Home / Health / Liver Fibrosis Reversal Achieved with Weight-Loss Drugs
Liver Fibrosis Reversal Achieved with Weight-Loss Drugs
8 Feb
Summary
- Weight-loss drugs show promise in reversing liver fibrosis.
- GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro aid in liver health recovery.
- Studies indicate significant fatty liver disease resolution with these medications.
Belinda Whitlock's journey from debilitating fatigue to overcoming advanced liver fibrosis highlights the transformative potential of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Initially dismissed as menopause symptoms, her condition was revealed by an ultrasound, leading to a diagnosis of liver fibrosis due to fatty liver disease.
After lifestyle changes yielded limited results, Whitlock sought private prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs, including Mounjaro. This decision led to substantial weight loss and, remarkably, the reversal of her liver fibrosis, a condition previously considered irreversible.
Experts like Professor Philip Newsome from King's College London are optimistic about these drugs. Compelling research indicates they can reverse liver damage, a feat once thought impossible. The surge in liver disease cases, linked to poor diet and sedentary lifestyles, makes these findings particularly significant.
Gillian Scott, another patient, saw her cirrhosis improve to fibrosis after switching to Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and obesity. Studies, including one in the New England Journal of Medicine, report that a majority of patients on Mounjaro experienced complete resolution of fatty liver disease.
While these drugs are not yet approved on the NHS for liver disease, a decision is anticipated this summer. The financial burden for patients like Whitlock, who pay hundreds of pounds monthly, underscores the urgent need for broader NHS access to these life-saving treatments.
