Since weight-loss drugs that target the hormone GLP-1 have surged in popularity, some additional health benefits have emerged. Beyond helping people shed pounds, they also lower the risk of heart disease and sleep apnea—and the U.

For years, people taking Ozempic or other drugs in the same class for diabetes and weight loss have noticed the medicines don’t just curb their desire to eat; for some, they also lead them to drink less alcohol.

In 2022, when the surge in popularity of the GLP-1 class of weight loss and diabetes drugs really began, stories of surprise benefits besides shedding pounds soon surfaced. One of those – that the medication changed drinking and smoking habits overnight – understandably piqued the interest