Autoimmune Conditions and GLP-1s: Weight Loss and Low-Dose Naltrexone
Posted on September 15, 2026 by Sally-Anne Turner
Have you started to gain weight after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease?
Weight gain is common for people with autoimmune disease. In the UK, many first-line and even long-term treatments for a wide range of these conditions can lead to weight gain. Yet, the medications help with the symptoms of the autoimmune disease, so people can’t simply stop taking them.
Indeed, as many as 13% of people in the UK who are taking corticosteroids, like prednisolone, report weight gain, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of 118 studies.
However, when these treatments lead to weight gain, losing the excess becomes even more complicated than it is with standard weight loss. So, you may be wondering if GLP-1 medications can help?
At the Bodyline Clinic, we offer support to those who may need a bit more help when shedding excess weight. We know that there is rarely a “perfect GLP-1” patient and that this can lead to people getting turned away by pharmacies or online prescribers. We have a dedicated clinical team on hand to help you lose weight safely and effectively. And with 95% 5-star reviews on Trustpilot and over 100,000 patients helped across the UK, we know the how’s and whys of weight loss with secondary conditions.
So, if you have an autoimmune disease and want to lose weight safely, why do you need clinical oversight?
What Is an Autoimmune Disease?
According to the Autoimmune Support and Awareness (ASA), an autoimmune disease is a condition where the immune system attacks the body’s healthy tissue by mistake, which can lead to inflammation and damage.
The tissue that the autoimmune disease attacks will have some primary differences. However, autoimmune conditions can affect different parts of the body, including the joints, the skin, the muscles and sometimes major organs. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to manage symptoms and prevent long-term damage.
What Are Autoimmune Diseases Caused By?
Why do they occur? There are a few theories that range from:
Genetic susceptibility. A study from Taiwan found that having a sibling with rheumatoid arthritis was linked to a 12-fold higher risk of RA. This is an estimated heritability of 43.5%.
Viral infections. An extensive study of more than 10 million US military personnel noted that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was linked to a 32-fold increase in the risk of multiple sclerosis.
Female hormonal fluctuations. Around 80% of people with autoimmune diseases are women.
Smoking. A meta-analysis found that people with 21–30 pack-years of smoking had almost twice the risk (1.94) of developing rheumatoid arthritis compared to those who never smoked.
Obesity/metabolic inflammation. A recent meta-analysis found that obesity was associated with a 41% higher risk of developing any autoimmune disease.
These factors can increase the risk of developing certain autoimmune diseases, although having one or more risk factors does not mean that someone will necessarily develop an autoimmune condition.
NICE Guidelines and Autoimmune Diseases
There are no statistics on this at the time of writing, but many people take steroids for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Corticosteroids can increase appetite in the short term, encourage fluid retention and change how the body stores fat, which can make weight management feel frustrating even for people who are trying hard. GLP-1 medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and newer dual agonists, may have a role in medically supervised weight management for some people, but they need careful assessment, especially when autoimmune conditions and other medicines are involved.
For some people, maintaining a healthy weight can be more difficult when they are managing multiple medical conditions at the same time.
Why Do Steroids Increase Weight?
As mentioned in the intro, one of the core things that steroids do is increase weight. But why do they do this?
They increase appetite and can make it harder to ignore hunger cues or “food noise”.
They also promote fluid retention, which can make the numbers on the scales add up quickly.
This medication can also worsen insulin resistance, which can make blood glucose increase in some people. People taking this medication are also often monitored for diabetes and their long-term blood sugar levels.
Steroids are also notorious for altering fat distribution, which can lead to more centralised weight gain.
In a similar vein, many of the autoimmune symptoms themselves, such as fatigue, pain, as well as slowed or lower mobility, can make maintaining a healthy body weight more difficult. Gastrointestinal issues and disrupted sleep can also mean that people who have these disorders may be more prone to sedentary lifestyles.
Physical activity can become more challenging when pain, fatigue, or other symptoms affect mobility. This can make weight gain more difficult to manage alongside the underlying medical conditions.
This is why, when it comes to managing an autoimmune disease, weight issues can accumulate due to a mixture of medical and behavioural problems. If you put weight on during your time using steroids, it is not a personal failing.
Do GLP-1s Help People with Autoimmune Diseases to Lose Weight?
So, are there any clinical studies that look at whether or not GLP-1s can help people who have autoimmune diseases with weight loss?
There is some evidence that suggests that they can help. A 2025 study explored the impacts on 173 people with rheumatoid arthritis who had a BMI ≥27 and were prescribed semaglutide or tirzepatide. At the time of writing, the data on the exact statistical numbers related to weight loss are not available, but researchers noted that it was “significant”.
