Dr. Ahmed A major new study shared at ENDO 2025, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, has found that popular weight loss drugs like GLP-1 receptor agonists might also help raise testosterone levels in men.
This discovery points to a double advantage for men dealing with obesity or type 2 diabetes, which is helping both their metabolism and hormone balance at the same time
Obesity and Male Hormones: How Excess Weight Affects Testosterone
Testosterone is an essential hormone for men that is involved in many body functions besides reproduction.
It plays a big part in energy, mood, muscle growth, bone strength, and red blood cell production.
Even though it is so important, many men face lower testosterone levels, which is a condition known as hypogonadism. This is especially common in men with obesity or type 2 diabetes [ref].
One major issue is belly fat, which interferes with how the body’s hormone system works. Fat tissue can turn testosterone into estrogen, further lowering testosterone levels.
This imbalance can lead to symptoms like low energy, reduced sex drive, weaker muscles, and a lower overall quality of life.
While weight loss through diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery is known to boost testosterone levels, the effect of newer weight loss meds on hormones has not been studied as much until now.
This new research adds to growing evidence that GLP-1 meds might do more than help with weight as they may also support hormonal health in men, offering a broader approach to treating conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Study Details: Investigating GLP-1 and Testosterone Levels in Obese Men
A recent study led by Dr. Shellsea Portillo Canales, who is an endocrinologist at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital, explored how weight-loss medications might affect testosterone levels in men in a real-world medical setting.
The research involved a retrospective review of the electronic health records of 110 adult men who were being treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
These included drugs such as semaglutide (sold as Ozempic and Wegovy), dulaglutide (Trulicity), and tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound).
Moreover, none of the men were using any form of external testosterone therapy during the time of the study.
The participants were men who had been diagnosed with either obesity or type 2 diabetes, and their average age was 54 years.
The researchers closely monitored both their total testosterone and free testosterone levels before the medications were started, and they continued observing the men for up to 18 months after treatment began.
The results showed a notable increase in testosterone levels among the men who were taking these medications.
This suggests that GLP-1-based drugs not only help with weight loss and blood sugar control but may also improve hormone balance in men, offering a possible added benefit to treating obesity and related metabolic conditions.
- Average weight loss:
- On average, participants lost about 10% of their body weight, which aligns with the well-known effectiveness of GLP-1 receptor agonists in helping manage weight.
- Improved testosterone levels:
- The percentage of men with normal total and free testosterone levels rose significantly from 53% at the beginning to 77% after 18 months of treatment [ref].
- This shows that many men who started with low or borderline hormone levels saw a natural improvement in their testosterone without needing external hormone therapy.
Dr. Portillo Canales talked about the findings
‘Our study is among the first to provide compelling evidence that low testosterone can be reversed with the use of commonly prescribed anti-obesity medications.’
She further noted that the observed increases in testosterone were more modest than those typically seen with direct testosterone replacement therapy but occurred naturally, reflecting the body’s recovery of normal hormone production as metabolic health improved.
Clinical Implications and Future Directions: Understanding GLP-1 and Testosterone Levels
These results have important implications for how doctors care for men who have both obesity and low testosterone.
Since GLP-1 receptor agonists can help with both losing weight and raising testosterone levels, they offer a unique and valuable treatment option.
This two-in-one effect shows us that by improving the body’s metabolism, these medications may also reduce the symptoms tied to low testosterone such as low energy, poor sex drive, and low quality of life.
The findings show the need for careful medical supervision for men who are already using testosterone replacement therapy.
As these meds help their bodies start producing more natural testosterone again, some men may need their testosterone doses lowered or even stopped altogether to avoid having too much testosterone, which can also cause problems.
This study also supports the idea of taking a broader look at men’s health. Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, a specialist in obesity medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, explained that:
‘the research points to a powerful connection between metabolic health and hormone levels. She said that the dual effects of these medications could improve many areas of health, including reproductive well-being, for men in this group.‘
It is important to remember that this study used a retrospective design, meaning it looked back at past patient records.
Because of this, future studies like randomized controlled trials are needed to prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship and to better understand how these drugs affect testosterone in the body.
Long-term research will also be important to see how lasting these hormone improvements are and whether any long-term side effects appear.
Takeaway Message:
GLP-1 weight loss medications like Ozempic not only aid in reducing body weight and managing diabetes but may also naturally boost testosterone levels in men—offering a dual benefit for metabolic and hormonal health.
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