with infertility issues while taking finasteride. Researchers asked them to go off the drug for three months, the amount of time it typically takes for a new population of sperm to form. When the men were retested after going off finasteride, they registered an 11-fold increase in sperm counts on average. Researchers suspect that the reason for the decline in sperm count is that the medication can shift the balance of hormones in the body, said Dr Scott Lundy, the program director of urology at the Cleveland Clinic. It does this by suppressing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which has been found to lead to baldness. Loading For some people, disrupting hormonal ratios can create fertility issues. 'A lot of people don't know that testosterone is a male contraceptive,' said Dr Kirk Lo, a urologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto who worked on the study with Samplaski. However, there are very few high-quality studies looking at finasteride and sperm counts, and not every doctor considers it an important factor in fertility. Dr Kian Asanad, the director of the USC Fertility and Men's Sexual Health Centre, says he couldn't recall a case when taking a patient off finasteride solved their fertility issues independently. 'I keep it in the back of my mind as a possible factor, but I would say it's a less common thing.' In the US, Kashanian says he has had more conversations about finasteride in recent years as more men have come in seeking treatment for infertility. Dr Marc Goldstein, the surgeon-in-chief of male reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, agreed and says that after he lays out the risks of taking finasteride while trying to conceive, some patients will choose to stay on the medication. 'Vanity reigns supreme,' he says. But others, like Stone, are happy to go off the hair treatment. After his sperm count rebounded, last year he and his wife had a healthy baby boy. He has no plans to go back on finasteride any time soon. 'I'd have gladly lost every hair on my head to have the kid we have now,' he says.
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Health
- Zawya
WCM-Q clinician scientist ranked number one medical researcher in Qatar for third year running
Doha – Dr. Rayaz Malik, professor of medicine and assistant dean for clinical research partnerships at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) and senior consultant physician in endocrinology and diabetes at Hamad Medical Corporation, has been ranked the number one researcher in medicine in Qatar for the third year in a row by an independent research portal that compiles a global list of high-achieving scientists each year. The list also ranked Dr. Malik among the top 10,000 researchers in medicine in the world, placing him at number 8,350. The ranking is based on an analysis of the number of influential pieces of research authored by the scientist, combined with awards, fellowships and academic recognition they have received from leading research institutions and government agencies. To date, Dr. Malik has published 729 scientific papers, and his work has been cited 40,188 times. The majority of his research (over 350 papers) has been published since he joined WCM-Q from the University of Manchester, UK in June 2014. Dr. Malik said: 'Our clinical research program is now recognized internationally, with Qatar ranking second in the world for publications in diabetic neuropathy, with a Relative Publication Output per capita (RPOP) of 18.01 publications per inhabitant. I am very grateful for the support from WCM-Q and the investment in research infrastructure made by Qatar Foundation and the Ministry of Public Health.' Dr. Malik added: 'According to the Global Burden of Disease study published in Lancet Neurology in 2024, neurodegenerative diseases affect 3.4 billion people across the world and diabetic neuropathy, characterized by pain, numbness and ulcers with lower leg amputation, has witnessed the biggest increase (92%) in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2021. The key to improving patient's lives with neurodegenerative diseases is earlier diagnosis and treatment.' With this as a key focus, Dr. Malik and his team have pioneered use of the Corneal Confocal Microscope (CCM), a rapid eye scan to diagnose and predict progression of diabetic neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, schizophrenia and autism, among other conditions. Dr. Malik also said: 'Our clinical research program could not have been so successful without our very positive collaborations with clinicians and researchers in major healthcare institutions across Qatar, including diabetes and endocrinology and neurology and the Clinical Trials Unit in Hamad Medical Corporation; endocrinology and gastroenterology in Sidra Medicine and several key departments in Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Qatar University.' About Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar is a partnership between Cornell University and Qatar Foundation. It offers a comprehensive Six-Year Medical Program leading to the Cornell University M.D. degree with teaching by Cornell and Weill Cornell faculty and by physicians at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Sidra Medicine, the Primary Health Care Corporation, and Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, who hold Weill Cornell appointments. Through its biomedical research program, WCM-Q is building a sustainable research community in Qatar while advancing basic science and clinical research. Through its medical college, WCM-Q seeks to provide the finest education possible for medical students, to improve health care both now and for future generations, and to provide high quality health care to the Qatari population. For more info, please contact: Hanan Lakkis Associate Director, Media and Publications Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar hyl2004@
Al Bawaba
14-07-2025
- Health
- Al Bawaba
WCM-Q clinician scientist ranked number one medical researcher in Qatar for third year running
Dr. Rayaz Malik, professor of medicine and assistant dean for clinical research partnerships at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) and senior consultant physician in endocrinology and diabetes at Hamad Medical Corporation, has been ranked the number one researcher in medicine in Qatar for the third year in a row by an independent research portal that compiles a global list of high-achieving scientists each list also ranked Dr. Malik among the top 10,000 researchers in medicine in the world, placing him at number 8,350. The ranking is based on an analysis of the number of influential pieces of research authored by the scientist, combined with awards, fellowships and academic recognition they have received from leading research institutions and government agencies. To date, Dr. Malik has published 729 scientific papers, and his work has been cited 40,188 times. The majority of his research (over 350 papers) has been published since he joined WCM-Q from the University of Manchester, UK in June Malik said: 'Our clinical research program is now recognized internationally, with Qatar ranking second in the world for publications in diabetic neuropathy, with a Relative Publication Output per capita (RPOP) of 18.01 publications per inhabitant. I am very grateful for the support from WCM-Q and the investment in research infrastructure made by Qatar Foundation and the Ministry of Public Health.'Dr. Malik added: 'According to the Global Burden of Disease study published in Lancet Neurology in 2024, neurodegenerative diseases affect 3.4 billion people across the world and diabetic neuropathy, characterized by pain, numbness and ulcers with lower leg amputation, has witnessed the biggest increase (92%) in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2021. The key to improving patient's lives with neurodegenerative diseases is earlier diagnosis and treatment.'With this as a key focus, Dr. Malik and his team have pioneered use of the Corneal Confocal Microscope (CCM), a rapid eye scan to diagnose and predict progression of diabetic neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, schizophrenia and autism, among other conditions. Dr. Malik also said: 'Our clinical research program could not have been so successful without our very positive collaborations with clinicians and researchers in major healthcare institutions across Qatar, including diabetes and endocrinology and neurology and the Clinical Trials Unit in Hamad Medical Corporation; endocrinology and gastroenterology in Sidra Medicine and several key departments in Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Qatar University.'
