A major international Weight-Loss Drugs Study has found that semaglutide-based medications, including Ozempic and Wegovy, are linked to significantly lower rates of anxiety and depression among patients, based on an analysis of Swedish health registry data.
Researchers report that widely used weight-loss and diabetes medications may also help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, adding to growing evidence of their broader health effects beyond weight management.
The Weight-Loss Drugs Study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, analyzed data from more than 95,000 patients in Sweden between 2009 and 2022, including 22,480 individuals using GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and liraglutide. These medications are widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Researchers found that semaglutide use was linked to a 44% lower risk of worsening depression and a 38% lower risk of worsening anxiety compared with non-use of GLP-1 drugs. Liraglutide, another medication in the same class, was also associated with reduced risk of worsening depression.
Researchers Link Semaglutide to Lower Mental Health Risks
The findings suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists could offer dual benefits for patients managing both metabolic and mental health conditions. The study also noted a reduced risk of substance abuse among those using the medications.
“For anxiety and depression that co-occur with diabetes and obesity, semaglutide and, to a lesser extent, liraglutide might be useful dually effective therapeutic options,” the study authors wrote.
However, researchers emphasized that the Weight-Loss Drugs Study identifies associations rather than direct causation. As a registry-based analysis, it does not establish how or why the medications influence mental health outcomes.
Experts Cite Biological and Lifestyle Factors Behind Findings
Markku Lähteenvuo, research director at the University of Eastern Finland, said the results point to several possible explanations.
“Because this is a registry-based Weight-Loss Drugs Study, we cannot determine exactly why or how these medications affect mood symptoms, but the association was quite strong,” he said.
He added that improvements in body weight, blood sugar control and reduced alcohol consumption may contribute to better mental health.
“It is possible that there may also be direct neurobiological mechanisms involved, for example through changes in the functioning of the brain’s reward system,” Lähteenvuo said.
Experts say such mechanisms could help explain why patients report improved mood alongside physical health benefits, though further clinical trials are needed to confirm these effects.
Separate Study Examines Pregnancy Risks of GLP-1 Drugs
In related research, scientists in Denmark examined the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on pregnancy outcomes using national health registry data. The study included 480,231 women and 756,636 pregnancies.
Among them, 529 women were exposed to semaglutide or liraglutide during early pregnancy, often unintentionally. Researchers assessed whether use of the drugs was linked to preterm birth, defined as delivery before 37 weeks.
The Weight-Loss Drugs Study found an increased risk of preterm birth among women using GLP-1 medications for diabetes treatment, but no such risk was observed among those taking the drugs for weight management.
Researchers said the findings suggest that underlying diabetes, rather than the drugs themselves, may be responsible for the elevated risk.
While the results provide reassurance for some patients, experts caution that more research is needed to fully understand the safety of these medications during pregnancy.
Together, the studies highlight the expanding role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in modern medicine, while underscoring the need for further investigation into their long-term effects.
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