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Key Takeaways
- GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Ozempic may help boost testosterone levels in men with obesity, but this effect is primarily due to weight loss.
- The FDA has not approved GLP-1 medications for boosting testosterone, and more research is needed to confirm their direct effects on hormone levels.
- Managing obesity through weight loss, lifestyle changes, or surgery can improve testosterone levels and overall hormone balance.
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide) are well known as weight loss drugs. However, recent research suggests that they may have benefits beyond weight management. A 2026 systematic review suggests that GLP-1s may help boost testosterone in men with obesity.
How GLP-1 Medications May Influence Testosterone Levels
Researchers at the Warwick Medical School in Coventry, UK, analyzed five randomized controlled trials that compared these medications to placebos and found that long-term GLP-1 use boosted testosterone and other sex hormone levels in men with obesity.
According to Amin Sabet, MD, a professor of medicine at the UMass Chan Medical School, the effects are mainly related to these drugs’ ability to manage weight. “This effect is primarily mediated through weight reduction,” Sabet said. “Weight reduction by other means, such as lifestyle modification and/or metabolic-bariatric surgery, also raises testosterone levels in individuals with obesity.”
However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t currently approve these weight-managing drugs for this use. It’s too soon to say whether GLP-1s directly boost testosterone levels, and larger, more extensive studies are needed to confirm any effect.
Understanding the Link Between Testosterone and Obesity
Obesity is linked to many health conditions, including hypogonadism: a condition wherein sex glands (the testes in men, and ovaries in women) don’t produce enough hormones. This happens because fat cells release enzymes that convert testosterone to estradiol: one of the main female sex hormones.
Conditions associated with obesity, like poor cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes, can reduce testosterone levels and lead to hypogonadism. Other effects of excess weight, such as increased inflammation and insulin resistance (a problem with the hormone that breaks down blood sugar), can also affect your testosterone levels.
Managing obesity by losing weight changes your body’s hormone balance, boosting testosterone production.
According to Sabet, low testosterone causes a wide range of symptoms, including “decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, infertility, decreased testicular size, loss of body hair, reduced muscle mass, and weakened bones.” It also causes other signs, including fatigue, depressed mood, and reduced physical performance.
“These are non-specific and often seen even in the absence of testosterone deficiency,” which can make hypogonadism hard to detect, Sabet said.
Lifestyle Changes That Can Meaningfully Improve Testosterone
If you have obesity, adopting lifestyle changes to manage weight can boost hormone levels. “All effective treatments for obesity increase testosterone levels in men who have obesity-related male hypogonadism,” said Sabet. “Additionally, increased physical activity and optimization of sleep duration and quality may help to optimize testosterone levels,” he said.
Lifestyle changes that can help manage weight and boost testosterone levels include:
- Diet: Changing your diet may involve lowering overall calorie intake while emphasizing lean protein, healthy fats, vegetables and fruit, and whole grains.
- Exercise: Regular physical activity or exercise is essential for weight loss. Studies have linked regular moderate to high-intensity workouts to higher testosterone levels.
- Sleep: Insufficient sleep raises obesity risk. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted rest (for adults) a night, with consistent wake-up and bedtimes.
There are obesity treatment options beyond lifestyle changes and medication. Weight-loss surgery, such as gastric bypass, reduces the amount of food your stomach can hold, limiting how much you can eat at once. Most people see results with a combination of strategies. If you are struggling with weight management or you believe you have low testosterone, speak to a healthcare provider about your options.
Read the original article on Verywell Health
