{"id":744,"date":"2025-04-25T12:58:51","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T12:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/?p=744"},"modified":"2025-04-25T14:19:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T14:19:29","slug":"mass-study-reveals-alarming-new-side-effects-of-ozempic-style-weight-loss-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/25\/mass-study-reveals-alarming-new-side-effects-of-ozempic-style-weight-loss-drugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass study reveals alarming new side effects of Ozempic-style weight loss drugs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New research has found a worrying side effect of some weight loss injections (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From \u2018Ozempic face<\/a>\u2019 to \u2018Ozempic<\/a> fingers\u2019 and even \u2018Wegovy butt,\u2019 the potential side effects of weight loss medications<\/a> have been well-documented.<\/p>\n

But now, a new study has revealed yet another troubling by-product of the drug \u2013 and this time, it\u2019s not physical, but mental.<\/p>\n

The research found a link between weight loss drugs and an increase in both depression<\/a> and suicidal ideation.<\/p>\n

Put simply, GLP1 drugs \u2013 which are often called GLP1 agonists \u2013 are used in weight loss drugs like Ozempic. These mimic the hormones the body releases when we consume food, triggering the pancreas to release insulin and convert the sugar in our bloodstream into energy.<\/p>\n

Published in Current Neuropharmacology<\/a>, the study explains that while these drugs can prove helpful for brains that produce too much dopamine (often called the \u2018feel-good hormone\u2019 that makes us feel pleasure), for those who naturally run on too little, it might cause more harm than good.<\/p>\n

So, why is this? It\u2019s all because when used regularly, these drugs can actually disrupt the production of dopamine, which can then lead to symptoms of depression, mood swings, and thoughts of suicide.<\/p>\n

The authors have warned that their findings should be taken seriously, as senior author Dr. Kenneth Blum, research professor at Western University Health Sciences and Ariel University, urged \u2018the clinical prescribing community to proceed with caution to avoid another tragic wave of \u201cpeople dying to lose weight.\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n

Dr Mark S. Gold, addiction psychiatry pioneer and co-author, even believes that it should be considered enough to \u2018re-evaluate the widespread use of GLP1 receptor agonists.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The FDA and other regulatory agencies should carefully consider our findings when it comes to labelling and monitoring these drugs,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tI won\u2019t be shamed for taking weight loss injections \u2014 they changed more than just my body\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Of course, some patients do report more pros than cons. Amanda Strowbridge<\/a> struggled with her body image after she started going through the menopause in 2019, when she says she put \u2018more and more\u2019 weight on.<\/p>\n

After considering her options, in November 2023, she decided to put herself forward for Wegovy. Filling out the consultation form through Boots Pharmacy, she quickly received her first prescription.<\/p>\n

Amanda decided to start her own Instagram account to document her own weight loss journey. It was here that she soon connected with other people on a similar pathway.<\/p>\n

\u2018Because of the algorithm, other people on weight-loss drugs started coming up on my feed,\u2019 Amanda, who is 55, previously told Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u2018There are so many nuances, twists and turns along the way and it seems that people who are ahead of others are \u201cpaying forward\u201d their experiences to help others.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

Amanda also says there is a wonderful sense of \u2018camaraderie\u2019 among her friends, which makes a change from the feelings of shame people often feel when using weight loss jabs, or are trolled for being \u2019lazy.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2019As a community, I think we rise above any of these comments as we\u2019re too busy looking after our health,\u2019 she explains. <\/p>\n

\u2018Once people who have been trying to lose weight for years finally find something that works and is helping them, they feel empowered and don\u2019t really care what others think.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

This isn\u2019t the first study to warn of the potential impact of weight loss injections on mental health.<\/p>\n

Research<\/a> revealed that between January 2021 and May 2023, 481 psychiatric events were associated with not only semaglutide, but also other similar drugs liraglutide and tirzepatide,\u00a0often sold as Mounjaro<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Around half of the effects recorded included depression, followed by anxiety, while 20% experienced thoughts relating to suicide, according to research\u00a0published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

What are the side effects of weight loss medications?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As our understanding of weight loss injections has deepened, those taking the drugs have increasingly shared their experiences taking them.<\/p>\n

Over the last few years, prescriptions for weight loss medications have skyrocketed \u2013 and they\u2019ve become so popular that earlier this month, WeightWatchers<\/a> announced it was filing for bankruptcy after failing to compete against the rise of \u2018quick-fix\u2019 weight loss tools.<\/p>\n

50,000 people in the UK are currently taking either Mounjaro or Wegovy, according to Simple Online Pharmacy, with data from Oushk Pharmacy further revealing that Gen Z is leading the surge in weight loss injections.<\/p>\n

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50,000 across the UK are currently taking either Mounjaro or Wegovy (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As Dr Adil Sheraz, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson, previously told Metro<\/strong>, one phenomenon colloquially termed \u2018Ozempic face\u2019<\/a> refers to \u2018sagging, ageing and lacklustre appearance of the facial skin and structures.\u2019<\/p>\n

Dr Paul Jarrod Frank, a dermatologist in New York\u00a0thought to have coined the phrase, told the\u00a0New York Times<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0that he\u2019d started seeing Ozempic face \u2018every day\u2019 since these drugs hit the mainstream.<\/p>\n

\u2018The face has a layer of fat that essentially stretches the skin. Ozempic results in rapid weight loss and does so very effectively. This, of course, will lead to rapid loss of subcutaneous (under the skin) facial fat,\u2019 Dr Adil further explained.<\/p>\n

\u2018The overlying skin however will not be able to shrink at the same rate, resulting in a sagging, droopy and wrinkled appearance.\u2019<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not all. Though these symptoms aren\u2019t necessarily specific to taking semaglutide (it can happen with any case of rapid weight loss), people using the drug have also coined the term \u2018Wegovy Butt,\u2019<\/a> which refers to people\u2019s bums getting smaller, saggier and more deflated.<\/p>\n

Others have shared their experiences of so-called \u2018Ozempic finger,\u2019 which is essentially just rapid weight loss around the fingers and wrists, causing people\u2019s jewellery to slip off.<\/p>\n

Novo Nordisk, which manufactures Ozempic, previously told Metro<\/strong> that it couldn\u2019t comment on the side effects caused by people using Ozempic off-label, and not for its intended purposes.<\/p>\n

\u2018Regarding safety, the most common adverse events among people treated with Ozempic (semaglutide) for its indicated use, are gastrointestinal events including nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting,\u2019 a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

\u2018Most events were transient, and mild or moderate in severity and resolved without permanent treatment discontinuation.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tWhat is semaglutide, and what\u2019s the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Put simply, Ozempic and Wegovy are both brand names \u2013 but they\u2019re both variations of a weight loss drug called semaglutide.<\/p>\n

Ozempic is patented to treat type 2 diabetes, improving blood sugar to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular incidents. The Ozempic guidelines outline that the drug \u2013 which is injected \u2013 \u2018may help you to lose some weight\u2019 but specifies that it is \u2018not for weight loss.\u2019 The same rules apply in the US.<\/p>\n

While Ozempic is used to treat type 2 diabetes, Wegovy \u2013 another form of the ingredient semaglutide, under a different name \u2013 it is also used to treat \u2018adults with obesity or excess weight who also have weight-related medical problems\u2019, its website reads.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New research has found a worrying side effect of some weight loss injections (Picture: Getty Images) From \u2018Ozempic face\u2019 to \u2018Ozempic fingers\u2019 and even \u2018Wegovy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":746,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/744"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=744"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":749,"href":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/744\/revisions\/749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.troop956.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}