Beyond weight loss: How GLP-1s may support long-term health and longevity

We’re entering a new era when it comes to GLP-1 medications. The drugs have already changed the way people manage type 2 diabetes and weight. By lowering appetite, slowing digestion, and regulating blood sugar, they’ve helped millions reach health goals that once felt out of reach. But researchers are starting to notice something even bigger: GLP-1s may offer health benefits beyond weight and metabolism.

Emerging research now suggests that GLP-1s may influence several underlying processes tied to aging. These medications are being studied for their benefits for heart, brain, and liver health — and even early signs of protection against certain types of cancer.

That’s the vision behind Noom’s Proactive Health Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program – a first-of-its-kind program that reframes GLP-1s as tools for whole-body wellbeing, not just weight loss or blood sugar management.

This new program brings together personalized GLP-1 microdoses, regular at-home biomarker testing, and Noom’s digital longevity companion. The result: a program that gives people the data and tools they need to take charge of their long-term health.

This shift toward early, targeted intervention is at the core of Noom’s Proactive Health Microdose GLP-1^RX Program. It’s built to help people feel better now, protect their metabolic health over time, and use evidence-based tools—including microdose GLP-1s when appropriate—to support healthy aging.

In the sections ahead, we’ll explore how GLP-1s may promote healthier aging, why clinicians are paying more attention to their protective benefits, and how Noom’s Proactive Health Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program makes these benefits accessible to anyone looking to improve their health.

Why GLP-1 medication may work beyond weight loss and diabetes

GLP-1 medications are best known for helping manage type 2 diabetes and supporting weight loss, but emerging research shows they can help treat other conditions, too. Some medications in this class are now FDA-approved for conditions beyond metabolism—like reducing cardiovascular risk in people with heart disease, treating MASH (metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis), and improving obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

As research grows, we’re learning that the benefits of GLP-1s may extend even further. One reason could be that GLP-1 receptors aren’t located only in the digestive tract. They’re also found in areas like the brain and heart, and there is evidence of GLP-1 receptor activity influencing kidney function as well. 

We know the liver responds in meaningful ways to GLP-1s, but research points to these changes being indirect. They’re likely the result of better inflammation control, improved insulin resistance, and healthier fat metabolism—not direct targeting of liver cells.

Early research suggests that activating these receptors across multiple systems may help explain the broader health benefits scientists are observing.

While these effects are still being studied, a growing body of research suggests that GLP-1s may play a far bigger role in long-term metabolic and whole-body health.

Why GLP-1s can potentially manage chronic conditions

To understand why GLP-1 medications might extend human lifespan, it’s worth exploring the underlying health mechanisms they work on. Here’s how they can potentially help lower inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and help your cells work better. 

They could calm chronic inflammation

As we age, the immune system can get stuck in a low-level “alert mode.” Even when there’s no infection, the body keeps releasing small amounts of inflammatory chemicals. Over time, this slow, steady drip of inflammation starts to damage tissues, raise blood sugar, and strain the heart. Scientists call this inflammaging because it’s long-lasting inflammation that speeds up aging.

GLP-1s may help quiet this response. Studies show they can lower inflammatory markers and reduce oxidative stress, helping the body shift back into a healthier, more balanced state. Semaglutide in particular can support the body’s natural anti-inflammatory responses, though researchers are still uncovering exactly how these effects work.

They might improve metabolic efficiency

As we age, many people develop some level of insulin resistance. This means cells don’t respond to insulin the way they used to, making it harder for the body to turn food into energy. Instead, more calories get stored as fat, especially visceral fat, the dangerous kind that sits around organs.

A 2025 review in Pharmaceutics found that GLP-1 medications may help reverse this process by improving how the body handles energy. They do this in two main ways:

• They help your cells respond to insulin again, so your body can use sugar for fuel instead of storing it as fat.
  
• They improve how your cells make energy, supporting healthier mitochondria—the “power centers” inside each cell.

Together, these effects can help the body run more efficiently: steadier energy, better blood-sugar control, and less buildup of harmful fat around the organs.

They potentially protect your cells and make them work more efficiently

Your cells’ mitochondria are responsible for turning nutrients into usable energy. Over time, they wear down, producing more waste and less energy. Studies show that GLP-1s might help mitochondria function more efficiently and protect them from oxidative stress.

What does all this mean for the bigger organs and systems in your body? Let’s explore how these effects can help your heart, kidneys, liver, and brain work better—and might even defend against cancer.

Heart health

One way that GLP-1s can help people live longer, healthier lives is by managing cardiovascular and heart disease. In fact, a few of these medications are already FDA-approved for heart-related issues. Heart disease remains the world’s leading cause of death, responsible for nearly 20 million lives lost each year. GLP-1s, along with diet, exercise, and other behavioral changes, could be a way to reduce that. 

