Obesity drugs: huge study highlights new health risks

Nature
Jan 21, 2025

Obesity drugs: huge study highlights new health risks

Weight-loss medicines such as Ozempic might raise a person’s likelihood of developing conditions including arthritis.


Blockbuster obesity drugs such as Ozempic have been celebrated for their ability to treat weight loss and a surprising range of other conditions, from heart issues to Parkinson’s disease. Now, an analysis of data from nearly 2 million people is revealing new insights into the effects of these medications — including the risks they pose.

The findings, published in Nature Medicine on 20 January1, confirm that these drugs, called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, offer more than just weight-loss benefits. But the work highlights newly recognized risks of the medicines, including an increased likelihood of developing arthritis and a potentially deadly condition called pancreatitis.

Some researchers say the study lacks enough detail to draw solid conclusions about benefits and risks. “It is one thing for a benefit or harm to be ‘associated’ with use of GLP-1, it is another thing if it changes the risk a great deal,” says Randy Seeley, an obesity specialist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who wasn’t involved in the research.