Medicare is set to negotiate the prices of 15 more drugs. Medicines that will probably be on the list are used for conditions like diabetes and cancer.

A new study found no link between semaglutide use and suicidal ideation while another recent study showed the inverse. Halfpoint Images/Getty Images

The authors of a new study say there’s no link between semaglutide use and suicidal ideation, while another recent study suggests the inverse.

Research into semaglutide use and suicidal thoughts has yielded conflicting results as experts debate over safety of GLP-1 drugs.

More research in this area is needed since some research may be biased.

GLP-1 agonists, like semaglutide, have revolutionized obesity treatment.

As their popularity skyrockets, there’s been mounting concern over the potential negative side effects of these drugs.

Recent studies have investigated whether glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like semaglutide are linked to an increased risk of suicidal ideation. So far, the results have been mixed.

For instance, a global study published on August 20 in JAMA Network Open found a raised risk of suicidal ideation associated with semaglutide use, while a new study, published September 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine found no such link.

The authors of the JAMA Network Open study found that semaglutide-based GLP-1 medications, sold as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, are linked to a higher risk of suicidal ideation whereas other common diabetes medications were not.

The paper concludes that people taking medications to manage depression or anxiety disorders who also take semaglutide could face a greater risk.

In contrast, the authors of the JAMA Internal Medicine paper suggest that semaglutide use did not increase the risk of developing depression symptoms or suicidal ideation or behavior compared to a placebo. The authors say semaglutide use was actually “associated with a small but statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms.”

“Our new analyses provide assurance that the medication, when taken by individuals who are free of significant mental health concerns, does not increase the risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, or suicidal behavior,“ said the lead author of the study, Thomas Wadden, PhD, a professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and the former director of Penn’s Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, in a press release.

Do GLP-1 agonists cause suicide thoughts?

The researchers of the latest study examined data from four out of five Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity (STEP) trials, and tracked changes in depression symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).

They looked for indications of suicidal thoughts and behavior using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and determined that suicide death among people using GLP-1 receptor agonists is rare.

While these findings may seem reassuring, however, the research may have some degree of bias.

Several study authors declared potential conflicts of interest because they are affiliated with Novo Nordisk, which produces semaglutide-containing drugs, or other drug manufacturing companies such as Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and AstraZeneca. The study also received funding from Novo Nordisk.

Still, another recent study published in Nature Medicine in January 2024 found no link between semaglutide use and suicidal ideation in a real-world cohort of 240,618 people with overweight or obestiy.

Similarly, other research on semaglutide use and suicidal ideation conducted in 2018 and 2021 found no association in people with obesity.

In addition, early trials of the GLP-1 agonist liraglutide (Saxenda) conducted in 2017 found that only 0.3% of those treated with liraglutide reported suicidal ideation compared with 0.1% of those taking the placebo. This difference was slight enough that the authors concluded there was “no cause for concern.”

Nonetheless, in July 2023, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) released a statement to explain they are “reviewing data on the risk of suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm” associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists as researchers continue to debate over safety.

This review is ongoing, and both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency have since announced that they are conducting similar investigations.

So far, neither the FDA nor the EMA has found a cause for concern.

Why research on GLP-1 drugs and suicidal thoughts is needed

Much of the information about GLP-1 agonists and psychiatric symptoms stems from clinical trials.

However, people with psychiatric conditions are rarely included in clinical trials. 

GLP-1 agonists have become wildly popular with millions of people using them, including those with mental health conditions. Understanding how this drug affects people in the real world is increasingly important.

In the JAMA Network Open study, the scientists analyzed global data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

They focused on the potential relationship between the GLP-1 agonists, liraglutide and semaglutide and suicidal ideation and self-harm.

Are there links between semaglutide and suicidal ideation?

The researchers used the WHO’s database of individual case safety reports (ICSRs).

The ICSR is the largest pharmacovigilance database in the world, containing more than 28 million reports of suspected adverse drug reactions from 140 countries.

“Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities involved in detecting, assessing, understanding, and preventing adverse effects or any other problems related to medicines,” explained study co-author Georgios Schoretsanitis, MD, PhD, a researcher with the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

“This ongoing process is essential for ensuring the safety of drugs even after they have been approved for public use,” Schoretsanitis told Healthline.

In this study, the scientists did find a relationship between semaglutide and suicidal ideation, but they did not find this relationship with other medications.

The authors also found evidence that “people with anxiety and depressive disorders may be at higher probability of reporting suicidal ideation when medicated with semaglutide.” 

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.

Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Should people who take Ozempic be concerned?

Although the JAMA Network Open results are concerning, it is important to put them into perspective.

For instance, the researchers used a method called disproportionality analysis to conduct their study. “In pharmacovigilance, researchers often compare ‘cases’ to ‘non-cases’ to understand if a drug might be associated with certain adverse events,” Schoretsanitis explained.

Cases are reports where people have experienced a particular adverse event after taking a drug, and non-cases are people who took the same drug but did not experience that adverse event. 

“By comparing these groups, disproportionality analysis aims to detect unusual patterns in the data,” Schoretsanitis said, meaning there is a higher-than-expected number of adverse events happening with a particular drug. 

If this “disproportionate” number of reports is greater than expected, this suggests that there is a “potential link between the drug and that adverse event that needs to be investigated further,” he added.

So, while this relationship certainly warrants a deeper dive, Schoretsanitis explained that the results are “like an early warning system, and should not be immediately viewed as an alarm.”

Still, Rachel Goldberg, an eating disorder therapy specialist in Studio City, CA, not involved in the study, urged caution.

“I believe we are still in the early stages of understanding how these drugs affect mental health, and establishing a clear correlation or cause-and-effect relationship will take more time,” she told Healthline.

“This study highlights that individuals on psychiatric medications who used GLP-1s tended to disproportionately experience suicidal ideation,” Goldberg continued. “This could suggest that GLP-1s may impact how psychiatric medications work, potentially reducing their effectiveness and leading to persistent thoughts that might not have occurred otherwise.”

Conflicting studies about semaglutide and suicidal ideation

Recent studies have found no links between semaglutide and suicidal ideation while others have shown the inverse. Why might this be?

“There is disagreement because the incidence is so rare that it is difficult to accurately assess and try to delineate a possible reason for this,” Mir Ali, MD, board-certified bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, told Healthline. Ali was not involved in the studies.

The authors of the JAMA Network Open study explain that previous research only included participants with obesity or diabetes. In contrast, the latest study also investigated people who took the drug “off-label.” In other words, their analysis included people without an obesity or diabetes diagnosis.