A study from 2026 explored the role of GLP-1s in weight loss for people who had psoriatic arthritis. It was a small study involving 48 people who had a median BMI of 34.9; the mean weight loss was 6.43 kg, and 60% lost ≥5% of their starting body weight.
These are two of the most relevant recent studies. However, as more clinical teams investigate the potential effects of GLP-1 medications in people with inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, this area of research is likely to expand. Importantly, GLP-1 medications are primarily used for weight management and are not currently established treatments for autoimmune diseases themselves. For people who are overweight or obese and have an autoimmune disease, weight loss medications may therefore be considered as part of a wider, medically supervised approach where appropriate.
Low Dose Naltrexone and Autoimmune Diseases
Yes, at the Bodyline Clinic, we offer GLP-1s to help with weight loss. And we have a range of medications in stock, from Mounjaro to Wegovy and even the Foundayo pill.
We do, however, also offer a lot of other services designed to help people manage other health conditions. If you come to us with an autoimmune disease that isn’t responding well to treatments, we may also help with this.
The Bodyline Clinic offers supervised low dose naltrexone (LDN) programmes. These are aimed at people who have:
- Chronic pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Long COVID
Naltrexone is a prescription-only medication (POM) that blocks opioid receptors in the body and the brain. So, it is often prescribed for the management of opioid dependence and is even used for alcohol dependence.
Now, we hear what you are saying. How can this help with autoimmune diseases? There is evidence from a journal, the Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology (2023), that points to LDN being potentially useful in chronic conditions. These are primarily based around conditions that involve inflammation, immune-system signalling and pain. However, we need to specify here that it is not proven to treat every autoimmune condition and is clinically used but off-label.
Comorbid Medication and GLP-1s
It is common for people who have autoimmune conditions to take an array of different medicines to keep their conditions stable or not in an “active” disease state.
Aside from steroids, other common medications that can help to minimise symptoms include injectable biologics (like Benepali), pain relief (like naproxen), stomach protection (omeprazole) and, for some women, contraceptives.
If you come to our team at the Bodyline Clinic and you are already taking multiple medications to manage your health, then we will usually assess:
Oral medications where absorption matters. This is common with the contraceptive pill and our piece on Foundayo, and the contraceptive pill looks at why you will need backup contraception when using this medication.
Gastrointestinal issues. This includes severe reflux, recurrent vomiting, pancreatitis or gallbladder disease. This is to help us assess what level of support you will need.
Cardiac health. Some autoimmune diseases, like ankylosing spondylitis, can impact the heart. So, if you have an autoimmune disease that is impacting your heart and you are taking medication for it, then we will ensure that this is monitored.
Depending on the autoimmune disease that you have, our team will need to work with your GP, rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists or neurologists.
According to MHRA guidelines, there is no contraindication between taking GLP-1s and corticosteroids. So, we do recommend that if you take steroids, you should highlight any dose changes, recent flares or steroid-related blood glucose concerns. You should not stop taking steroids without medical advice.
Bodyline and Complex Health
As we said earlier, there is rarely such a thing as a perfect GLP-1 patient. And we have noticed that over our 18 years of experience, many people who could have taken GLP-1s with supervision have been rejected by pharmacies.
What we offer at the Bodyline Clinic is different. We have a clinical team who will offer you an assessment, and we will take the time to craft the perfect treatment plan for you with our specialised support. No two people are the same: why should their GLP-1 weight loss journey be?
So, contact us today for more information and let’s get your weight loss journey started right.
FAQs
What Is an Autoimmune Disease?
Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks healthy tissue. The causes seem to be linked to genetics, hormones, viral infections, smoking and obesity.
Why Do People Gain Weight on Steroids?
They can increase appetite and food noise, as well as increase water retention, increase blood glucose and alter fat distribution.
Can GLP-1 Medications Help With Weight Loss If I Have an Autoimmune Disease?
Some clinical studies suggest that people with certain autoimmune and inflammatory conditions can lose weight while taking GLP-1 medications. However, individual suitability depends on factors including the autoimmune condition, other medicines, current disease state and overall health.
How Does Low Dose Naltrexone Help With Autoimmune Diseases?
Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) may help some people to manage chronic pain and symptoms associated with certain inflammatory conditions. However, our team at Bodyline would never recommend that anyone who comes to us for GLP-1 medications and has an autoimmune disease stop taking their primary medications.
When Should I Speak to Healthcare Professionals About Weight Gain?
If you are experiencing unexplained weight gain, have medical conditions that affect your weight, or are taking medicines that may contribute to weight gain, speak to your GP or other healthcare professionals. They can help assess potential causes and discuss appropriate options for weight management.
