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A recent study suggests that dulaglutide, a diabetes medication known for mimicking the hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood glucose levels and weight gain, might substantially reduce the risk of significant weight gain among women after they quit smoking.
The findings, published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention and Health, highlight women’s increased susceptibility—five times more than men—to substantial weight gain post-smoking cessation. This trend, accompanied by higher smoking relapse rates among women, has been a subject of interest, suggesting a potential link between quitting smoking and concerns about weight gain, according to researchers from the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland.
Fabienne Baur from the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism at the University stated, “Our data indicate that adjunct dulaglutide treatment might be particularly beneficial for patients, especially women, facing a high risk of considerable weight gain after quitting smoking.”
The study aimed to reassess previously published clinical trial data to determine gender-specific differences in weight changes post-smoking cessation. The trial encompassed 255 adults, with 155 women, aged between 42 to 44 years and smoking an average of 20 cigarettes daily for nearly two decades.
Participants received either once-weekly doses of dulaglutide or a placebo along with smoking cessation treatment for 12 weeks. Results revealed that women on dulaglutide experienced weight loss of around 1-2 kilograms, whereas those on the placebo gained approximately 2-2.5 kilograms. Men on dulaglutide shed over half a kilogram, while those on the placebo gained around 2 kilograms.
Despite the positive impact of dulaglutide on weight, researchers observed no immediate effect on short-term quitting rates among both men and women. The researchers cautioned that the risk of weight gain post-smoking cessation might fluctuate over time or depend on various factors, including nicotine dependence or age.
While dulaglutide exhibits potential in curbing weight gain following smoking cessation, the study emphasizes the need for further exploration into its long-term effects and the intricate interplay between smoking cessation, weight gain, and gender-specific responses.