Sarah Boss MD, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and clinical director at The Balance Rehab Clinic expressed similar concerns about off-label use of GLP-1 agonists. Boss was not involved in the studies.

“It is essential to understand that these medications are not first-line choices for people who do have type 2 diabetes, let alone people who do not,” she told Healthline.

“If these medications are used for physical or psychological purposes, it has the potential to damage people’s minds and bodies in serious ways. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder. If the drugs are used appropriately, that is different,” Boss continued.

“These medications can have a significant impact on our very delicate metabolic systems. If you disrupt the gut-brain connection, this can, of course, lead to mental health issues like depression, among other things.”

For anyone taking these drugs and experiencing suicidal ideation, Boss recommended “getting in touch with an internal medicine specialist to help wean them off the medication safely and detox to restore the body’s internal balance.” 

Takeaway

A new study found no evidence of a link between the GLP-1 agonist semaglutide and suicide ideation, while another recent study showed the inverse. Although the relationship is not yet definitive, experts call for caution and more research exploring this potential link.

The latest results from an Eli Lilly clinical trial show tirzepatide lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes by as much as 94%. Scott Olson/Getty Images

In a new clinical trial, the GLP-1 drug tirzepatide was effective in helping people maintain weight loss over a 3-year period.

Researchers reported the resulting weight loss also lowered participants’ risk of progressing from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes.

Experts agree these medications are effective, but encourage a long-term commitment to weight loss through a healthy diet and regular exercise.

A new clinical trial presents more evidence showing the GLP-1 drug tirzepatide can help people lose weight over a long period of time as well as reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Officials at Eli Lilly made that announcement while unveiling the latest results of their 3-year SURMOUNT 1 clinical trial.

Company officials reported that people in the study who received weekly injections of tirzepatide, which is sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound, reduced the risk of progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes by 94% when compared to study participants who were given a placebo.

They also said that tirzepatide treatments led to sustained weight loss during the 3-year period. They noted that study participants who stopped receiving tirzepatide after 176 weeks began to regain weight. These participants also had signs of progression to type 2 diabetes during a 17-week follow-up period.

The company plans to submit the clinical trial results to a medical journal and present the findings at the Obesity Week 2024 conference sessions in November.

“These data reinforce the potential clinical benefits of long-term therapy for people living with obesityand prediabetes,” said Jeff Emmick, MD, senior vice president of product development at Eli Lilly, in astatement.

Tirzepatide led to long-term weight loss, lowered diabetes risk

In the clinical trial, researchers studied 1,032 adults who had prediabetes as well as obesity or other weight management issues.

The study was a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were put on a reduced-calorie diet and asked to follow a regular physical activity routine.

Participants who received trizepatide were given weekly injections of 5 milligrams (mg), 10mg, or 15mg. The other participants received a placebo. Results from the clinical trial results showed:

Participants who received tirzepatide for the 176-week period had an overall reduction in risk ofprogression to type 2 diabetes of 94%.

Those who were given the 15mg dose experienced a nearly 23% decrease in body weight compared toabout 2% for people who were given a placebo.

People who received the 10mg dose had an average weight loss of nearly 20%.

Those on the 5mg dose experienced an average weight loss of about 15%.

Researchers reported that during the 17-week off-treatment follow-up period, the participants who stopped taking tirzepatide began to regain weight and saw their risk reduction to type 2 diabetes fall to 88% compared to the placebo group.

Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications like Zepbound and Mounjaro from vetted and trusted online sources here:

How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far

Where to Buy Zepbound Online

How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online

How to Get Ozempic: Everything You Need to Know

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online

How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online

Weight management is a long-term commitment

Experts said the post-treatment data in Eli Lilly’s trial reinforces the notion that weight loss is a long-term commitment.

“The study showed that weight regain is common after stopping these medications,” said Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California. Ali is not affiliated with the study.

“Many doctors are starting to think of obesity as a long-term chronic condition such as diabetes or hypertension; therefore, long term treatment may be required to maintain the weight loss,” Ali told Healthline.

Robert Gabbay, MD, PhD, the chief scientific and medical officer at the American Diabetes Association, agreed with the need for long-term commitment. Gabbay is likewise not affiliated with the study.

“These medications, like most all medications, tend to only be effective when being used. Therefore, it’s not surprising that there is weight regain with cessation of therapy.  We have seen this in other studies with this class of drug,” Gabbay told Healthline.

“Overall, as the full results become available and published, this becomes another consideration for high-risk individuals with prediabetes to help bend the curve on the number of people developing diabetes,” he added.

Health risks of obesity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 40% of U.S. adults have obesity.

Experts say the weight gain that results from obesity can cost a wide array of health issues, including:

type 2 diabetes

high blood pressure

high cholesterol

heart disease

fatty liver disease

certain cancers

stroke

In addition, the CDC estimates that obesity accounts for more than $170 million in annual medical expenditures.

GLP-1 drugs successfully aid weight loss

The first GLP-1 drug that received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was exenatide. It was given the greenlight in 2005 as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.

The first GLP-1 drug that was approved specifically for weight loss was Saxenda (liraglutide) in 2014.

Wegovy, a semaglutide drug, received FDA approval for weight loss in 2021. Since then, other GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic as well as the medications containing tirzepatide, have been spotlighted for their ability to suppress appetite and help people lose weight.

In the past two years, there are have been numerous studies lauding the weight-loss benefits of GLP-1 drugs. In addition, researchers have reported that GLP-1 drugs can help:

reduce the risk of some cancers

reduce the risk of a heart attack

curb addictive behaviors such as smoking and alcoholism

reduce rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups

“The trial results will likely increase the number of people seeking these medications,” Ali said. “Surgical weight loss still has the best long-term results for those who qualify. These medications are currently the most effective alternative to surgery.”

What to know before taking weight-loss drugs

There are side effects to taking weight loss medications. The researchers noted that some participants in the SURMOUNT 1 trial developed gastrointestinal-related symptoms that were mild to moderate in severity.

Specific side effects of GLP-1 drugs may include:

nausea and vomiting

diarrhea

constipation

abdominal pain

indigestion

The researchers also pointed out that Zepbound may cause tumors in the thyroid and potentially result in thyroid cancer.

They noted that people should consult with their healthcare provider before taking medications such as Zepbound. They added the people who take medications such as insulin to treat diabetes should monitor their blood sugar levels while taking Zepbound.

They also said that the effectiveness of birth control pills could be diminished while taking Zepbound.

“I advise patients starting these medications to use them as a tool to help change to a healthier diet and lifestyle,” Ali said. “Also, depending on the degree of obesity, the patient may require long-term treatment forsustained results.”

