New Study Suggests GLP-1 Medications Could Improve Asthma in People with Obesity
GLP-1 receptor agonists, medications originally designed for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity, are showing unexpected promise in improving asthma control among people with obesity, according to new research out of the United Kingdom.
The study, published in Advances in Therapy, evaluated real-world health records of more than 60,000 adults and found that individuals taking GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda) had significantly better asthma outcomes over time—despite starting with worse symptoms than their peers.
“Chronic asthma in people with obesity is notoriously difficult to treat,” said the study’s authors. “These patients often don’t respond well to standard steroid therapies, suggesting that obesity-related inflammation plays a unique role in their disease.”
The Link Between GLP-1 and Lung Health
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists mimic a hormone that influences blood sugar, appetite, and digestion. These medications have been effective in helping patients lose weight and manage metabolic conditions. But researchers believe their anti-inflammatory properties may also benefit the lungs, especially in patients whose asthma is worsened by obesity-related inflammation.
The study tracked patients with both asthma and obesity who were prescribed GLP-1 drugs and compared them to similar individuals who weren’t on the medications. Using up to three years of follow-up data from the Optimum Patient Care Research Database, the researchers assessed changes in asthma control scores and lung function.
Participants using GLP-1 drugs showed clear improvement in asthma control—despite starting off with more severe symptoms and higher body mass indexes (BMIs). However, no significant differences were found in lung function between the two groups, likely due to missing data caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Weight Loss, Inflammation, or Something More?
While the study makes a strong case for a link between GLP-1 use and asthma control, experts remain divided over what’s actually driving the improvement.
“Weight loss itself has been shown to improve asthma symptoms in people with obesity,” said Dr. Thomas Kilkenny, director of Pulmonary & Critical Care at Staten Island University Hospital. “This study doesn’t definitively prove whether it’s the GLP-1 medication or simply the weight loss that’s making the difference.”
Dr. Jimmy Johannes, a pulmonologist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, takes a more optimistic view.
“GLP-1 receptors are present in the lungs,” he explained. “That opens the door to the possibility that these drugs may directly reduce airway inflammation and hypersensitivity—two key features of asthma.”
Both physicians agree on one thing: more research is needed. The current study offers valuable insight but leaves unanswered whether GLP-1 drugs can be intentionally repurposed to treat asthma—especially in people without obesity or metabolic disorders.
A New Frontier in Asthma Care?
The findings add to growing evidence that GLP-1 agonists may offer benefits far beyond blood sugar control. Earlier research has hinted at their potential to reduce cancer and dementia risks. Now, they may represent a new tool for managing a notoriously complex respiratory condition.
In the meantime, clinicians are urged to consider the broader health landscape of patients with obesity and asthma. Whether through direct pharmacological effects or the cascading benefits of weight loss, the results signal a path forward in better managing asthma in this growing population.
“This is a meaningful step toward understanding how modern metabolic treatments might overlap with chronic respiratory care,” researchers concluded. “And it’s one that warrants urgent follow-up.”
