Weight-loss drugs linked to higher rates of depression and suicidal thoughts, South Korean study finds

A study by researchers in South Korea has identified a link between the use of weight-loss medications and increased reports of depression and suicidal thoughts among adults.

According to the Daily Mail, the researchers analyzed health and psychological data from around 27,000 adults, including 846 individuals who reported using prescription weight-loss drugs.

The results showed that users of these medications were 93% more likely to report depression and 168% more likely to report suicidal thoughts compared to non-users.

About 22% of weight-loss drug users reported experiencing depression, compared to 11% of non-users, while nearly 10% of users reported suicidal thoughts, versus 4.5% among non-users.

Additionally, 2.2% of users said they had planned suicide, compared to 1.4% of non-users.

The study also examined the relationship between weight regain and mental health among users of GLP-1 medications. Researchers found that individuals who regained between 5.9 and 10 kg were 65% more likely to report suicidal thoughts than those who regained between 2.7 and 5.9 kg, and the rate rose to 267% among those who regained more than 10 kg.

The likelihood of planning suicide and seeking mental health counseling also increased among those who regained more weight, though the study did not find a clear rise in depression risk linked to weight regain.

The researchers emphasized that their study is observational and does not prove that weight-loss drugs cause depression or suicidal thoughts, noting that other factors may explain the association. They called for further research to clarify the nature of the relationship.

The study was published in the Korean Journal of Family Medicine and was based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2013 and 2022, without specifying the types of GLP-1 drugs used.