Ozempic may reduce suicide risk in obese adolescents: study

Blocking for joy.

A landmark new study has found that obese teenagers who are given semaglutide weight loss medications 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 for drugs like Ozempic to cause suicidal ideation and self-harm in children and adults.

Designed to treat diabetes, these medications have grown 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 weight loss medication and mental health among teenagers.

Analyzing 4,000 obese participants aged 12 to 19 taking semaglutide, the researchers compared their findings with 50,000 obese teenagers who were treated with lifestyle therapy but no medication.

Overall, and over a 12-month follow-up period, the Ozempic regimen was associated with a 33 percent reduction in suicidal ideation or attempts.

This positive trend continued over a subsequent three-year period.

The study authors noted that teens who took the weight loss medication reported higher rates of side effects, especially gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea.

This latest research focusing on teenagers follows two separate studies that found the weight loss drug semaglutide did not increase the risk of depression and suicide. Researchers hope that the link between the medication and the reduced risk of suicidal ideation and attempts means that the medication may have benefits beyond weight management.

Dr Riccardo De Giorgi of the University of Oxford says: “Our results suggest that the use of semaglutide may extend beyond the management of 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 accompanying health issues continue to plague Americans.

According to a study published earlier this year by the World Health Organization (WHO), in the last four decades, obesity rates have quadrupled among children aged five to 19.

In early 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that children and adolescents with obesity be evaluated early and treated aggressively, including surgery and medication if required.

According to a report published earlier this year, nearly 31,000 American children ages 12 to 17 used GLP-1 medications in 2023.

A recent study found that Wegovy helped teenagers reduce their BMI by about 16% on average, better than results in adults.

The positive links between Ozempic and mental health among adolescents are also encouraging given the relationship between weight, depression and cognition.

Last year a study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that when compared to their leaner peers, obese teenagers had reduced cognitive function, struggling to solve problems and think logically.

Pediatric surgeon Jun Tashiro tells The Post that parents of overweight children should seriously consider these drugs as a form of treatment.

“Anti-obesity drugs can help reduce weight, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well as reduce patients’ risk of heart and kidney disease,” said Tashiro, an expert in the Healthy Adolescent Weight Program at NYU Langone.