Ozempic boasts surprising mental health benefits for teens with obesity: new research
Jab for joy.A landmark new study has found that obese teens who are given semaglutide weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, may see an improvement in their mental health, including a reduced risk of suicide.This research contradicts previous concerns about the potential of drugs like Ozempic to trigger suicidal ideation and self-harm in children and adults.
Created to treat diabetes, these medications have skyrocketed in popularity due to their ability to help people lose weight by slowing digestion and reducing appetite.Published in JAMA Pediatrics, the new study is the first to focus exclusively on the relationship between the weight loss drug and mental health among teenagers.
Analyzing 4,000 obese participants aged 12 to 19 taking a semaglutide, researchers compared their findings with 50,000 obese teens who were treated with lifestyle therapy but no medication.Overall, and over a 12-month follow-up period, the Ozempic contingent was associated with a 33 percent reduction in suicidal ideation or attempts.
This positive trend continued throughout a three-year follow-up period.The study authors noted that teens who took the weightloss medication reported higher rates of side effects, especially gastroinstensital issues like diarrhea.
This latest teen-centric research comes on the heels, or needles, of two separate studies that found that the weight loss drug semaglutide does not increase the risk of depression and suicide.Researchers are hopeful that the link between the medication and reduced risk of suicidal ideation and attempts mean the drugs could have benefits beyond weight management.
Dr Riccardo De Giorgi of the University of Oxford says, “Our results suggest that semaglutide use could extend beyond managing diabetes, potentially offering unexpected benefits in the treatment and prevention of cognitive decline and substance misuse.”The good news comes as obesity rates and their associative health issues continue to blight Americans.Accordi...