New research on the impact of obesity medications on alcohol intake has found that these medications significantly reduce alcohol use. 

Research carried out by the Medication Weight Loss Clinic in Dublin quantified changes in alcohol use when patients living with obesity were treated with the obesity medications liraglutide and semaglutide. 

On average, alcohol intake among those being treated reduced from 12 to four units per week. No patient taking the medications experienced an increase in alcohol intake. 

Intake among heavier drinkers decreased from 23 units to eight units per week, a two-thirds reduction, which is an equivalent change from 12 pints to four pints. Patients also lost 8kg of weight in the first four months, with a positive association between alcohol reduction and weight loss. 

The research was carried out by Medication Weight Loss Clinic lead and GP Dr Maurice O’Farrell between January 2023 to March 2024, involving 262 adults living with obesity. The findings were recently published in the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism Journal.