A major study has revealed that weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic could put people at greater risk of a range of potentially deadly illnesses.
Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine looked at the health outcomes among more than two million people with diabetes taking popular weight-loss medications.
They found that these drugs doubled the chance of developing pancreatitis, a potentially life-threating swelling of the pancreas gland.
The condition can prove fatal if the inflammation cuts off the blood supply to part of the pancreas, leading this area to die and become infected – causing sepsis.
It can also trigger severe internal bleeding if toxins and enzymes leak from the organ and damage nearby blood vessels.
A third of weight-loss drug takers also suffered nausea or vomiting and there is an 11 per cent higher risk of developing arthritis, the experts also discovered.
While the benefits are wide-ranging and significant, the side effects can be ‘quite severe’ and ‘need to be recognized’, they warned.
For the new research, a team from Washington University, analysed data on more than 215,000 individuals who were taking the drugs for diabetes.
A major study has revealed that weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic could put people at greater risk of a range of potentially deadly illnesses
These were compared to more than two million people who were taking traditional medication to lower blood sugar levels.
They found that those taking the popular weight loss drugs, also known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), had a lower risk of stroke, a heart attack, substance use disorders and seizures.
The jabs were even linked to a reduced risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
However, their use was also associated with an increased risk of a range of other health conditions.
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Analysis revealed that over 3.5 years, those using the drugs had an 11 per cent higher risk of developing arthritis, a 30 per cent higher risk of nausea and vomiting, a 10 per cent higher risk of headaches and 12 per cent increased chance of sleep disturbances.
This finding on arthritis contradicts previous studies, which found glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA drugs) may actually reduce the risk, due to the effects of weight loss which can alleviate pressure on joints.
The jabs were also associated with a doubled risk of drug-induced acute pancreatitis – a sudden inflammation of the pancreas, which is a small organ that helps with digestion.
Most people with the condition start to feel better within a week but some people can go on to develop serious complications such as infection, sepsis, organ failure and internal bleeding.
Diabetic Juanita Gantt, 62, from Pennsylvania is suing the maker of Ozempic after a near-death experience she blames on the medication.
The researchers said they have seen ‘skyrocketing’ use of the jabs over the past years but this is the first comprehensive analysis which looked at 175 possible health-related effects.
And while they have a ‘wide array’ of beneficial effects, they are ‘not without risks’, they said.
Last year, more than 160 deaths in the US were linked to weight loss shots.
One of the victims was a 45-year-old woman who choked on her own vomit while on Mounjaro.
Another involved a 23-year-old man who died from vomiting, nausea, and a rapid heart rate after taking Wegovy.
It has not been proved if any of the deaths in the US were directly caused by the injections, but in some cases it is suspected they have played a role.
In the new Washington University School of Medicine, the weight loss drugs were also associated with ‘significant benefits’ to both neurological and behavioral health.
In Australia, 56-year-old Trish Webster died after taking the drug off-label to help her lose weight ahead of her daughter’s wedding. She dropped 35lbs (16kg) over five months as she was trying to slim down for a dress for her daughter’s wedding
In line with past research, the study confirmed the drugs’ potential to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular concerns.
However, a mix of other benefits came to light, including that the weight loss drugs appeared to help reduce the risk of seizures and addiction to substances such as alcohol, cannabis, stimulants and opioids.
Another positive was that patients taking the weight-loss drugs experienced decreased risks of suicidal ideation, self-harm, bulimia and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
The researchers believe that GLP-1RA drugs ‘act on receptors that are expressed in brain areas involved in impulse control, reward and addiction – potentially explaining their effectiveness in curbing appetite and addiction disorders’.
In the same vein, the researchers found a decreased risk of neurocognitive disorders among patients, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
This, they say, could be because the drugs reduce inflammation in the brain which may help to improve brain health.
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It comes amid a surge in the popularity of Ozempic, with millions more Americans taking the drug. Some surveys suggest as many as one in eight Americans have now tried the drug
Commenting on the findings, the study’s senior author Dr Ziyad Al-Aly said: ‘Given the drugs’ newness and skyrocketing popularity, it is important to systematically examine their effects on all body systems – leaving no stone unturned – to understand what they do and what they don’t do.
‘Our approach has allowed us to build a comprehensive atlas mapping the associations of GLP-1RA spanning all organ systems.
‘GLP-1RA drugs can have broad health benefits. However, they are not without risks.
‘Our findings underscore the possibility for wider applications for these medications but also highlight important risks that should be carefully monitored in people taking these drugs.’
Dr Al-Aly says while adverse effects from the weight loss drugs are ‘uncommon, they can be very serious’.
Because of this, the researchers say that physicians ‘must be vigilant for signs of pancreatitis and monitor kidney function among people taking GLP-1RA medications’.
One concern with kidney problems is that they can occur without symptoms until the condition is at an advanced stage with limited treatment options.
Ozempic first became available in 2018, when it was approved for diabetics but often prescribed off-label for weight loss.
Its sister medication Wegovy, which uses slightly higher doses, was approved for weight loss in June 2021.
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The above graph shows deaths linked to semaglutide and tirzepatide by year. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy while tirzepatide is used in drugs including Zepbound. Yellow is used for 2024 to indicate the data is incomplete
Eli Lilly’s medication Mounjaro – which uses tirzepatide – was approved for diabetics in May 2022, but was also used off-label to help patients lose weight.
And in November 2023, the company’s Zepbound was approved for weight loss patients.
All of these drugs are all injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists, and they work by imitating a hormone in the body that controls the rate food gets processed in the gut – slowing this process down.
This reduces appetite and helps people eat less.
In clinical trials, most people taking the drugs for obesity lost an average of 15 to 22 percent of their body weight.
According to a poll conducted by the independent health policy research firm KFF, 12 percent of US adults have used GLP-1 drugs, including 6 percent (20.1 million people) who are currently using them.
Some of the most common reported side effects linked to these drugs include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation and fatigue.
The recent analysis revealed that over 3.5 years, those using the drugs had a 30 percent higher risk of nausea and vomiting, a 10 percent higher risk of headaches and 12 percent increased chance of sleep disturbances.
For the recent study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine researchers analyzed de-identified medical records in a database maintained by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
They compared 175 health outcomes between veterans who took GLP-1RA drugs to treat their diabetes and those who took more traditional medications sold under brand names such as Jardiance, Glipizide and Januvia.
Altogether, the dataset examined more than 2 million veterans who were treated for diabetes from October 1, 2017, to December 31, 2023.
Patients included people of diverse ages, races and sexes.