Takeaway

The latest results from GLP-1 drugmaker Eli Lilly’s clinical trial show that tirzepatide helped people maintain weight loss after 3 years. This resulting weight loss also helped significantly lower participants’ risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Experts agree GLP-1 medications are effective, and encourage people need to make a long-term commitment to weight loss by following a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

Eli Lilly announced that single-dose vials of the weight-loss drug Zepbound will be sold at a discount price of 50% or more. Sascha Lotz/picture alliance via Getty Images

Eli Lilly officials announced a new program that provides consumers with single-dose vials of the weight-loss drug Zepbound at a discount price of 50% or more.

Consumers who pay for these medications out of pocket must purchase Zepbound through the LillyDirect program. They must also have a valid prescription from their healthcare provider.

Experts praised the new program for its ability to get weight-loss medications to more people in an affordable manner.

The weight-loss drug Zepbound is about to become significantly less expensive for a select group of people who take the medication.

Officials at Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of the drug, have announced plans to sell Zepbound in 2.5 milligram and 5 mg single-vial doses at a discount of 50% or higher compared to the list price of all GLP-1 medications for obesity.

Here’s the pricing details on the new plan:

A four-week supply of 2.5mg doses will be $399 ($99.75 per vial).

The cost for a four-week supply of 5mg doses will be $549 ($137.25 per vial).

The plan does not include the delivery pens typically used for the weekly injections or syringes needed to extract the medication from the vials.

The discount plan is available only to Eli Lilly’s self-pay customers who purchase pharmaceuticals through the company’s LillyDirect program. These customers pay out of pocket for medications rather than going through an insurance company.

Company officials said the cost savings are similar to those offered to people who are uninsured, but they noted the new program will expand the number of customers who can get Zepbound at a lower cost.

“We are excited to share that the Zepbound single-dose vials are now here, further delivering on our promise to increase supply of Zepbound in the U.S.,” Patrik Jonsson, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health and Lilly USA, said in a statement.

“These new vials not only help us meet the high demand for our obesity medicine, but also broaden access for patients seeking a safe and effective treatment option.”

Growing demand for Zepbound, other weight-loss drugs

Company officials said they hope the new plan will help ease shortages of Zepbound supplies and other GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.

Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, agreed that the new program should be helpful since there is still more demand than supply for weight-loss medications.

“Making the medication more affordable will increase the number of people who can access it,” Ali told Healthline.

Other experts also praised the program as a way to help meet the demand for weight-loss drugs.

“People living with obesity have long been denied access to the essential treatment and care needed to manage this serious chronic disease,” said James Zervios, the chief operating officer of the Obesity Action Coalition, in a statement.

“Expanding coverage and affordability of treatments is vital to people living with obesity. We commend Lilly for their leadership in offering an innovative solution that brings us closer to making equitable care a reality. Now, it’s time for policymakers, employers and insurers to work with pharmaceutical companies to ensure no one is left behind in receiving the care they deserve and need,” Zervios continued.

Caroline Apovian, MD, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts, told Healthline that although the new Eli Lilly Zepbound plan isn’t optimal, it still should make the weight- loss drug more affordable and more accessible.

“I hope other companies will try to lower the price of self-pay drugs for our new obesity medications as well as for type 2 diabetes,” Apovian said.

Zepbound prescription required for discount

Consumers who utilize Eli Lilly’s savings plan must have a valid, on-label prescription for Zepbound from their healthcare provider.

Company officials said this requirement is necessary to ensure that customers are not using the medication for cosmetic weight loss.

They added they hope the easier access to Zepbound will discourage people from using untested, knock-off drugs to treat obesity.

Ali urged companies to stay vigilant about consumers using alternative medications or using the drugs for purposes other than treating obesity and other serious weight management issues.

“The medication still requires a prescription from a legitimate provider. That being said, there will always be people seeking this medication for inappropriate use,” he said.

Novo Nordisk on making medications more affordable

Officials at Novo Nordisk, the manufacturers of the weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, told Healthline that the key to making these medications more affordable is by expanding consumer coverage through insurance companies and government programs.

“The most effective way for the millions of Americans living with obesity to access affordable medication is by ensuring coverage through government and commercial insurance plans,” a Novo Nordisk spokesperson told Healthline.

“We will not stop advocating for insurance coverage until all Americans have full coverage for obesity medicines and that becomes the standard, not the exception.”

“Novo Nordisk supports additional legitimate options as it creates more safe supply for Americans living with obesity and is a testament to the significant unmet need of addressing obesity as a serious, chronic disease,” the spokesperson added.

What to know about GLP-1 drugs

Zepbound and Mounjaro contain the active ingredient tirzepatide, a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Both are manufactured by Eli Lilly.

Zepbound is approved for use as a weight-loss medication. Mounjaro is approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Novo Nordisk has two injectable weight-loss medications, both of which include the active ingredient semaglutide, a GLP-1 drug. Ozempic is prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes while Wegovy is used as a weight-loss medication.

Novo Nordisk also manufactures Rybelsus, a daily pill that contains semaglutide that is used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults.

All these medications have performed well in clinical trials.

Last week, researchers reported that in a clinical trial Zepbound and Mounjaro were effective in helping people with obesity or weight management issues maintain weight loss over a 3-year period as well as significantly reducing their chances of progressing from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes.

In May 2023, researchers reported that Wegovy helped reduce obesity in half of teens in a 68-week clinical trial.

In addition, Ozempic has been shown to lower the risk of death from kidney disease as well as reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Some research has indicated that medications containing trizepatide might be more effective for weight loss than those containing semaglutide.

Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications like Zepbound and Mounjaro from vetted and trusted online sources here:

How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far

Where to Buy Zepbound Online

How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online

Takeaway

Eli Lilly announced that single-dose vials of the weight-loss drug Zepbound will be sold at a discount price of 50% or more.

Consumers who pay for medications out of pocket without insurance must purchase these products through the LillyDirect program and must also have a valid prescription from their healthcare provider.

Experts say the new program is a step forward for making weight loss drugs more accessible and affordable.

Extreme hunger is common after people stop taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound. katleho Seisa/Getty Images

GLP-1 drugs mimic hormones that help people block food noise and tune into hunger cues.

When people cease the use of these medications, they may experience extreme hunger.

There are ways to manage this hunger, including focusing on specific types of foods and deprioritizing others, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications.

While drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound can help people lose significant weight, individuals who stop using the medications often regain many of the pounds they shed. It’s a phenomenon commonly referred to as Ozempic rebound.

In fact, one clinical trial extension from 2022 indicated that people who ceased 2.4 mg weekly doses of semaglutide (Wegovy) regained about two-thirds of their weight within one year.

