There’s been a surge in demand for a class of diabetes drugs that are now popular for their serendipitous byproduct: weight loss.
These drugs are part of a group called GLP-1 Agonists. They include semaglutide (the main ingredient in Ozempic), tirzepatide (found in Mounjaro) and liraglutide (used in Victoza, Saxenda). These drugs can help people with diabetes lose up to 15% of their weight. However, they are associated with some gastrointestinal side effects.
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But how common are these risks in people who don’t have diabetes, and are increasingly taking the drugs to lose weight? After receiving 8500 reports about intestinal blockage from diabetic and not-diabetic users, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested that manufacturers include a warning label on semaglutide medications.
In a recent research letter, published in JAMAScientists from the University of British Columbia offer additional information about the severity of these risks, for those who use them solely for weight loss…
