New research reveals that anti-obesity medications can significantly boost testosterone levels and enhance health outcomes in men with obesity or type 2 diabetes. These findings were presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting held in San Francisco.
Testosterone is essential not only for male sexual health but also for maintaining bone density, muscle mass, fat distribution, strength and red-blood cell production. Obesity and type 2 diabetes often lead to reduced testosterone levels, which can cause symptoms like fatigue and lowered libido.
Dr. Shellsea Portillo Canales, an endocrinology fellow at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital, highlighted that while weight loss through lifestyle changes or bariatric surgery is known to increase testosterone, the effects of anti-obesity medications on testosterone levels have been less explored. Her team’s study provides some of the first strong evidence that commonly prescribed anti-obesity drugs can reverse low testosterone in affected men.
The study tracked 110 adult men with obesity or type 2 diabetes who were treated with semaglutide, dulaglutide or tirzepatide but were not on testosterone or hormonal therapies. Over 18 months, testosterone levels were measured alongside weight changes. Results showed that with an average weight loss of 10%, the percentage of men with normal total and free testosterone levels increased markedly from 53% to 77%.
These important findings suggest that anti-obesity medications may offer men, not only improvements in weight and blood sugar control, but also significant reproductive health benefits.
Dr. Portillo Canales emphasized the study’s clinical implications: “Doctors and their patients can now consider these medications, not only for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes, but also for improving men’s testosterone levels and overall reproductive health.”
