Understanding GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs
- “The View” co-host Ana Navarro, 54, has revealed that Mounjaro has played a role in her weight loss after previously sharing how menopause, prediabetes and lifestyle changes influenced her health journey.
- There’s a range of weight-loss medications on the market today. Novo Nordisk makes semaglutide, sold under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, while tirzepatide is marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound. Other options include phentermine (brand names Adipex-P and Lomaira), an appetite-suppressing prescription drug; Contrave, which combines naltrexone and bupropion; and bupropion on its own, the generic version of Wellbutrin.
- According to the CDC, carrying excess weight or having obesity raises the risk of developing 13 different types of cancer, including cancers of the breast, colon, ovaries, and stomach.
- Anyone thinking about starting a weight-loss medication should discuss the decision with their healthcare provider first, and should treat diet and exercise as an essential part of any treatment plan rather than a substitute for it.
- SurvivorNet’s sister site, SNWeightloss, provides a wide range of expert-driven resources on GLP-1 medications, including how they function, their potential uses, side effects, and emerging research that continues to offer hope for people managing weight loss while also potentially lowering cancer risk.
- If you’re considering a weight-loss medication, talk with your health care team about whether it is right for you and how nutrition and regular physical activity can support your overall treatment plan. For more answers to your health questions, explore SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool, “My Health Questions.”
“The View” co-host Ana Violeta Navarro-Cárdenas, a Nicaraguan-American political strategist and commentator, has acknowledged that Mounjaro, the GLP-1 medication made by Eli Lilly using the active ingredient tirzepatide, has played a role in her weight loss.
Navarro, 54, made the disclosure as she and her co-hosts looked back at a clip from 2022. “Those were all pre-Mounjaro,” she remarked, adding jokingly that the group had collectively “lost the equivalent of a baby hippo” since then. Read MoreNavarro—who has also just revealed on her “Bleep! With Ana Navarro” podcast that her husband Al Cárdenas, 78, has Parkinson’s disease, a disorder of the central nervous system—previously commented on her weight on social media in 2023, following fans’ claims that she was taking weight-loss drugs, according to People.View this post on Instagram
She reportedly explained in her post, “I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life. The pandemic and menopause made it worse. In 2021, my mom died of kidney disease brought on by diabetes. She suffered terribly the last years of her life. That scared the beejeezus out of me.”
“Last August, I went to a wellness spa in Mexico called @rancholapuerta with two of my friends since grade school. We had all turned 50 and wanted to be healthier. I spent time there learning to cook and eat healthier, reprogramming the way I think of my lifestyle, and being more active. We did all sorts of exercise classes for hours a day. When we came back to Miami, we were determined to continue some of our healthy habits.”
Navarro noted she’d been diagnosed as pre-diabetic and, in response, began consulting a nutritionist and a doctor to help guide her progress, while also making an effort to stay more active.
She added, “It’s been a complete lifestyle change -except for the damn rosé and margaritas, which I can’t give up. It has all helped me lose about 4-5 lbs a month.
“I am not equipped to give anyone advice or endorse any solution. We all have to figure out what works for each of us. It is a daily struggle for me. I still really like tequila and staying in bed with my poodle.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqIoNDZNfoI
Ahead of Navarro’s return to “The View” for the show’s 30th season, she took to Instagram to inform her fans that she’s coming back as her natural self as she hasn’t been able to keep up with her self care routine.
She wrote alongside a vide of herself, “My roots are on full display. My eyebrows are bushy snd my upper-lip is fuzzy. My nails are a disaster. My feet are even worse. My Botox expired like a month ago. I haven’t worn spanx -hell, I’ve hardly worn a bra- in almost two months.
“Haven’t blow-dried my hair or put on make-up. Don’t even remember what it feels like to wear fake eye-lashes, push-up bras and hair extensions. I’ve been wearing loose-fitting kaftans, not come close to a scale and have been eating like a condemned person. I can’t remember the last time I wore high-heels.”
