Millions of weight loss drug users could end up facing silent health issue, warns Cambridge professor
An expert has warned that a common health issue is 'only going to be worse' now more people are using GLP-1 weight loss drugs.
Nearly one in 10 adults in the UK - around 1.6 million people - are currently using weight loss drugs, which reduce appetite by prolonging the feeling of fullness.
Sold under names such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, many of the drugs were designed to treat type 2 diabetes, but some are also available for weight loss on the NHS if you meet certain strict criteria.
Patients typically lose between 14 percent and 20 percent of their body weight in the first year.
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But an expert has warned that 'the medication alone is not a magic wand', and if patients don't make major lifestyle changes too while using weight loss jabs they risk serious health issues.
Science Focus reports that a Cleveland Clinic study of 460,000 adults taking a GLP-1 drug showed that one in five developed a nutrient deficiency within a year.
Another study by researchers in Mexico showed that 13.6 percent of 480,000 GLP-1 users developed a significant vitamin D deficiency within a year, and around 60 percent weren’t getting enough iron or calcium.
Prof Giles Yeo, a neuroendocrinology and obesity expert at the University of Cambridge, told the outlet that 'if you just take the drugs and don’t make any behavioural changes, then you’re going to eat less of a not-great diet'.
“Unless you improve your diet, you might end up with nutritional deficiencies,” Yeo said, noting that a diet full of ultra-processed foods lacks essential nutrients.
The American-British biologist went on to say that deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin B12, and iron are very common in the UK and that weight loss drugs might only make matters worse.
Research from the University of Cambridge earlier this year estimated that 95 percent of people were accessing weight loss drugs privately in the UK, and were potentially not being provided with essential nutritional advice and support that their doctor would offer.
Dr Disha Narang, director of obesity medicine at Eneavour Health, told Fox News: "The medication alone is not a magic wand and when we just rely on that and we're not focusing on the other things, that's when we start to see some of these nutrition issues."
The serious health consequences of nutrient deficiencies
Long-term nutrient deficiencies can lead to a compromised immune system, organ damage and cognitive decline.
Shortages of specific vitamins and minerals can also result in chronic diseases like heart failure, anaemia, and permanent neurological issues. It can also lead to fatigue, hair loss and osteoporosis.
Prof Yeo added: “Those are the deficiencies we already see relatively commonly. Those are only going to be worse [with GLP-1s].
“For many people on these drugs, their diets may not have been great to begin with.”
Pop star Robbie Williams told the Mirror last year that after he started taking 'an appetite-suppressant drug to lose weight', he was diagnosed with scurvy, a disease caused by severe vitamin C deficiency, which can cause bleeding gums and poor wound healing, and is most often associated with long sea voyages in the 17th century.
He said: "I’d stopped eating and I wasn’t getting nutrients."
Dr Steven Heymsfield, director of the Metabolism and Body Composition Laboratory at Louisiana State University, also suggested that your 'doctor should assess you with nutrient blood tests – just like they do for other diseases'.
“When people are treated with GLP-1s, they reduce their food intake – but they also get gastrointestinal symptoms, like vomiting or diarrhoea,” Heymsfield adds.
“If you have diarrhoea, you’re going to lose nutrients through that pathway.
“I think this will become very important. I’ve been telling people, don’t write off GLP-1s as completely safe. You’ve got to wait and see how the deficiencies play into long-term impacts.”
While Yeo says 'we don’t want to overstate and scaremonger, because these drugs are still powerful tools', he notes that a lack of micronutrient intake 'will only become worse when people eat less'.
Novo Nordisk, manufacturers of Ozempic and Wegovy, told LADbible in a statement: "At Novo Nordisk we care deeply about patient safety. GLP-1 therapies, such as Wegovy® (semaglutide injection), are part of a long-term approach to managing a chronic disease like obesity. Obesity is complex and whilst GLP-1 treatments can be a tool for supporting weight loss, they should be used alongside lifestyle changes. Any decision to use GLP-1s should be made with a healthcare professional to ensure that patients are getting the full support they need to make both short and long-term changes.
"We continue to work closely with the MHRA, and when considering the totality of evidence from our clinical trials, post marketing reports and observational studies, believe the benefit–risk profile of semaglutide remains favourable when used as indicated.
"Anyone with concerns about side effects, or whether a medicine is suitable for them, should speak to their doctor, nurse or pharmacist for personalised advice. We also encourage anyone who thinks they may be experiencing side effects to report them to their healthcare professional and through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme."
LADbible Group has reached out to Eli Lilly (manufacturers of Mounjaro) for comment.
Anish Vij