Drugs like Wegovy may trim your waistline but not medical costs, according to an analysis of U.S. health insurance claims shared with Reuters.

Type-2 diabetes patients taking the active ingredient in the drugs, semaglutide, "had a significantly lower risk" of developing the disease, the study found

Research hints that medications like Zepbound and Wegovy could provide new ways to treat opioid and alcohol abuse.

FDA approval: Ozempic is FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss. Cost: Ozempic is typically more affordable than Wegovy. At the time of publishing, the list price for Ozempic was $968.52 per month, whereas the list price for Wegovy was $1,349.02 per month. List prices are the price set by the manufacturer.

People with Type 2 diabetes taking semaglutide appeared to have a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer's compared to patients taking seven other diabetes drugs, researchers reported.

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are given as weekly injections via pre-filled pens that can be self-administered into the upper arm, thigh or stomach. They work as an appetite suppressant by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster drug Ozempic (NVO) is linked to yet another health benefit. This time it’s lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

The active ingredient in Ozempic was associated with a 40% to 70% lower risk of a first-time Alzheimer’s diagnosis in diabetes patients.