Weight loss drugs could prevent knee replacement surgery, study finds

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleNew research indicates that weight loss medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, could substantially decrease the necessity for knee replacement surgery for certain patients. A study conducted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine analysed patient data from 2010 to 2024, focusing on the use of GLP-1 drugs among individuals diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. The findings demonstrated a “significantly lower incidence” of total knee replacements among those who had taken GLP-1s, with this protective effect becoming more pronounced with extended treatment periods and newer generations of the drugs. Researchers estimated that a 1.44 per cent absolute risk reduction over one year could result in 14,400 fewer knee replacements annually in the US, assuming patients used newer GLP-1s for three years. While the study suggests a potential “disease-modifying activity beyond weight loss alone,” experts like Professor Lucy Donaldson from Arthritis UK view the findings as encouraging for osteoarthritis management, pending further prospective trials. In fullWeight loss drugs may significantly reduce need for knee replacement surgery, new study suggestsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Raccontata damedpagetoday.comindependent.co.uktheguardian.com