Jab for happiness.
A landmark new study finds that teens who are obese Semaglutide weight loss drugs were given Like Ozempic and Wegovi, they have seen improvements in their mental health, including a reduced risk of suicide.
This research refutes previous concerns about The potential for drugs like Ozempic to trigger suicidal thoughts and self-harm in children and adults,
Created to treat diabetes, these drugs are skyrocketing in popularity due to their ability to help people lose weight by slowing digestion and reducing appetite.
published in JAMA PediatricsThe new study is the first to focus specifically on the relationship between weight-loss medication and mental health among adolescents.
Analyzing 4,000 obese participants ages 12 to 19 who took semaglutide, researchers compared their findings to 50,000 obese teens who were treated with lifestyle therapy but given no drug.
Overall, and over a 12-month follow-up period, the Ozempic group was associated with a 33 percent reduction in suicidal thoughts or attempts.
This positive trend continued during the three-year follow-up period.
The study authors noted that teens who took the weight-loss drug had higher rates of side effects, particularly gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea.
This latest teen-focused research comes after two separate studies found that the weight-loss drug semaglutide did not increase the risk of depression and suicide. Researchers hope that the association between the drug and a reduced risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts means the drugs may have benefits beyond weight management.
“Our results suggest that the use of semaglutide may extend beyond the management of diabetes, potentially providing unexpected benefits in the treatment and prevention of cognitive decline and substance abuse,” says Dr Riccardo De Giorgi of the University of Oxford.
The good news is that obesity rates and their associated health issues are troubling Americans.
According to a study published earlier this year by the World Health Organization (WHO), over the past four decades, Obesity rates among children have quadrupled Between the ages of five and 19.
As early as 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended for children and adolescents with obesity be evaluated promptly And behaved aggressivelyIncluding surgery and medication if necessary.
according to a The report was published earlier this yearApproximately 31,000 American children aged 12 to 17 used GLP-1 medications in 2023.
a recent study he got wegovi Helped teens reduce their BMI by an average of about 16%Better than results in adults.
The positive relationship between Ozempic and mental health among adolescents is also encouraging, given the connection between weight, depression, and cognition.
A study was published last year International Journal of Obesity, found that when compared to their thinner peers, Cognitive function was reduced in obese pre-adolescentsStruggling to solve problems and think logically.
Pediatrician Jun Tashiro explains Post Parents of overweight children should seriously consider these medications as treatment.
“Anti-obesity drugs can help reduce weight, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well as reduce the risk of heart and kidney disease for patients,” Tashiro said. Specialist in the Teen Healthy Weight Program at NYU Langone,
