Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic immune condition that affects about 3 million people in the United States.
In a recent WebMD AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit, Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, a gastroenterologist and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, answered users' questions about new treatments for managing Crohn's disease. And the use of GLP-1s sparked a lot of interest.
GLP-1 medications are a class of drugs that mimic a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). They help control blood sugar and appetite, so they are used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
GLP-1s as an Emerging Treatment
GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza) are used to treat type 2 diabetes because they help control blood sugar levels. They can also help people lose weight in different ways:
- They make you feel fuller by targeting the areas of the brain that control hunger.
- They lower appetite, which can help you eat less.
- They delay gastric emptying, making you feel full longer.
- They may lower intestinal inflammation, although more research is needed to understand this possible benefit.
"GLP-1s alone are not a treatment, but treatment of obesity and underlying metabolic abnormalities is overall helpful for inflammation," Chowdhury says.
Recent research reveals that between 15% and 40% of adults with IBD have obesity. Many studies have linked obesity with a higher risk of getting Crohn's disease.
This connection between the two conditions has prompted interest in exploring the use of GLP-1s as part of new treatment strategies to control intestinal inflammation.
Potential Benefits of GLP-1s for Crohn's
Gil Melmed, MD, director of inflammatory bowel disease clinical research and associate director of the Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, says that "people with Crohn's disease who take these medications [GLP-1s] for obesity or type 2 diabetes may experience improvements in important IBD outcomes, including reduced steroid use, fewer hospitalizations, and fewer IBD-related surgeries."
Besides the metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of GLP-1s, some studies have shown promising benefits of these medications for digestive health, including:
- Healing of the intestinal lining
- Regulating the immune response in the intestines
- Balancing gut bacteria
"Visceral fat, or fat deep inside the abdomen, is commonly associated with Crohn's disease and may contribute to intestinal inflammation. Reducing that fat through GLP-1 therapy could potentially help some patients, but that possibility still needs to be confirmed in large prospective clinical trials," Melmed says.
IBD has also been linked to a higher risk of ischemic heart disease, peripheral artery disease, acute arterial events, and stroke. Losing weight and improving your metabolic health could lower this risk.
How People With Crohn's Respond to GLP-1s
Recent studies suggest that people who have Crohn's disease may respond well to GLP-1 medications. But more studies are needed to better understand their:
- Effect on the absorption of nutrients and other medications
- Safety in people with intestinal inflammation
- Possible interactions with biologics and immunosuppressants
The treatment potential of GLP-1s is still being researched due to their known GI side effects, including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
"People with IBD may experience these symptoms at rates similar as the general population. While these side effects do not represent an IBD flare, they can sometimes be mistaken for one by patients or even care teams. … For that reason, patients with IBD should be counseled about the possibility of GI side effects before starting treatment," Melmed says.
There is another important safety concern: GLP-1 medications cause weight loss that includes not only fat but also lean muscle mass, which could increase the risk of sarcopenia (gradual loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance) in people with Crohn's disease.
"Researchers are currently conducting prospective, controlled studies to better understand how GLP-1 receptor agonists may affect disease activity in IBD and other inflammatory conditions, but those results are not yet available," Melmed says.
Lifestyle Changes
If you have Crohn's, making lifestyle changes remains an important part of managing the disease and can help you keep symptoms under control.
Chowdhury explains that there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that diet and exercise alone can cure this medical condition. "I have not seen enough data to support that statement," she says.
But she does highlight the benefits of certain lifestyle changes: "However, both a healthy diet and exercise are beneficial to treat inflammation," she says.
She also shared some practical recommendations:
When it comes to diet: "I recommend avoiding red meats, but fishes and chicken are good, along with a Mediterranean diet," Chowdhury says.
When it comes to daily habits: "I do think stress, lack of sleep, and a lack of a healthy diet can precipitate a flare."
Treatment Options
While initial studies on the use of GLP-1s for Crohn's disease show promising benefits in managing inflammation and metabolic conditions, more clinical evidence is needed to figure out whether these drugs could provide long-term benefits for people diagnosed with IBD.
In the case of Crohn's disease, there is no standard treatment that works for everybody. "Unfortunately, we do not know why some folks respond well to some treatments and others have to 'cycle' through treatments. There are different phenotypes of Crohn's, and some are more difficult to treat than others," Chowdhury says.
Because Crohn's disease looks different in everyone, the treatment strategy must be tailored to each person, and it may include the use of biologics, changes in eating habits, surgery, or taking part in clinical trials.
"There are currently studies looking at dual advanced therapies with clinical trials also assessing risks as well as efficacy of combined treatment. There are ongoing studies trying to understand what causes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, including early exposure to antibiotics, childbirth, and changes in microbiome and environmental triggers. There is also a genetic component," Chowdhury says.
A combination of treatment options can help you keep your condition under control and lead a full and rewarding life. That is why it's important to talk to your gastroenterologist to choose the treatment plan that works best for you.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images
SOURCES:
Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, gastroenterologist, Johns Hopkins Endoscopy and Surgery Center, Columbia, Maryland.
Gil Melmed, MD, gastroenterologist; director, inflammatory bowel disease clinical research, and associate director, Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles.
Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) Q&A, WebMD: "I’m a gastroenterologist – Ask Me Anything About Crohn’s disease," with Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, May 19, 2026.
Mayo Clinic: "Crohn's disease."
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation: "Overview of Crohn's Disease," "Diet and Nutrition."
FDA: "FDA Approves New Medication for Chronic Weight Management."
CDC.gov: "GLP-1 Injectable Use Among Adults With Diagnosed Diabetes: United States, 2024."
BMC Gastroenterology: "Efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists on obesity and metabolic profile in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis."
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics: "Systematic Review: Efficacy, Safety and Metabolic Outcomes of GLP‐1 Receptor Agonists in Inflammatory Bowel Disease."
Journal of Crohn's and Colitis: "Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in inflammatory bowel disease: mechanisms, clinical implications, and therapeutic potential."
