Podcasts Health Inside Health Could weight-loss drugs treat addiction?

Could weight-loss drugs treat addiction?

Published: Aug. 2, 2023, 3 p.m.

Barely a day goes by without more headlines around new weight-loss drugs, from the issue of global shortages, to investigations into suicide risk, and debate over just how long people will need to be on them. But in this episode of Inside Health we\u2019re going to look at something slightly different - and perhaps unexpected.

James Gallagher meets lifelong dieter Cheri who has lost just over three stone on semaglutide but she\u2019s also noticed other effects from her weekly injection; a calmer mind and a complete lack of desire for her much-loved vapes. She wants to know what\u2019s going on \u2013 so we seek out some scientists to help us get to the bottom of it. From the evidence gathered so far, are there hints that these drugs could offer potential to treat serious addiction?

And have you ever heard of \u201cbed rotting\u201d?

It doesn\u2019t sound particularly enticing - but James gives it a go in the name of science and we explain all in the programme with the help of two experts.

What health questions do you want us to answer? Email the team at insidehealth@bbc.co.uk

Declared interests:\nProfessor Giles Yeo: "I have a PhD student part-funded by Novo Nordisk. I consult for Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly."\nDr Tony Goldstone: "I have previously been a member of Data Safety Monitoring Board for clinical trials of Liraglutide for obesity by Novo Nordisk, and have received an honorarium as a conference speaker from Novo Nordisk."

Presenter: James Gallagher \nProducer: Gerry Holt \nEditor: Erika Wright \nProduction Coordinator: Jonathan Harris \nStudio Producer: Duncan Hannant\n(Photo: Cheri Ferguson with her Ozempic pen. Credit Cheri Ferguson)