It seems like everyone is focused on improving their longevity and health span right now, doing whatever they can to prevent age-related diseases, extend the number of years they spend in good health, and lengthen their lives. Though these goals are nothing new, in recent years conversation has drifted from commonsense habits toward trendier health practices like cold plunges, intermittent fasting, and, increasingly, GLP-1s. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes and later approved for conditions like obesity and sleep apnea, these medications are now being touted by influencers and researchers alike for their potential as “longevity drugs.”

Notably, a growing cohort of health professionals has been examining the potential impact of GLP-1s on longevity markers, such as cholesterol and glucose levels, which can shed light on overall health. It’s their belief that drugs like Zepbound, Ozempic, and Wegovy can do so much that anyone can live longer by taking them. (Not just those with the chronic diseases that GLP-1s treat.)

Below, health experts discuss the known benefits of GLP-1s, whether they’re really longevity drugs, and current concerns about people taking these medications to extend their healthy years.

What were GLP-1s designed to do, and who are they for?

GLP-1 is a natural hormone your small intestine makes that helps regulate blood sugar, slow digestion, and signal fullness to the brain. GLP-1 agonist medications work by mimicking this hormone. The first to become available on the market was Byetta (exenatide), which was approved for the management of type 2 diabetes in 2005. Then in 2014 Saxenda (liraglutide) was approved for chronic weight management. Adults with a BMI of 30 or higher were eligible for a prescription, as were those with a BMI of 27 or higher who also had at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease.

Saxenda required a daily injection and led to relatively modest weight loss, about 5% to 8% of total body weight. It wasn’t until more effective weekly injections like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) came onto the market in recent years that GLP-1s became a household name for weight management. Versions of these new drugs were approved for type 2 diabetes as well, but it was their weight-loss effects that stole the spotlight. On average, people were losing 15% to 20% of their body weight, which had never been seen before with an FDA-approved weight-loss drug.

The potential benefits of GLP-1s extend beyond weight management and diabetes

GLP-1s were designed to help manage blood sugar and regulate appetite, but researchers quickly began to realize that their health benefits didn’t stop there. That’s because GLP-1 receptors are proteins found on cell surfaces throughout the body, meaning anywhere one appears, the medication can make a difference.

GLP-1s may lower the risk and severity of metabolic syndrome

Those with metabolic syndrome have a higher chance of experiencing health issues like type 2 diabetes, stroke, and coronary heart disease—serious conditions that can shorten your life. The risk factors for a metabolic syndrome diagnosis include excess belly fat, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. But a 2023 study found that people with obesity who took the GLP-1 liraglutide and exercised regularly after diet-induced weight loss experienced greater reductions in metabolic syndrome severity and abdominal fat than those who didn’t.

This comes down to the very essence of what GLP-1s do in your body. “GLP-1 receptor agonists are potent insulin sensitizers,” explains Sonia Gibson, MD, a board-certified physician in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, and the endocrinology physician lead at Allara Health. “Given the strong association between insulin resistance and the development of metabolic syndrome, enhanced insulin sensitivity through these drugs may reduce visceral fat and decrease inflammation, consequently lowering the risk of metabolic syndrome.”