Weight Loss Drugs Could Help With Alcoholism

Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic could help those with another serious problem: alcoholism. Research published in Nature Communications indicates that those taking semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, had up to 56% decreased odds of developing or relapsing into alcoholism. Researchers analyzed medical records of 600,000 patients with diabetes and 84,000 patients with obesity to draw their conclusions. “Parts of the brain that drive eating behaviors overlap extensively with the drive to use alcohol or other substances,” Dr. Lorenzo Leggio said. Alcohol triggers the dopamine reward system, much like food does. (UPI)