One reason people often quickly regain weight is that extreme hunger and food noise blunted by the GLP-1 drugs can return and, in many cases, feel more intense. 

“GLP-1 medications suppress the appetite,” says Dr. Mir Ali, a board certified bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center. “However, when stopped, the appetite returns and there is likely some dysregulation in the appetite hormones, so the appetite can come back even stronger.”

While these medications are designed for long-term use, access, costs, and side effects may not make that possible for everyone.

However, health experts who specialize in treating obesity say that the following seven tips can help people manage extreme hunger after they stop taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and maintain the weight they’ve lost.

Portion control

Balance is important.

“The plate method divides your plate into three categories,” says Dr. Michael L. Glickman, a triple board certified family and obesity medicine physician who founded Revolution Medicine. 

Glickman says these categories are:

Non-starchy vegetables: Half of the plate and ideally consumed first

Protein: One-quarter of the plate

Carbohydrates: One-quarter of the plate

Some products — and even your own body – can serve as a portion guide.

“There is dinnerware available that can help regulate portions,” Ali says. “Your hands are also a rough guide to portions.”

What fits in the palm of your hand is often an approximate portion size, Ali says.

Ali says you can ask for half of a portion or box half of a meal before eating when dining out.

Eat foods that make you feel full longer

A 2015 review indicated that foods high in fiber and protein were satisfying.

Dr. Christopher McGowan, who is triple board certified in internal medicine, obesity medicine, and gastroenterology, says these foods should be a priority, especially after ceasing the use of a GLP-1 drug.

“GLP-1 medications work by curbing appetite through the brain and slowing stomach emptying, leading to prolonged fullness,” says McGowan, who is also the co-founder of True You Weight Loss. “After stopping a GLP-1 medication, the stomach will rapidly return to its baseline emptying rate, meaning you will feel less satisfied after meals. This sudden feeling of rapid emptying and reduced satiety can be counteracted by focusing on satiating, slow-to-digest foods.”

Additionally, Glickman notes that fiber can help regulate blood sugar, helping to suppress appetite and keep insulin levels in check.

McGowan suggests foods like:

Lean meats

Beans

Legumes

Grains

Vegetables

Avoid highly processed, high-sugar foods foods

The quality of food also matters. 

“Avoid foods high in sugar and carbohydrates that cause spikes in insulin,” Glickman says. “Elevated insulin thwarts weight loss and can cause a ‘crash,’ prompting the search for more food high in sugar and carbs.”

Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound from vetted and trusted online sources here:

How to Get Ozempic: Everything You Need to Know

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online

How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online

How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far

Where to Buy Zepbound Online

How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online

Think ahead

Processed foods often have longer shelf lives, fewer storage requirements, and are generally more convenient.

Glickman says having nourishing, satisfying foods, like ready-to-eat fruits and veggies, within reach can counteract the desire to opt for highly processed, sugary foods when you’re hungry.

“Keep the fridge stocked with well-rounded meals — investing, at times, in premade meals through a delivery service,” Glickman says. “Ideally, this helps reduce grazing/snacking in between meals and on the aforementioned processed foods.”

A 2017 study suggested that people who engaged in meal planning had improved diet variety and quality and body weight.

Eat slowly and mindfully

Making time for meals — and eating with intention — might also help with satisfaction.

“Eat mindfully with awareness and intention,” Ali says. “Savor the texture, smell, and taste of food. This may allow your body to be satisfied with less food.”

Mindful eating also slows down the process of food consumption, which could be to a person’s benefit.

“Often, people continue to eat beyond when they are full because they have not allowed enough time for the receptors in the stomach to signal the brain that it is full,” Ali says. “Eating slowly gives time to sense your stomach is full.”

Exercise 

Diet and exercise are two lifestyle pillars of weight management. The two might be intertwined, too. 

“Exercise sends natural signals that may counteract extreme hunger,” Ali says. “The goal with exercise is being consistent.”

Ali recommends shooting for 30 minutes of physical activity daily, five days a week. That puts people at 150 minutes per week.

The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. McGowan agrees that exercise is essential and adds that resistance training is also beneficial, which the AHA suggests doing at least twice weekly.

Research from 2023 indicated that people who exercised regularly had better appetite sensitivity, which could assist with long-term caloric intake. 

A 2022 animal study that involved putting mice on treadmills suggested that strenuous exercise could reduce hunger, at least for a couple of hours post-workout. 

Find support

While lifestyle modifications and self-help might assist people in managing extreme hunger, you might need or want more support. 

“Working with a professional, registered dietitian, including weight monitoring, can be critical,” says Dr. Seth Kipnis, the medical director of bariatric and robotic surgery at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Additionally, Kipnis notes that the National Institutes of Health website has a wealth of information related to weight management people might find useful. He also notes that it’s important to keep in touch with your medical team to rule out any other underlying conditions that might be contributing to extreme hunger (and following treatment plans for any conditions you have).

Takeaway

When people stop taking GLP-1 medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound, they often experience feelings of extreme hunger, which can be challenging to manage and can contribute to weight gain.

However, health experts say there are strategies that can help reduce extreme hunger and maintain weight after quitting a GLP-1 drug.

These include regular exercise, portion control, and eating in a slow, intentional manner.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may help reduce risks from severe COVID-19 for people living with overweight or obesity. Dima Berlini/Getty Images

A new study has found that taking semaglutide (Ozempic) was linked with less severe COVID-19.

People were also less likely to die from any cause while using this drug.

Semaglutide does not appear to directly affect COVID-19, however.

Experts say the accompanying weight loss helps make you healthier in general.

Even with semaglutide, you still need to take precautions like vaccines and masking.

According to a study published online on August 30, 2024, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, people using 2.4-milligram semaglutide were less likely to have severe cases of COVID-19 when using this drug.

They were also less likely to die from any cause, cardiovascular or otherwise.

The study authors further noted that the reduced rate of non-cardiovascular deaths was mainly due to fewer people dying from infections.

Semaglutide is available under the brand names Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss.

However, while Wegovy is available in the 2.4-milligram dose, Ozempic tops out at 2 milligrams.

How semaglutide use may affect COVID-19 risks

The authors state that people with overweight and obesity are at greater risk for dying, both from cardiovascular disease and other causes.

Their goal was to see if semaglutide might help prevent these deaths, looking at both cardiovascular deaths and deaths from other causes, including deaths from COVID-19.

The researchers randomly selected over 17,000 individuals to participate.

Participants were ages 45 and up with a body mass index (BMI) that established them as living with either overweight or obesity.

The study participants also had been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease but not diabetes.

