Maybe you have diabetes. Or other health concerns that are related to, or even the result of, carrying around a few too many extra pounds. No doubt, you’ve also heard about uber-popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide) or Mounjaro (tirzepatide), among others, and how they can help people, living everywhere from suburbia to Hollywood, who struggle with obesity and the physical complications it can bring.
But these medications may do more than just slim you down, a growing body of research shows. They fall into a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which may also impact your mental health. Reports of suicidal thoughts while on them have raised concerns among regulatory agencies in both the U.S. and Europe. Yet other recent research suggests their impact on mood may, in fact, be positive, at least in some people.
What explains these contradictory experiences? And how are you—or anyone considering these drugs—supposed to make sense of what’s best for your health?