She continued, after noting how she was set to fly back to the U.S. in a few days, “Cut me some slack. What you see, is what you get. Take a little time to enjoy the natural view. Maybe I should go back to my Covid-era turbans.”
Navarro often takes trips to Costa Rica when she’s on break from “The View.”
On July 5, she shared photos and videos from her dreamy getaway, writing, “Thank you, Costa Rica, for welcoming us. A week of butterflies, birds, monkeys, beach, and fresh tico food. And pickleball. Daily games with my coach, Bill, who I met the first time I visited.
“The ticos and the expats who’ve moved here, are warm and hospitable. They have mastered the concept of #PuraVida. It means ‘pure life.’ Nobody here cares who you are or what you drive or the labels on your clothes. They prioritize enjoying life, valuing nature, human interaction. This is one of the ‘Blue Zones’ were people live long, healthy lives.”
View this post on Instagram
Fans praised her for taking time for herself, with one commenting, “Honey what you have been doing this summer is called LIVING! You are now liberated from all the shite that a lot of women get trapped doing. You are smart and beautiful inside and out so just go with the flow!! Keep living and enjoying life. Your trip looked FAB!!!”
Another chimed in, “How blessed that you just had the most amazing time off. Doesn’t matter what your nails your brows or your chin looks like. You had an amazing time.”
Understanding GLP-1 Receptor Agonists & How They Work
GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are a group of medications primarily used to manage type 2 diabetes. They help lower blood sugar levels by mimicking a natural hormone that regulates insulin release and appetite.
It’s important to note that there are a variety of drugs available right now for weight loss, such as Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide — sold under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus — and Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide — sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound.
Others include phentermine (Adipex-P, Lomaira), a prescription medication that reduces appetite; Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion); and bupropion (the generic form of Wellbutrin).
Additionally, an oral (pill) form of semaglutide is reaching a broader patient population after the FDA approved the pill in 2025.
GLP-1 RAs mimic a hormone your body naturally makes (called glucagon-like peptide-1) that helps regulate blood sugar and feelings of hunger. Initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels, these medications were later found to have an impressive effect on appetite control. As a result, many people who take them lose significant amounts of weight.
“GLP-1 … is a hormone that is secreted in the L cells of the intestines, and we all make GLP-1 after we start to eat a meal,” Dr. Holly Lofton, Director of the Medical Weight Management Program at NYU Langone in Manhattan, previously told SurvivorNet.
“After food reaches the stomach, the stomach sends GLP-1 to the brain to signal that hunger is no longer present, and the person starts to feel more full. In the hypothalamus, specifically in the brain, once the brain receives that GLP-1, it sends a message to the person to stop eating.”
The native GLP-1 that our bodies make and the GLP-1 agonists go to the brain and block appetite signals, go to the stomach to help it empty more slowly, and help shrink fat cells, Dr. Lofton added.
And weight reduction is not the only effect these medications may have.
Researchers are learning that GLP-1 RAs could also influence other behaviors — such as smoking or alcohol use — and possibly reduce certain health risks that come with obesity. In fact, several large studies show that people taking GLP-1 RAs have better heart health, lower rates of kidney problems, and may even be less likely to develop some types of cancer.
Should You Consider a GLP-1 RA?
Deciding on a weight loss approach — whether it’s lifestyle modifications, medication, or surgery — is highly personal. Some points to consider with your healthcare team include:
- Your Overall Health: Do you have type 2 diabetes or other chronic conditions affected by weight? GLP-1 RAs can improve blood sugar control and lower cardiovascular risks, in addition to promoting weight loss.
- Cancer Risks: If you have a strong family history or other risk factors for obesity-related cancers, long-term medication use might offer extra benefits — but the evidence, while promising, is still growing.
- Commitment and Cost: These medications often require lifelong use to maintain weight loss. Make sure you feel comfortable with the potential side effects, follow-up visits, and ongoing costs.
