Chances are you have family or friends who have struggled with weight loss for years, losing weight on the latest fad just to gain it all back again and more. Today it is happening again with GLP1 agonists like Semaglutide with the brand names of Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus and similar drugs like Moujaro and Zepbound.
And just like all the other weight loss fads and trends, people gain the weight back after they stop taking the drug. One recent study found that participants regained two-thirds of their weight one year after stopping the shots. The study concluded that patients needed to continue taking the drug indefinitely to keep the weight off.
Dr. Whit Roberts of Health Utah says he is concerned about more than just the regained weight. He is concerned about the financial costs and health risks potentially posed by these drugs.
The cost of these drugs
There is a heavy monetary cost of long-term drug treatment – potentially thousands of dollars every year. Then there are the health costs.
“We don’t yet know all the long-term side effects as this is a new trend among non-diabetic individuals,” Roberts says.
Research shows some of the most common short-term effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, increased hunger, and diarrhea. Less common or potentially serious side effects include thyroid cancer, gallbladder disorders, kidney damage, fatigue, headache, rash, hair loss, anxiety and dizziness.