Over a period of 3.3 years, these people received weekly injections of either semaglutide or a placebo.

During this time, any deaths that occurred were recorded based on the cause of death.

They found that 833 people died during the course of the study, with 58% of these being related to cardiovascular disease, while the remainder were due to other causes.

After analyzing the data, the researchers reached the conclusion that there were fewer deaths from any cause in the group that was treated with semaglutide.

Another salient finding was that, while semaglutide did not reduce the rates of COVID-19, those who contracted the virus had fewer adverse events related to the disease.

Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy from vetted and trusted online sources here:

How to Get Ozempic: Everything You Need to Know

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online

How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online

How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far

Where to Buy Zepbound Online

How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online

How semaglutide might help reduce COVID-19 severity

Dr. Ramit Singh Sambyal, a General Physician associated with ClinicSpots who was not involved in the study, said that GLP-1 receptor agonists, like semaglutide, were originally designed to treat diabetes.

However, they can improve overall metabolic health by making it easier for people to lose weight, he said.

“When we think about this in the context of COVID-19, there’s a fascinating link: obesity is a known risk factor for severe outcomes from the virus,” Sambyal explained. “So, anything that helps reduce obesity-related issues might also lower the risks if you get infected.”

Sambyal went on to explain that obesity isn’t just about added weight.

“[I]t also put a lot of stress on the body, including chronic inflammation, which makes it harder for your immune system to fight off infections like COVID-19,” he said.

Losing weight with semaglutide allows your body to function better, said Sambyal.

“Blood pressure drops, blood sugar becomes easier to control, and inflammation decreases,” he said. “This makes you healthier overall and less vulnerable to severe complications if you contract COVID-19.”

Sambyal additionally emphasized that drugs like semaglutide do not appear to have any direct effect on the COVID-19 virus, although ongoing research is investigating whether GLP-1 drugs could impact it.

“So, while they can make you healthier and possibly less likely to suffer severe outcomes, they’re not a miracle cure for COVID-19,” he concluded.

Why you should still take precautions against COVID-19

Dr. Michael Lahey, a physician with My Weight Loss Partner, added to Sambyal’s thoughts by noting that while drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy can aid with treating obesity and obesity-related diseases, they do not free you from taking precautions against COVID-19.

“These drugs are intended for controlling certain illnesses and must be regarded only as useful adjuncts to a particular disease control program,” he explained.

If you have obesity or accompanying diseases that put you at higher risk for COVID-19 complications — such as cancer, chronic kidney, liver, lung, or heart disease; diabetes; or a compromised immune system — you still need to follow measures such as vaccination, physical distancing, and masking to protect yourself, according to Lahey.

“These medications, when taken, truly lower the risk of severe COVID-19, but they do not eliminate the need for every preventive measure,” he stated.

Sambyal added that it’s important to think of these drugs as “a piece of a bigger puzzle.”

“Yes, they can help reduce your risk by improving your overall health, but they don’t prevent the virus from infecting you,” he said.

Vaccines help train your immune system to fight off the virus. Taking additional precautions can help keep you from getting the virus in the first place, said Sambyal.

Takeaway

A new study has found that people using semaglutide experienced less severe cases of COVID-19.

Additionally, they were less likely to die from any cause during the study.

Experts say this is because weight loss makes you healthier overall, reducing your risk for COVID-19 complications.

Even if you are using drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, you still need to take precautions against COVID-19 — such as vaccinations, physical distancing, and masking — to reduce your risk.

A woman is suing the maker of Ozempic, claiming severe side effects from the weight loss drug resulted in the death of a portion of her large intestine. Jens Kalaene/Picture Alliance via Getty Images

A woman is suing the maker of Ozempic after she says severe side effects led to the removal of her colon.

She claims she was not warned that this was a potential side effect of the drug.

However, drug maker Novo Nordisk states that the information is on the product label.

Experts say GLP-1 drugs can sometimes slow the gastrointestinal tract too much.

If patients experience severe side effects, it is urgent that they see a doctor.

According to reporting from CBS News, a woman named Juanita Gantt is suing Novo Nordisk, the maker of the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic and the weight loss drug Wegovy, over severe side effects that she says she was not adequately warned about.

The 62-year-old woman was prescribed both of these medications due to her diabetes risk and the fact that she was having difficulty losing weight.

After several months of her using the medications and “feeling fine,” Gantt’s husband suddenly found her lying on the floor unconscious.

Upon seeking medical care, she learned that a portion of her large intestine had died, necessitating its surgical removal.

She additionally says she went into cardiac arrest while recovering from the surgery.

Gantt states that she must now use an ileostomy bag attached to her abdomen to collect waste and remove it from her body because she no longer has a colon.

“I had no warning that this was even a possibility,” she told CBS News.

However, Novo Nordisk told the news outlet that the side effects experienced by Gantt are known and are present on the product label.

It was not stated how much financial compensation she was seeking from the drug manufacturer.

How Ozempic side effects may lead to colon death

Dr. John Lowe, a physician at Restore Care specializing in weight loss, said that GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy aid in weight loss because they slow the emptying of the stomach.

“This, however, is surprising,” he added, “because sometimes this slow stomach emptying may be associated with some complications like gastroparesis or even bowel obstruction.”

With gastroparesis, the stomach’s movement slows too much or completely stops, interfering with the body’s ability to properly digest food.

“When digestion is impaired, as it was in this case, areas of the colon may not receive enough oxygen-rich blood, leading to tissue death and subsequent removal,” said Lowe.

Lowe went on to explain that Gantt had ischemic colitis, meaning that the artery supplying blood to the colon burst, leading to the death of the tissue.

“This proved to be very extensive, and as a result, a part of her colon had to be surgically resected,” he said.

Lowe added that she also went into cardiac arrest not long after surgery, which further complicated her recovery.

“Although ischemic colitis on its own is very rare, it can also be a complication that may prove to be more fatal if left untreated or if its causes do not get addressed promptly,” he stated.

Early warning signs of severe Ozempic side effects

Dr. Michael Lahey, a physician with My Weight Loss Partner, agreed that this type of side effect is rare. However, when it does occur it can be severe and cause the type of serious issues faced by Gantt.

According to Lahey, early warning signs of severe side effects from Ozempic can include:

Cramp-like, constant, severe, or ongoing pain in the stomach or belly area

Severe nausea or vomiting

Noticeable changes in bowel movements, for example, constipation or loose stools

Unusual weight loss or difficulty in taking food

“[I]f these symptoms occur and are persistent or worsening, [it] could be due to serious complications,” he said.

When to seek medical attention for Ozempic side effects

“Severe or continuous abdominal pain along with vomiting, dehydration, or black/bloody stools are all reasons why a person should visit their doctor immediately,” said Lowe.

