A recent study explored how a diabetes drug, dulaglutide, might influence weight change after stopping smoking. The research, published in a peer-reviewed journal, examined whether dulaglutide could help people avoid gaining weight when they quit nicotine. The findings suggest a potential role for dulaglutide in supporting weight management during smoking cessation, though the authors note that more work is needed to confirm these results and to understand who might benefit most.
The study enrolled 255 individuals who smoked, with 155 identifying as women. Participants ranged in age from the early forties, and the average daily cigarette intake was about 20 cigarettes. Members of the group had varying lengths of smoking history, similar to common real-world quitting attempts. All participants were randomly assigned to one of four interventions: dulaglutide, a placebo, the smoking cessation medicine varenicline, and professional support from a smoking cessation specialist, over a 12-week period. This design aimed to compare the effects of each approach on weight changes after stopping smoking.
Among women, those receiving dulaglutide experienced a modest weight decrease, roughly one to two pounds, while those not receiving the drug tended to gain weight, with increases around two to 2.5 kilograms on average. For men, the picture was different: men taking dulaglutide lost a little more than half a kilogram on average, whereas men in the placebo group gained about two pounds. These patterns point to a possible sex-specific response to dulaglutide in the context of quitting smoking, with women showing a clearer weight-stabilizing effect.
The data also indicated a stronger disparity when comparing women to men in the placebo cohort. Women in this group gained markedly more weight than their male counterparts, reinforcing the idea that dulaglutide may offer particular value to women attempting cessation. Yet the same degree of benefit was not observed in men, where weight trajectories were more mixed and three of 56 men in the placebo group showed weight gain while none of the 44 men in the dulaglutide group did. This highlights the potential for differential effects and underscores the need for further investigation into gender-specific responses and mechanisms.
Overall, the study adds to a growing body of conversation about how weight management intersects with smoking cessation and metabolic health. It suggests that dulaglutide could be a tool to reduce the tendency to regain weight after quitting, especially for women, while acknowledging that the evidence is not yet definitive. The researchers emphasize cautious interpretation and call for additional trials to confirm the observed effects, explore long-term outcomes, and identify which populations might benefit most from this approach. As with any pharmacological intervention, considerations such as safety, tolerability, and individualized risk-benefit assessments remain central to any potential adoption in cessation programs.
Historically, experts have cautioned about the health risks associated with post-cessation weight gain, including potential impacts on cardiovascular health and overall well-being. The possibility that a diabetes medicine could temper these weight changes invites careful discussion among clinicians, researchers, and people looking to quit smoking. Future work could help clarify how dulaglutide interacts with appetite, metabolic rate, and behavior during quit attempts, and whether specific subgroups show more pronounced benefits. In the meantime, the evolving evidence base supports a broader view of cessation support that includes effective weight management strategies as part of comprehensive care. Citations and further readings would offer readers precise details on study design, statistical analyses, and the broader context of these findings, while staying accessible for individuals seeking practical insights for quitting smoking and maintaining health.