Fat jab results may improve with six healthy habits, experts say

A Harvard study of about 100,000 former US veterans found that GLP-1 medication use combined with six healthy lifestyle changes was associated with more than a 40% lower risk of major cardiovascular events; GLP-1 use without lifestyle changes was linked to a 16% lower risk.

A Harvard School of Public Health analysis examined long-term data from roughly 100,000 former US military veterans prescribed GLP-1 medications used for type 2 diabetes. The researchers assessed whether combining these drugs with healthy lifestyle habits was associated with differences in risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death. The study period covered 2011 to 2023 and included FDA‑approved GLP‑1 drugs such as semaglutide and liraglutide. Authors reported larger risk reductions when medication use was paired with healthier habits. Key findings: - GLP-1 medication use combined with six positive lifestyle changes was associated with more than a 40% lower risk of major cardiovascular events. - Using a GLP-1 medication without lifestyle changes was associated with a 16% lower risk of major cardiovascular events; adherence to all eight habits in the study was linked with a 60% lower risk. - The lifestyle factors studied included healthy diet, regular exercise, not smoking, restful sleep, minimal alcohol intake, stress management, social connection and no opioid use disorder. - Study limitations noted by the authors include its observational design and a study population that was mostly white men. - The report cited that about 2.5 million people in the UK are thought to be taking GLP-1 drugs as a weight loss aid, and mentioned common side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Summary: The analysis found associations between GLP-1 use plus healthier habits and substantially lower rates of major cardiovascular events, while GLP-1 use alone showed smaller, but measurable, associations. Undetermined at this time.