“Our findings show liraglutide may be effective for treating stubborn, high-frequency migraines in patients with obesity, and that this effect is independent of weight loss,” the researchers concluded in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain.

Some new medications in development are also trying to solve for a persistent side effect of existing drugs: Patients who lose fat also tend to lose muscle. This can be particularly dangerous for older adults because it makes them more likely to fall and can worsen osteoporosis.