New research links prescription weight‑loss medications to higher rates of depression, mental‑health counseling and suicidal thoughts, raising fresh safety concerns for users.
Study Overview
An observational analysis of 27,741 South Korean adults, published in the Korean Journal of Family Practice on Aug. 23, compared 846 participants who used weight‑loss drugs in the prior year with 26,895 non‑users.
Researchers found users were 1.9 times more likely to experience depression, twice as likely to seek mental‑health counseling, 2.7 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and 1.7 times more likely to attempt suicide, especially when weight rebounded after treatment.
Expert Commentary
Bonnie Mitchell, a licensed professional clinical counselor in California, said the study is cross‑sectional and cannot prove causation.
“It shows a correlation between weight‑loss drug use and self‑reported mental‑health symptoms, but it does not demonstrate that the medications directly induce depression or suicidal thoughts,” she told Fox News Digital.
Risk Factors
The strongest mental‑health risks appeared among users who gained or regained weight, with 4.2 times higher odds of suicidal ideation compared to non‑users.
Mitchell noted that severe obesity itself correlates with elevated baseline rates of depression, anxiety and body‑dysmorphia, making it difficult to isolate medication effects from pre‑existing conditions.
Clinical Recommendations
Physicians should conduct baseline mental‑health assessments before prescribing weight‑loss drugs, monitoring for mood changes at 4‑ to 8‑week intervals during dose escalation, Mitchell advised.
Patients must contact their healthcare provider immediately if they develop persistent low mood, loss of interest, increased anxiety, sleep disturbances, new thoughts of self‑harm or marked behavior changes, the study warned.
Industry Position
Eli Lilly, maker of tirzepatide (Zepbound), states its safety information lists “depression or thoughts of suicide” as potential risks, while noting that clinical trials identified no increased risk of suicidal ideation.
Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of semaglutide (Wegovy), reports less than 1% of participants experienced suicidal thoughts and found no difference between the drug and placebo in trials.
Safety Disclaimer
Individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts should call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1‑800‑273‑TALK (8255) immediately.
