The study, led by Lisa Beutler, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, improves the understanding of the molecular mechanisms influenced by these drugs and could help refine the development of future targeted therapies for treating diabetes and obesity. Incretin receptor agonists are a class of drugs that mimic the effects of incretin hormones - glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) - to stimulate insulin secretion and regulate blood sugar levels.
Before I explain, I want to clarify that I firmly believe in body autonomy. If someone chooses to take a weight loss medication, they should be able to do so without judgment. I hope all potential users are fully informed about the risks and benefits of these medications and are followed responsibly by medical providers. Ideally, they would also be screened for a current or past eating disorder or any other condition that might contraindicate the use of GLP-1s and GIPs.