- Alternatives: Bariatric surgery [weight loss surgery], structured lifestyle changes, and other treatments may also reduce cancer risk and help you lose weight. Talk with your doctor about which option is best suited to your overall health and personal goals.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are powerful tools in the fight against obesity. Emerging research suggests they may also help reduce the risk of certain cancers associated with excess weight, potentially to a degree that mirrors — or, in some respects, surpasses — that of bariatric surgery. However, questions remain about long-term adherence, muscle loss, side effects, and whether the benefits persist after stopping the medication.
If you’re considering a GLP-1 RA, it’s crucial to have a thorough discussion with your healthcare provider about the benefits, risks, and costs of treatment. Together, you can map out a plan that helps you achieve healthier weight control, lowers your risk for certain obesity-related cancers, and enhances your overall well-being for the long run.
Weight Loss & Cancer Risk
Researchers are continuing to uncover important connections between weight and cancer risk.
A study published in JAMA highlights the powerful connection between obesity and cancer: obesity is linked to roughly 10% of all new cancer diagnoses in the United States each year, and for certain cancer types, it may be a contributing factor in nearly half of all diagnoses.
For oncologists, the findings provide a more nuanced view of what counts as meaningful weight loss.
“One of the biggest takeaways from this paper is that people with classical obesity often need to lose more than 10% of their body weight to meaningfully reduce cancer risk,” Dr. Neil Iyengar, Associate Professor, Co-director of Breast Medical Oncology, and Director of Cancer Survivorship at Emory Winship Cancer Institute, tells SurvivorNet.
“Diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes are essential for maintaining a healthy weight, but reaching that level of weight loss can be incredibly difficult for many. That’s why the discussion also includes tools like GLP-1 receptor agonists and bariatric surgery [weight loss surgery], which can help support the kind of significant weight loss associated with lowering cancer risk.”
Iyengar is open to the idea of testing the effectiveness of GLP-1 agonists in oncology and figuring out how safe they are in battling cancer, previously telling SurvivorNet, “I don’t think that there’s mechanistically anything that’s particularly worrisome. GLP-1 agonists do a lot of things that we don’t fully understand yet.”
Dr. Samantha Newman, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, also spoke with SurvivorNet on this matter, explaining, “GLPs are amazing medications. They change people’s lives regarding cardiac risk and diabetes. They have widespread benefits.”
WATCH: The Key Factors For Weight Loss On New Blockbuster Drugs
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic work through mechanisms that extend beyond the scale. Dr. Lofton points to a broad range of documented benefits.
“Some of the benefits for using GLP-1 agonists can be weight loss, improvement in glycemic control or blood glucose, decreased risk of weight-related conditions such as various cancers, like breast cancer, endometrial cancer, colon cancer, liver disease,” Dr. Lofton tells SurvivorNet.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Being overweight or having obesity are linked with a higher risk of getting 13 types of cancer.”
WATCH: NYU’s Dr. Holly Lofton explains what we do know about GLP-1RAs and cancer risk
Research published in the journal “Cancers” says that “obesity also increases the risk of dying from cancer and may influence the treatment choices. About 4–8% of all cancers are attributed to obesity.”
Some of the cancers associated with being overweight or obese include:
- Colon
- Breast
- Ovarian
- Esophagus
- Pancreatic
- Multiple myeloma
- Endometrial
- Liver
WATCH: Living a healthy lifestyle.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), fat tissue “produces excess amounts of estrogen,” which is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer. The NCI says a person who is severely obese is “7 times” more likely to be diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
Obesity is associated with high levels of insulin, which can lead to colon, kidney, prostate, and endometrial cancer.
Obesity can affect cancer survivors in various ways, including the chance of cancer recurrence and overall quality of life.
To learn more about your ideal healthy weight, determine your body mass index (BMI).
Body weight exceeding what body mass index deems appropriate for your height and weight can help determine body fat content. Although your BMI can help you determine whether you are at a healthy weight, underweight, overweight, or obese, other factors may also affect your overall health.
The NCI analyzed several studies to observe the impact of physical activity on overall cancer risk. The NCI says that “higher levels of physical activity are linked to lower risk of several types of cancer.”
Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management are some ways people can lead a healthy life. For cancer survivors, a healthier lifestyle alongside getting regular checks for recurrence may improve their quality of life.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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