A recent study showed that people taking semaglutide experienced a 20% reduction in risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death. They also showed improvements in inflammation and blood-vessel health, suggesting that GLP-1s help protect the heart at a cellular level. Today, Wegovy is FDA-approved to reduce the risk of heart disease, highlighting just how powerful these medications can be for cardiovascular health. 

“When your heart is strong, every other organ benefits,” reminds Dr. Egler. “This study underscores how GLP-1s aren’t just about weight loss; they can really make a difference in how long you might live.”

Kidney health

Chronic kidney disease affects more than 1 in 7 adults and is the 8th leading cause of death in the U.S. Studies show that GLP-1s might be able to help treat kidney disease. A 2025 commentary in the American Journal of Kidney Disease highlights data showing that GLP-1s can improve key markers of kidney function and overall metabolic health—benefits that may extend beyond kidney disease and potentially support overall longevity.

Research supports this, showing that semaglutide reduced the risk of kidney failure and death from kidney or cardiovascular causes by 24% in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. Ozempic was approved to reduce the risk of kidney disease progression, kidney failure, and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease in January 2024.

Using GLP-1s to reduce the risk of kidney disease helps preserve many of the systems that support long-term vitality. The kidneys filter toxins, balance minerals, and regulate blood pressure, so keeping them healthy eases the workload on the heart and slows age-related decline—critical for a longer, healthier life.

Liver health

Another way that GLP-1s can help improve people’s lives is through improved liver function. Because the liver filters toxins, manages blood sugar, and powers your metabolism, a healthier liver means better energy, fewer chronic health risks, and a stronger foundation for long-term longevity.

Fatty liver disease—now called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)— affects about one in three people. The liver can become fattier when people have a higher BMI, a diet with more fructose and refined carbohydrates, and/or have diabetes, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides. 

This increased fat can cause inflammation that leads to cirrhosis—a buildup of scar tissue that makes it harder for the liver to filter toxins and keep metabolism running smoothly. This damage can progress to liver failure or even liver cancer.

Wegovy is approved by the FDA for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a serious liver condition that can lead to inflammation, scarring, and long-term organ damage.

More GLP-1 medications that improve liver health could be on the horizon. In one study, a GLP-1 called retatrutide, still in trials, led to 24% weight loss and an 86% drop in liver-fat in 48 weeks. 

Brain health and neurodegenerative disease protection 

Emerging research also links GLP-1 medications to potential benefits for brain health. One reason GLP-1s are linked to brain health is that insulin resistance hinders the brain’s ability to process glucose, its preferred energy source. 

When the body becomes insulin-resistant, as often happens with age, the neurons don’t communicate as well. That reduced energy flow can affect memory, focus, and mood. By improving insulin sensitivity and stabilizing glucose levels, GLP-1s may help restore that fuel supply and support healthier brain signaling.

Some researchers even use the nickname “type 3 diabetes” to describe what happens in the brain during Alzheimer’s and dementia. It’s not an official diagnosis—just a way to explain the insulin-resistance patterns researchers see in the brain. In Alzheimer’s, brain cells often struggle to use glucose for energy, much like the body does in type 2 diabetes. And when your brain cells don’t get enough fuel, their communication slows, which can affect memory and thinking. 

The reasons someone develops dementia or Alzheimer’s are far more complicated than this, and are still being researched. But by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation throughout the body, GLP-1 medications may offer protective effects for the brain. In one large real-world analysis, people using GLP-1 therapies showed slower cognitive decline and better executive function compared with those using other diabetes medications. 

While more research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms, GLP-1s appear to influence the brain directly, supporting healthier insulin signaling in neurons and reducing inflammatory pathways that can contribute to cognitive decline.

Cancer protection

Another emerging area of GLP-1 research is cancer risk. Since metabolic dysfunction and chronic inflammation can contribute to tumor growth, scientists are exploring whether improving these pathways with GLP-1 medications might also influence cancer outcomes.

In a large real-world analysis published in JAMA Oncology, people with higher BMIs who used GLP-1 therapies had a lower observed risk of 14 cancers (liver, thyroid, pancreatic, bladder, colorectal, kidney, breast, endometrial, meningioma, upper gastrointestinal, ovarian, multiple myeloma, prostate, and lung). This study only shows association, especially since weight can affect developing cancers, but the pattern is encouraging and has prompted more research.

Another study compared cancer deaths in people using GLP-1 medications for weight loss versus those who underwent bariatric surgery. Researchers found that people on GLP-1s had a lower all-cause mortality from cancers than people who had bariatric surgery. It’s important to note this was observational, so we can’t draw firm cause-and-effect conclusions. Still, the results suggest these medications may support cancer prevention in ways that go beyond just weight loss, hinting that there is something specific in GLP-1s that protects against cancer. 

