Could Weight-Loss Drugs Help Control Autoimmune Disease? Here's What Early Research Shows

GLP-1 agonist medications, best known for treating diabetes and supporting weight loss, are now being studied as a potential complementary tool for autoimmune diseases. Early research suggests that in carefully selected patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, combining these drugs with standard immunosuppressive therapy may improve both weight loss and disease control. However, experts emphasize that these medications should not replace proven treatments—at least not yet.

What Are GLP-1 Agonists and How Might They Help Autoimmune Disease?

GLP-1 agonists are a class of medications that work by helping the body better metabolize blood sugar and by reducing hunger and food cravings. Drugs in this category have become household names in recent years, with widespread use for managing type 2 diabetes and supporting weight loss.

The connection between these medications and autoimmune disease stems from an important discovery: metabolic health and inflammation are closely linked. In conditions like psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, patients who lose weight often experience reduced disease activity. These patients may also respond better to traditional immunosuppressive treatments—medications designed to calm an overactive immune system.

One recent study in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis found that overweight individuals who combined a GLP-1 agonist with an anti-IL-17 medication (a type of immunosuppressive therapy) experienced both weight loss and improved disease control compared to those using immunosuppressive therapy alone.

Is There Enough Evidence to Use These Drugs for Autoimmune Conditions?

The short answer is no—not yet. The current evidence is limited and comes with important caveats. Here's what we know and don't know:

• Limited Research Scope: The available data is currently limited to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. There is no comparable level of evidence for other autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or ankylosing spondylitis.
• No Head-to-Head Trials: There is no evidence to support using GLP-1 agonists as a primary replacement for standard immunosuppressive therapy. Large-scale trials comparing GLP-1 agonists alone to traditional treatments do not yet exist.
• Unknown Effects in Non-Overweight Patients: There is no data addressing outcomes in patients who do not need weight loss but are using GLP-1 agonists solely to improve metabolic health.

When Might These Medications Be Considered?

For patients at moderate to high risk of disease progression, standard immunosuppressive treatments remain essential. Untreated or undertreated inflammatory arthritis can lead to irreversible joint damage, disability, and chronic pain.

However, in patients considered low risk for progression—based on factors such as imaging findings—it may be reasonable to explore alternative strategies. This must be done with close monitoring by a rheumatologist, as disease activity can change over time.

The concept of using very low, or "micro," doses of GLP-1 agonists is intriguing to researchers. Standard dosing is designed for significant blood sugar control or substantial weight loss. For autoimmune conditions, where those goals may not apply, lower doses may theoretically make sense. However, this approach has not yet been adequately studied.

What's the Bottom Line for Patients?

GLP-1 agonists represent an interesting and evolving area of research in autoimmune care, particularly due to their effects on metabolic health. At this time, they should not replace proven treatments but may have a role in carefully selected, closely monitored patients.

If you have an autoimmune condition and are overweight, a conversation with your rheumatologist about whether combining weight loss strategies—including GLP-1 agonists—with your current treatment plan might be beneficial is worth having. But this should only happen as part of a comprehensive treatment strategy, not as a standalone approach. The research is promising, but it's still in its early stages, and more evidence is needed before these medications become standard care for autoimmune disease.