Ignoring these symptoms and not getting prompt medical assistance could lead to ischemic colitis, he noted.

“However, all patients on any type of medication, including Ozempic, must be on the lookout for abnormalities in their digestive system because side effects may worsen very rapidly,” said Lowe.

“This aggressive way of treatment can, however, help prevent the progression of some of the complications,” he said, “such as necrosis and the necessity for more complicated management such as colon removal.”

Takeaway

A woman is suing Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, for an undisclosed amount of money after experiencing severe side effects from these drugs that she says she was not properly warned about.

She ended up needing to have her colon removed and now uses an ileostomy bag.

Experts say Ozempic and Wegovy help with weight loss by slowing stomach emptying. However, blockage can occur if it slows too much, which can cut off blood flow to the intestines leading to potential tissue death.

Pain, nausea, vomiting, changes in bowel movements (diarrhea or constipation), unusual weight loss, or problems taking in food are all warning signs of a problem.

Without prompt care, the intestinal tissue can die.

However, a quick response can prevent more severe complications.

Kourtney Kardashian’s vitamin and supplement brand, Lemme, is launching a line of weight loss supplements, including an “all-natural” GLP-1 Ozempic-like alternative. Raymond Hall/GC Images/Getty Images

Lemme, the supplement brand founded by Kourtney Kardashian Barker, is releasing an “all-natural” weight loss supplement called Lemme GLP-1 Daily.

In spite of the name, the product is not a GLP-1 receptor agonist like Ozempic or Wegovy.

The product contains natural ingredients such as Eriomin lemon fruit extract, Supresa saffron extract and Morosil red orange fruit extract.

Lemme, the supplement brand founded by Kourtney Kardashian Barker, announced that it is releasing a supplement called Lemme GLP-1 Daily aimed at providing consumers with an “all-natural” way to manage their weight.

In spite of its name, however, the product does not contain a synthetic GLP-1 hormone and is not a GLP-1 receptor agonist like Ozempic or Wegovy.

Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs mimic the actions of the hormone GLP-1 by activating its receptor, which leads to weight loss and lower blood sugar, among other benefits.

Lemme GLP-1 Daily instead contains natural ingredients such as Eriomin lemon fruit extract, Supresa saffron extract and Morosil red orange fruit extract. 

The product is meant to “boost the body’s GLP-1 levels, reduce hunger, promote insulin sensitivity and support healthy weight management,” according to a company press release.

The daily capsules will be available for purchase on the brand’s website beginning September 16 and will be sold via a subscription model at $72 for a month’s supply or $90 as a one-time purchase.

But how effective is the product for weight loss? Here’s what to know about the potential benefits of the natural ingredients in Lemme GLP-1 Daily.

Lemon fruit extract

Small clinical trials of Eriomin lemon fruit extract found that this compound didn’t help people lose weight, but it may offer other benefits.

A small study of people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes who took Eriomin for 12 weeks showed that there was no effect on body weight, body mass index (BMI), lean mass, fat mass or waist-to-hip ratio.

However, those who took Eriomin saw on average a 5% decrease in their blood glucose and a 17% increase in the hormone GLP-1, compared to those who took a non-acting placebo.

Another small 12-week study of people with prediabetes also found that Eriomin had no impact on weight. But there was a 22% increase in blood levels of GLP-1, and an increase in beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Bacteria in the gut can influence your weight by affecting how food is digested, how fat is stored, and whether you feel full or hungry. 

Eating a wide variety of high fiber foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds — and limiting intake of added sugars and highly processed foods — can also support healthy gut bacteria.

Saffron extract

An 8-week study of 60 women with overweight found that those who took a saffron extract had decreased snacking, compared to those who took a placebo.

GLP-1 drugs work, in part, by reducing appetite and feelings of hunger, which can help people manage their weight.

However, studies of saffron extract have not shown a large effect on weight when the compound is used alone.

A meta-analysis of 25 earlier studies looking at the benefits of saffron extract found that people with obesity who took this compound saw decreases in their waist-to-hip ratio.

There were also decreases in weight, BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference. However, these changes were not statistically significant, which means saffron extract may not offer any additional benefits compared to a placebo.

Two other studies, including a review paper of previous studies and a small clinical trial in people with type 2 diabetes, also found that saffron extract didn’t help people lose weight.

Other studies have examined the benefits of saffron extract for people with diabetes, such as improving blood glucose control and cholesterol levels. Some of these studies were done alongside other supplements like cinnamon and ginger or in conjunction with aerobic or resistance exercise.

Red orange fruit extract

The clearest weight loss benefits are seen with Morosil red orange fruit extract.

A six-month study found that people who were living with overweight lost an average of 4.2% of their body weight while taking Morosil, compared to 2.2% in people who took a placebo. The Morosil group also saw larger decreases in hip and waist circumference, fat mass, and fat distribution.

In contrast, one study found that people who took semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — lost 15.8% of their body weight over 68 weeks.

Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy from vetted and trusted online sources here:

How to Get Ozempic: Everything You Need to Know

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online

How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online

How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far

Where to Buy Zepbound Online

How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online

Are supplements useful for weight loss?

Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif., has concerns about how supplements used for weight loss are sometimes promoted. 

“GLP-1 medications stimulate hormones in the body and have the same effect as those hormones. So when people claim supplements do the same thing, I think that’s a bit deceptive,” he told Healthline.

And while “for some people, a natural, herbal supplement can be effective, there’s no convincing evidence that the supplement is going to have a significant effect on weight loss.”

Libu Varughese, MBBS, an endocrinology physician and medical advisor of Aeroflow Diabetes, told Healthline that he would like to see more scientific evidence before recommending the use of natural GLP-1 supplements.

However, if you do choose to use a dietary supplement, do so with caution, he said, and watch for any negative side effects.

The Food and Drug Administration has information for consumers on safely using dietary supplements.

Amy Lee, MD, head of nutrition for Nucific, suggests that people who want to lose weight naturally, think of supplements as just one component of a weight management program.

People also need to make “behavioral changes that result in decreased caloric intake and increased energy expenditure through movement and exercise,” she told Healthline.

Ali said certain diets have been shown in clinical trials to support weight loss, including ones that involve eating fewer carbohydrates, such as the keto diet and paleo diet.

“These diets are based on minimizing carbohydrate intake to direct the body toward burning fat,” Ali said. “That’s natural. There are no medications involved. No supplements. It’s just eating the right things to promote the burning of fat.”

These kinds of diets are even helpful for people who have had bariatric surgery or are taking a GLP-1 medication, he said, “because if you’re not eating the right things, you won’t see as much results.”