There’s also early evidence of benefits in people already diagnosed with colon cancer. In one analysis, the mortality rate in people with obesity dropped from 37% to 15% among those who received GLP-1 therapy as part of their treatment. This finding is preliminary, and more controlled studies are needed.

Taken together, these studies suggest that GLP-1 medications may have broader effects on health beyond weight management, potentially influencing pathways that relate to cancer risk and outcomes. But more research is needed before we can say definitively how these drugs affect cancer prevention or survival.

Noom’s Proactive Health Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program: The biomarkers

Noom’s Proactive Health Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program is designed to help you monitor your own personal biomarker-based health insights. 

“Think of biomarkers as your body’s dashboard,” says Dr. Egler. 

The program includes a simple blood test that shows how your metabolism, hormones, and immune system are functioning over time. As you improve your health, these 17 biomarker-based health insights offer early insights into long-term health and areas for improvement. Here’s a look at what you’ll be tracking:

Inflammation & recovery

• High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)  – This is a marker of inflammation that’s closely linked to heart health, recovery, and long-term disease risk.
• Vitamin D – This vitamin is essential for immune function, bone strength, and healthy cell repair. Because levels often drop in winter or low-sunlight climates, many people need supplements to stay within a healthy range.
• Vitamin B12 – This vitamin supports red blood cell production, nerve health, and steady energy. It’s found naturally in animal foods like meat, eggs, dairy, and fish, which is why people following vegetarian or vegan diets are often deficient without fortified foods or supplements.

Cardiovascular health

• Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) – This measures the number of particles that can contribute to plaque in your arteries, making it one of the clearest indicators of heart health.
  Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) – This is a genetically driven cholesterol particle tied to lifelong cardiovascular risk.
  Full lipid panel – This full cholesterol profile shows how your body processes and transports fats, and gives a clearer picture of your heart and metabolic health. It includes:
  • Total cholesterol
  • Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C)
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL-C)
  • Triglycerides
• Total Cholesterol/HDL-C ratio – This ratio shows how balanced your cholesterol is overall and is often a stronger predictor of heart disease than total cholesterol alone.
• LDL-C/ApoB ratio – This ratio helps identify whether your LDL particles are mostly small and dense (higher risk) or larger and less atherogenic (lower risk), offering deeper insight beyond standard LDL-C levels.
  

Metabolic health

• Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)  – This number shows how well your body has managed blood sugar over the past 3 months and is one of the key markers used to diagnose and monitor diabetes.
• Triglycerides – A measure of the fat circulating in your bloodstream. Higher levels are linked to insulin resistance, metabolic issues, and cardiovascular risk.
• Triglycerides/HDL ratio – This ratio offers insight into insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk by comparing blood fats that store energy (TG) to the HDL particles that help clear them.

Hormones

• Total testosterone – Found in both men and women, total testosterone influences muscle, strength, drive, and daily energy.
• Estradiol (E2) – This form of estrogen is present in both women and men. In women, levels change across the lifespan with the biggest drop during menopause. Estradiol supports bone health, cardiovascular function, reproductive health, and metabolic balance.
• Luteinizing hormone (LH) – This hormone helps regulate reproductive hormones and overall hormonal balance in both men and women.
• Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) – This adrenal hormone supports stress response, hormonal balance, and overall vitality.

By testing every four months, members can see their progress clearly and adjust their lifestyle accordingly. 

“We’re seeing that even tiny doses of GLP-1s can help people support the parts of their health that tend to wear down with age,” asserts Dr. Jeff Egler. “GLP-1s often improve A1C, triglycerides, and CRP, demonstrating that their benefits go far beyond appetite or weight.”

The future of GLP-1 medication and longevity tracking

GLP-1 medications are opening a new chapter in metabolic and whole-body health. What began as a breakthrough for diabetes and weight management is now revealing deeper potential—influencing inflammation, energy production, hormone balance, organ health, and even long-term aging. While much of this science is still emerging, the potential is there. GLP-1s may help people live not just longer, but better.

“Longevity isn’t just about adding years—it’s about adding good years,” says Dr. Egler. “When modern medicine and daily habits work together, people can truly thrive.”

Noom’s Proactive Health Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program was built for this next phase. It brings together microdose GLP-1 therapy, supportive lifestyle coaching, and regular biomarker monitoring so people can understand and react to how their bodies are changing from the inside out. Instead of guessing, members see measurable shifts in inflammation, metabolic efficiency, hormonal resilience, and cardiovascular risk and make changes that help improve their wellbeing.

With the right tools, guidance, and insights, people can take meaningful steps toward protecting their long-term health—and GLP-1s may become one part of that broader, more empowered picture.