How Mounjaro Can Help with More Than Just Weight Loss
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Most people know Mounjaro as a weight loss injection, but that is only part of its story. Mounjaro weight loss injections sit in a class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agnostics. In simple terms, this means that they are treatments which mimic natural hormones in the body which help regulate blood sugar, control appetite, and improve metabolism.
In the UK, around 1.6 million people have used a GLP-1 medication, like Mounjaro in the past year. While many use it for weight loss purposes alone (~910,000), a large number of people are also benefitting from improvements in blood sugar control, heart health, and more.
So, although these medications are commonly used for weight management, they may also have benefits for other areas of health.
Heart Health
Heart disease and other cardiovascular-related illnesses are closely tied to blood sugar, weight, and cholesterol levels.
When blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time (such as in type 2 diabetes), it can wear away at the heart as it tries to rectify the damage caused to the blood vessels. Over time increasing the risk of a serious cardiovascular event such as heart attack or stroke.
Improve blood sugar control in those with diabetes in one study reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by 42%. While those involved in the study already had a preexisting blood sugar condition; this study could indicate how long-term heart health could be improved with the aid of a GLP-1 treatment.
Mounjaro’s ability to support weight loss can also lead to:
- Lowered blood pressure
- Improved cholesterol levels
- Reduced strain on the heart
“Losing just 5 to 10% of body weight can have meaningful improvements in blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels”. – Sunny Dhain
One study which encouraged patients to adopt a calorie deficient diet, and increase physical exercise, found that those with a weight loss of 5-10% had improved blood sugar control, improved HDL cholesterol levels, and lower blood pressure. Another also noted that for patients with a higher weight and another health condition such as high blood pressure or high lipid levels, a 10% weight loss could increase life expectancy due to these improved health benefits.
Type 2 Diabetes Control
Originally, GLP-1 medications were developed for type 2 diabetes. They work by:
- Regulating release of insulin
- Reducing blood sugar spike which occur after eating
- Lowering long-term blood sugar levels (HbA1c).
Yet, medication such as Mounjaro have since far exceeded their ability to help those with type 2 diabetes, transforming the way obesity is now treated.
Compared to some traditional treatments for diabetes such as metformin and insulin lispro, Mounjaro found stronger reductions in blood sugar levels in clinical studies.
Brain Health
Your brain uses the most energy to function than any other organ in the body. It’s highly sensitive to blood sugar levels, using blood sugar as its energy source.
Too little sugar and the brain struggle to complete its basic emotional regulation, cognitive work, and struggle with keeping attention.
Too much sugar can damage the blood vessels in the brain causing issues with mood, memory, and learning ability.
By stabilising blood sugar and improving metabolic health, Mounjaro could indirectly support brain health. Many may not realise how their brain is being affected by high blood sugar levels, but over time this could be causing real damage.
Early research has theorised that bringing down this heightened blood sugar levels could even reduce the onset of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. This is by putting less strain upon the blood vessels in the brain. However, this research is still only in early stages.
The link between Mounjaro and GLP-1 injections and how these can alter how we think in relation to food noise can be found in our blog:
Kidney Health
Our kidneys filter waste from the blood and neatly remove it in urine. But high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels make their job much harder. Over time adding strain to the kidneys that can lead to kidney disease.
Mounjaro cannot directly ‘fix’ the kidneys, but it may help protect them by improving some of the main risk factors:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Giving better blood sugar control
- Reducing metabolic stress
Reducing the risk of kidney disease or at least slowing its progression.
It’s also important to be aware that side effects of Mounjaro such as dehydration or diarrhoea can place added strain onto the kidneys if there isn’t enough fluid intake. Staying well hydrated is essential in managing side effects of Mounjaro, especially in the early stages of treatment.
Liver Health
Metabolic dysfunction-associate steatosis disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcohol related fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a common condition where fat builds up in the liver. Leading to chronic liver inflammation, scarring, cirrhosis, and a risk of liver cancer if left untreated.
