About two million people participated in the investigation, which found that the medications were associated with improved heart health, fewer infections, a decreased risk of drug dependence, and fewer dementia cases.
Additionally, the US researchers cautioned that the medications were “not without risk” and appeared to exacerbate pancreatic inflammation and joint pain, which could be fatal.
The results must be interpreted with extreme caution, though.
Although the use of weight-loss medications has skyrocketed, a complete understanding of all the bodily functions they affect is still developing.
“This is new territory,” says Dr. Ziyad al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University and the lead researcher.
At first, they were an effective way to treat type 2 diabetes. After weight loss was identified as a major adverse consequence, Ozempic and Wegovy gained widespread recognition.
