These weight loss drugs may help extend the life of knee and hip replacements

A new study suggests that even modest weight loss with GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound can help prevent knee and hip replacements from wearing out too soon. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study found that patients who lost weight using these medications were significantly less likely to need follow-up surgery to repair or replace their artificial joints.

How Weight Loss Affects Joint Replacements

Every year, about 900,000 knee replacements and 400,000 hip replacements are performed in the U.S. These artificial joints generally last 15 to 20 years, but some patients—especially those who are overweight or received a joint at a younger age—may need follow-up surgery sooner due to wear and tear.

Obesity is a major risk factor for joint failure because excess weight puts more stress on the implants, leading to complications and the need for revision surgery. The new study sought to determine whether losing weight with GLP-1 drugs could help extend the life of knee and hip replacements.

Key Findings

Researchers analyzed medical records of nearly 3,700 patients in the U.K. who had a knee or hip replacement and were prescribed a GLP-1 medication. They divided patients into three groups:

Those who gained weight or maintained their starting weight
Those who lost 2% to 10% of their body weight
Those who lost 10% or more of their body weight

After five years, the risk of requiring follow-up surgery was:

5.6% for those who gained or maintained their weight
4.4% for those who lost a small to moderate amount of weight (a 25% lower risk)
3.7% for those who lost a large amount of weight (a 43% lower risk)

When looking at specific joint types, the risk reduction varied:

Knee replacement patients saw a 45% to 51% lower risk of needing revision surgery, depending on weight loss.
Hip replacement patients had an 18% to 47% lower risk, depending on weight loss.

These benefits remained consistent even after 10 years, suggesting that sustained weight loss can help prolong the lifespan of artificial joints.

Implications for Patients and Doctors

Dr. Chao Zeng, the study’s lead author and an orthopedics specialist at Xiangya Hospital in China, stated that the findings suggest GLP-1 drugs could be a valuable tool for improving joint replacement outcomes in people with obesity.

The study provides strong evidence that losing at least 2% of body weight within a year of starting anti-obesity medications can reduce the risk of needing revision surgery for knee and hip replacements.

If future research confirms these findings, this could change clinical guidelines for patients undergoing joint replacement, encouraging weight loss as a way to protect their implants and avoid additional surgeries.

The research findings can be found in JAMA Network Open.