Takeaway

Lemme, the supplement brand founded by Kourtney Kardashian Barker, is releasing a supplement called Lemme GLP-1 Daily to provide consumers with an “all-natural” way to manage their weight.

In spite of its name, the product does not contain a synthetic GLP-1 hormone, and it is not a GLP-1 receptor agonist like Ozempic or Wegovy.

GLP-1 drugs mimic the actions of the GLP-1 hormone to lower blood glucose and promote weight loss.

Lemme GLP-1 Daily contains natural ingredients such as Eriomin lemon fruit extract, Supresa saffron extract and Morosil red orange fruit extract. Clinical studies show that these compounds may promote modest weight loss, decrease hunger and appetite, or boost the body’s GLP-1 levels.

Four key factors can greatly impact how much weight people lose while taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Victoza, and Saxenda. Daniel Llao Calvet/Getty Images

Researchers have used real-world data to identify key factors for long-term weight loss for patients taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

The study identified the type of medication, dosage, treatment indication, and medication persistence as four of the most important factors.

GLP-1 drugs are powerful agents for weight loss, but cost and access are still barriers for many Americans.

Millions of Americans have taken Ozempic or similar GLP-1 drugs to lose weight, but sustaining that weight loss long-term has proved difficult for many of them.

However, new research suggests there are four factors that could be key to improving these outcomes.

Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic looked at electronic health records of nearly 3,400 patients prescribed one of two different GLP-1 drugs — semaglutide ( sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) and liraglutide (sold under the brand names Saxenda and Victoza) — to see how various factors like dosage, indication, and biological sex affected weight loss at one year. 

Their findings were published this month in Jama Network Open.

Researchers looked at how these factors affected weight loss in two ways: total percentage change in body weight and whether an individual lost 10% or more of their body weight. The 10% mark is clinically significant, as hitting that benchmark is known to improve other comorbidities like high blood pressure and chronic disease risk.

They identified four factors that appear to be the most significant for long-term weight loss, some of them obvious and others more complex:

The type of medication (active ingredient) – Did the patient use semaglutide or liraglutide?

The dosage – Was the patient using a high or low-maintenance dose?

Treatment indication – Was the medicine prescribed for type 2 diabetes or obesity?

Medication persistence – Did the patient have any gaps in access to their medication?

“Our findings provide timely data on longer-term weight outcomes in patients receiving treatment with injectable semaglutide or liraglutide for obesity or type 2 diabetes, as well as identify key characteristics that could inform the probability of achieving sustained weight loss of a magnitude large enough to provide clinically significant health benefits,” Hamlet Gasoyan, PhD, lead author of the study and a researcher with Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Value-Based Care Research, told Healthline.

How the four key factors impacted sustained weight loss

Gasoyan and his team used the Cleveland Clinic electronic health records for 3,389 patients who were prescribed either semaglutide or liraglutide from July 2015 through June 2022. In order to be included, patients had to have a BMI of at least 30, indicating the person had obesity.

More than half the patients were female (54%) and had an average age of 50. The cohort was predominantly white (68%) but included significant Black (20%) and Hispanic (7%) populations.

At the one-year mark, four factors appeared to have the largest influence on sustained weight loss. Here’s how they affected whether or not patients would achieve 10% or greater weight loss:

Active agent: Patients who took semaglutide were more than twice as likely compared to those taking liraglutide.

Indication: Those prescribed their medication for obesity were also more than twice as likely than those with type 2 diabetes.

Dosage: Patients taking a higher maintenance dose of their medication were 1.5 times more likely than those taking a lower dose.

Persistence: patients with persistent coverage (access to their medication) were more than three times as likely as those who had the least access. 

Patient sex was also an important factor. Females in the study were 1.5 times as likely to hit the 10% benchmark as males.

Two of the factors may seem obvious: active agent and dosage. Basically, the kind of medication prescribed and dosage affected the weight loss outcome.

Semaglutide resulted in more than double the average weight loss of liraglutide (5.1% versus 2.2%). However, that’s nothing new: prior studies have shown that semaglutide is simply more effective for weight loss than liraglutide.

Evidence has also pointed to higher maintenance doses of semaglutide being more effective for weight loss than lower doses.

Indication is complicated. The evidence is clear that patients prescribed a GLP-1 for obesity tend to lose more weight than those with type 2 diabetes, but why that’s the case isn’t so obvious.

Caroline Apovian MD, a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told Healthline that these findings are essentially confirmatory of prior research.

It’s the fourth factor — persistence — that has grabbed the attention of Apovian and other obesity experts.

Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound from vetted and trusted online sources here:

How to Get Ozempic: Everything You Need to Know

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online

How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online

How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far

Where to Buy Zepbound Online

How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online

Persistence is the biggest key

“What this study adds is really diving into that persistence question. Nowadays, the conversation tends to focus on the idea that these are really great medications, but are patients actually taking them?” Beverly Tchang, MD, an endocrinologist, Spokesperson for the Obesity Society, and Assistant Professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, told Healthline.

“This creates a very clear relationship between that persistence and the degree of weight loss,” she said.

As effective as GLP-1 drugs are, access has proven to be a major roadblock for many Americans. With the soaring popularity of these drugs, patients across the United States have faced shortages, with manufacturers unable to keep up with demand.

Cost and insurance coverage have also been problematic for many patients. The monthly cost for GLP-1 drugs can easily reach $1,000 or more before any insurance coverage or rebates are applied. 

If patients can’t afford their medication or can’t access it, they won’t take it. It’s as simple as that. 

This latest research helps to illustrate that dilemma.

Gasoyan and his team found that at the one-year mark, only 40% of patients had persistent medication coverage, which they defined as a cumulative lapse in coverage of less than 90 days.

But those that did have persistent coverage demonstrated significantly more weight loss (5.5%) compared to those with the least (1.8%) — less than 90 days of coverage for the year.

The data “reinforces that persistence is key to achieving meaningful weight outcomes with these medications,” said Gasoyan.

“If we avoid therapeutic interruptions with these medications, whether that be due to shortages or insurance coverage, then we will have better persistence with these medications and more weight loss,” added Tchang.

The bottom line

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are powerful weight-loss tools. However, long-term weight loss outcomes can be affected by a variety of factors.

In a new study, researchers identified four of the most important factors for long-term weight loss in patients taking a GLP-1 drug. These include the kind of medication, the dosage, the indication, and medication persistence (how long the patient continuously took the medication).

