There is an epidemic of obesity and overweight in the US. This is at least partly because we consume a lot of over-processed foods and our portion sizes have increased.
Many people desire to lose weight but find it difficult. Now, we have effective medications that really help. As a group, they are called GLP-1 type medications. There are several of them available; the best known is probably semaglutide.
These are relatively new medications, and we continue to learn more about them such as side-effects. The FDA noticed “suicide thoughts or actions in patients treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists” (GLP-1) such as semaglutide. Is this a real concern?
To address this question, Kerem and colleagues published an online article in JAMA Pediatrics on Oct. 14, 2024. It presented research on 6,912 adolescents with obesity who were treated with a GLP-1 medication.
The researchers studied the incidence of suicidal ideation or attempts at up to 3 years of follow-up; they were compared to matched controls who received behavioral interventions rather than a GLP-1 medication.
Interestingly, the teens taking the medication had a 33% lower risk of suicidal thoughts or actions for up to 3 years of follow-up. This should be reassuring, at least for adolescents.
[I am not endorsing any particular GLP-1 medication over any of the others.]
Peter M. Hartmann, MD
Family Medicine & Psychiatry
