Nottingham expert hints popular weight loss jab could do more than tackle obesity
Researchers are starting to look at its impact on alcohol dependency
Researchers in Nottingham have hinted a popular weight loss jab could be used to tackle more than obesity.
The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Nottingham is helping lead a project to see whether Wegovy has an impact on alcohol dependency.
Could it tackle more than obesity?
However, Professor Guruprasad Aithal, joint-lead investigator on the study from Nottingham said the early research has indicated it could go even further:
"Some of the patterns revealed anything people habitually used would get better. That includes smoking and drug-use.
"We are particularly focused on tackling alcohol dependency because there are pockets of the East Midlands that have an above-average risk of alcohol-related problems. The region as a whole also has an above-average risk of obesity related liver conditions," he said.
Tackling alcohol dependency...
The drug Semaglutide, also known as Wegovy, mimics the GLP-1 hormone and is understood to slow digestion and suppress appetite. Researchers now believe it could assist people grappling with alcohol dependency and related health issues.
Alcohol consumption is among the UK's dominant causes of death, incurring £5 billion annually for the NHS, while harmful drinking remains the primary factor in liver disease.
Roughly half of individuals affected by alcohol-related liver disease are obese, enhancing the pace of liver damage and related fatalities.
How will the study work?
Starting in September 2026, the trial will involve 268 participants from varied backgrounds across England, Wales, and Scotland.
All participants must face alcohol dependence, obesity, and chronic liver disease.
The trial will see participants receiving Semaglutide (Wegovy) or a placebo treatment over 36 weeks.
Researchers aim to determine if the drug can decrease alcohol usage while also improving weight loss, liver health, and overall quality of life.
Apollos Clifton-Brown from Framework, an East Midlands charity, commented on the initiative: “Alcohol and obesity are leading causes of preventable death in the UK.
"For people experiencing both, the impact on their health is rapid and severe. Whilst services are designed to treat one problem or the other, they struggle to halt the cumulative liver damage caused when these two conditions combine."