Medication persistence is essential to long-term weight loss, however access and cost related to GLP-1 drugs continue to be roadblocks for many Americans.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and prevent more than 34,000 heart attacks and strokes a year. Iparraguirre Recio/Getty Images

GLP-1s, the class of drugs including Ozempic and Mounjaro, treat diabetes and obesity, but some have also shown significant cardiovascular benefits.

Millions of Americans might benefit from taking GLP-1 drugs for cardiovascular disease.

New research suggests GLP-1 drugs could prevent up to 34,000 strokes and heart attacks annually.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Zepbound are powerful tools for treating diabetes and aiding with weight loss, but a new study suggests these medications could also help prevent cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke in millions of people, suggests new research.

Previous clinical trials have shown that some Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) can help prevent cardiovascular disease. However, those benefits have only been demonstrated for secondary prevention in high risk individuals: those who’ve previously experienced a heart attack or stroke or have established cardiovascular disease.

However, new research from Dandelion Health, a company specializing in “real-world data and clinical AI,” indicates that GLP-1 drugs could have broad implications for the heart health of millions of Americans, potentially preventing more than 30,000 heart attacks and strokes each year in the United States.

Since prior trials have been limited to high risk individuals, Dandelion wanted to investigate what the potential health benefits could be among people with only mild or moderate CVD who had never had a prior heart attack or stroke — a population comprising tens of millions of Americans.

That’s an important demographic, but it is difficult (and expensive) to study in a clinical trial setting.

By using AI-driven algorithms to sift through real-world data — everything from electrocardiogram readings to physician notes — Dandelion claims it is able to “assess treatment efficacy faster and at a greater scale than ever before.”

How GLP-1 drugs can provide cardiovascular benefits

“What we showed was that patients who initiate treatment with GLP-1s have a lower cardiovascular risk after three years than similar patients who are not taking GLP-1s,” Nick Gossen, Head of Growth at Dandelion Health, told Healthline.

“Our study is consistent with some of the clinical trials that have gone through the FDA and gotten approval,” he added.

Dandelion’s research emphasized several findings:

GLP-1s could potentially serve as primary prevention for heart attack and stroke for patients with obesity and mild or moderate CVD — about 44 million additional patients in the US.

Patients taking GLP-1s had a 15-20% reduction in MACE (heart attack and stroke), which is consistent with clinical trials conducted by Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy.

Using predictive AI, the company found that patients taking GLP-1s would see a cardiovascular benefit in under two years.

Those findings are promising but should be taken with a grain of salt. The study itself has not yet been peer-reviewed, though Gossen said that they are currently pursuing that.

“This is intended to be a proof of concept: It’s pretty clear that there’s a signal there. With additional work and peer review and going through the FDA process, we think this is a very practical demonstration of how AI can be used both to shape clinical trials and make them more inclusive and lower cost,” he said.

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new indication for the obesity drug Wegovy.

This marked the first time that any weight loss medication was also approved to prevent cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke. Ozempic, which shares the same active ingredient as Wegovy, but is indicated to treat type 2 diabetes, received FDA approval for a cardiovascular disease indication four years earlier, in 2020.

Clinical trials from Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, have consistently shown the benefits of these drugs in preventing cardiovascular disease in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The results of the Sustain-6 trial, published in 2016, showed that in patients with type 2 diabetes, Ozempic reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke by 26 percent.

The more recent Select trial cleared the way for the FDA’s approval of Wegovy’s CVD indication by demonstrating a 20% reduced risk of MACE in patients with obesity.

Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound from vetted and trusted online sources here:

How to Get Ozempic: Everything You Need to Know

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online

How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online

How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far

Where to Buy Zepbound Online

How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online

Questions remain about GLP-1s and primary prevention

Chad S. Weldy, MD, PhD, a Cardiologist at Stanford Medicine, told Healthline that GLP-1s are clearly promising for CVD prevention.

“The past 10 years have now fully established the remarkable benefit of GLP-1 therapies in those overweight and obese individuals with diabetes as well as those without diabetes and established cardiovascular disease,” said Weldy.

However, making the leap from using GLP-1 for secondary prevention to primary prevention is a large one due to the difficulty and expense of a clinical trial — a fact both he and Gossen acknowledge.

“It is highly likely that GLP-1 drugs will provide benefits for primary prevention to prevent cardiovascular disease as measured by MACE outcomes. The challenge is how this potential primary prevention clinical trial is designed,” Weldy told Healthline.

Since heart attacks and other major cardiovascular events are relatively uncommon in this generally healthy population, such a study would require potentially tens of thousands of participants and many years of follow-up. All of those parameters would also make it tremendously expensive to conduct. 

Not impossible, but difficult and unfeasible. 

While Dandelion’s research may be a proof of concept, Weldy cautions that it is still a long way from being a substitute for randomized, controlled clinical trials, which are the “gold standard” for medical research and essential to the FDA approval process.

Additionally, he notes that the suggestion of expanding GLP-1 prescriptions to tens of millions of Americans — therapies that are expensive and potentially lifelong — represents its own unique challenges to the U.S. healthcare system.

“If a large trial is performed for GLP-1 therapy, enrolling anyone who is overweight or obese without known CVD, and…we see a significant reduction in CV events from a primary prevention perspective, a big question would be, “Who do you not treat with this therapy?” Weldy asked.

The bottom line

GLP-1 drugs have the potential to reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes in the United States by as much as 34,000 annually, according to Dandelion Health.

To reach that goal, GLP-1s would need to be prescribed to tens of millions of Americans with mild or moderate CVD. 

Experts told Healthline that GLP-1s are a promising line of drugs in the fight against cardiovascular disease but that more research will be needed before they could be indicated for primary prevention of CVD.

Lizzo shut down rumors her dramatic body transformation was due to Ozempic. The singer said her weight loss was the result of “five months of weight training and calorie deficit.”

First Opinion is STAT’s platform for interesting, illuminating, and provocative articles about the life sciences writ large, written by biotech insiders, health care workers, researchers, and others. To encourage robust,…

A Cleveland Clinic study showed that in patients with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease, bariatric surgery was associated with a significant decrease in the progression of chronic kidney disease compared to those who received GLP-1 diabetes medications. The paper was published in Annals of Surgery.

Half a century of advancements in biomedical science paved the way for today’s powerful weight-loss drugs like Ozempic—so what was that journey like for the scientists involved?

(MedPage Today) — Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), were originally approved for type 2 diabetes before their obesity indications. But the evidence that they…

(MedPage Today) — Note that some links may require registration or subscription.
Habitual moderate coffee consumption — 200-300 mg of caffeine/day — was tied to a lower risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity, a U.K. Biobank analysis found…

Sen. Sanders claims that the CEOs of major generic drugmakers said they produce and sell Ozempic for less $100 a month.