Health
Genetic Variants May Reduce Weight Loss Response to GLP-1 Medications
Health Points
- About 10% of people may carry genetic variants linked to GLP-1 resistance.
- The findings could help explain why some people respond less strongly to Ozempic and Wegovy.
- Experts say precision medicine may guide better weight loss treatment choices in the future.
While GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are famous for their weight loss results, they may not work for everyone.
New findings published in Genome Medicine suggest that certain genetic variations contribute to a phenomenon known as GLP-1 resistance.
Researchers discovered that roughly 10% of people carry specific genetic variants that lead to higher hormone levels but lower effectiveness.
This resistance means the body requires more of the hormone to achieve the same biological impact on blood sugar regulation.
“This aligns with my clinical experience, where I frequently see a variable response to GLP-1 medications,” says Dr. Mir Ali, a bariatric surgeon and medical director.
Experts suggest that for those who do not respond to injections, alternatives such as metabolic surgery or combination drug therapies may be necessary.
Precision medicine is becoming the new standard to help doctors determine which weight loss pathways work best for each individual.