Research by Epic Research reveals a significant connection between weight loss drugs and mental health.
Key Findings:
Diabetic patients taking GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy were:
- 45% less likely to be diagnosed with depression
- 44% less likely to be diagnosed with anxiety
The study also highlighted:
- Tirzepatide in Mounjaro and Zepbound led to:
- 65% decrease in depression diagnoses
- 60% decrease in anxiety diagnoses
Expert Insights:
Researcher Kersten Bartelt stated:
“These medications may serve a dual purpose for patients, but we do not understand them well enough yet to say these medications should be given as a treatment for anxiety or depression outside of diabetes or weight management.”
Additional Notes:
- These drugs, primarily used for type 2 diabetes, may also aid in weight loss.
- Recent FDA review found no evidence linking weight loss drugs to suicidal thoughts.
- Results are based on electronic patient records, potentially excluding undiagnosed cases of anxiety and depression.
It remains uncertain whether the observed decrease in mental health diagnoses is directly attributed to the medications, weight loss effects, or a combination of both factors.