Rates of MASLD in the UK are rising likely due to the rising levels of obesity within the country. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and a poor diet filled with unhealthy foods and drinks are directly linked to MASLD developing.
Weight loss is one of the best ways to improve liver health; reducing the risk of liver disease. And Mounjaro can support that by regulating appetite, and improving metabolic function.
Sleep Benefits
Excess weight, especially around the neck, has a strong link with sleep disturbances such as snoring and sleep apnoea where breathing briefly stops during sleep. This is due to the fat around the neck area which can compress airways, restricting airflow. Overtime, these sleep disturbances can seriously affect long-term health, causing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Mounjaro will not directly improve sleep, but by supporting weight loss, particularly around the neck, it could alleviate these sleep disturbances by reducing the obstruction in the neck caused by fatty tissue.
To read more about how you can get help with snoring, or how weight loss can help; read our blogs.
Colon Cancer
Carrying excess weight and being physically inactive doesn’t just affect day-to-day health, but it can be linked to long-term health issues such as a heightened risk of several cancers. These include liver, kidney, pancreatic, breast, and endometrial cancer. But one of the most notable risk is with colorectal cancer: cancer of the colon and rectum.
What’s driving this trend? Well, the link between excess weight and raised levels of insulin in the blood can promote the growth and survival of cancer cells, and fat around the abdomen can cause low-grade chronic inflammation which can damage DNA over time. Together, these factors create an environment where cancer is more likely to develop.
Mounjaro and other GLP-1s are not proven to prevent cancer. However, they may help reduce the underlying risk factors by improving insulin sensitivity, supporting weight loss, and encouraging better metabolic health.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS affects 1 in 10 women in the UK and one of the key drivers behind many of these symptoms is insulin resistance. Leading to symptoms such as:
- Higher insulin levels
- Increased androgen production
- Disrupted ovulation and menstrual cycles
- Easier weight gain
This is where Mounjaro has been found to help. By helping to better support blood sugar control, help lower insulin levels, and reduce hormonal imbalances linked to PCOS, this can lead to a reduction in symptoms. In turn helping to improve ovulation, support weight management, and create a more regular menstrual cycle.
Read more about how Mounjaro could help with PCOS symptoms in our blog.
Mental Wellbeing
While not the case for everyone, weight and mental health are closely linked. Both physically and emotionally, causing issues such as depression, anxiety, or eating disorders through hormonal imbalances (such as increased cortisol), and social factors such as stigma, which can lead to social isolation and a negative loop of reduced social support.
Weight loss, no matter how much, can bring positive psychological changes, including reduced anxiety and depression, improved self-esteem, and a healthier body image, especially in those who have previously struggled with weight-related mental health challenges.
Everyone’s weight loss journey is unique and is often driven by physical health concerns. Yet, weight loss can also help rebalance hormones like dopamine (the happy hormone), and serotonin (the mood regulator), supporting better mood and overall mental wellbeing.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Inflammation is your body’s way of signalling that something is wrong. In some cases such as cuts, bruises, or infections, it helps the body heal. However, in people with a higher weight, inflammation can become persistent, leading to chronic low-grade inflammation. Over time, this ongoing inflammation may contribute to conditions such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, immune system dysfunctions, and mental health struggles such as anxiety and insomnia.
Weight management can help reduce this inflammatory state. Medications like Mounjaro aren’t anti-inflammatory directly, but by supporting weight loss and addressing underlying causes, Mounjaro can help lower overall inflammation in the body.
The Bottom Line
Mounjaro is often viewed as simply a weight loss treatment to help with how we look, but its effects extend far beyond a waistline.
By improving how the body regulates sugar, appetite, and metabolism, Mounjaro can have a wide range of health benefits: how improving heart health, diabetes management, potentially improving liver and kidney health, sleep quality, and possibly even having a significant impact mental health too.
Mounjaro is by no means a wonder-drug, and it is certainly not a standalone solution, but when paired with healthy lifestyle habits it can be a powerful tool to improve the health of those with a higher weight.