AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from MIT Technology Review, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

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Research presented at an aging meeting in Boston suggests that overweight and diabetic people taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have a biological age two to three years younger than those on a placebo. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, the companies that make these drugs, provided these findings. While approved for diabetes, kidney disease, and obesity, these medications are also being investigated for substance-use disorders, neurodegenerative disease, and cancer. A recent Gallup poll indicates 11% of Americans currently take a GLP-1 drug for weight loss, up from 3% in 2024, with 15% having used one at some point.

Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, as well as pancreatitis and gallstone disease. Some claim rare cases of nerve damage behind the eye can lead to sudden vision loss, leading dozens of people to sue Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Both companies dispute these claims, though research into the link remains mixed. Additionally, a study by researchers at George Washington University found an increased risk of hair loss among GLP-1 users, while another smaller study suggested 66% of users reported at least one nail disorder, including detachment.

There is limited data on pediatric side effects, yet prescriptions for children aged eight to eleven rose 310-fold between 2019 and 2026 in the US. The World Health Organization released guidelines stating it does not recommend pharmacological treatment for children under ten due to a lack of evidence regarding benefits and potential adverse effects on growth and mental health. Despite this, usage is rising rapidly among younger populations.