Semaglutide, a common active ingredient in GLP-1 type weight loss medications, is linked to a lower risk of worsening mental health conditions, according to a new study. This research adds to the growing body of evidence examining the broader health impacts of these increasingly popular drugs.
PUBLICITÉ Published in The Lancet Psychiatry, the research showed individuals undergoing GLP-1 treatment for diabetes and obesity were less likely to require hospitalization or take time off work due to psychiatric reasons.
Scientists from the University of Eastern Finland, the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and Griffith University in Australia found that individuals treated with semaglutide had a 42% lower risk of their mental health condition worsening, compared to an 18% reduction for those taking liraglutide.
Specifically, the risk of depression was reduced by 44%, and anxiety disorders by 38%.
Semaglutide was also associated with a lower risk of substance-related disorders. Hospitalizations and time off work related to these disorders were reduced by 47% in individuals taking the medication, and the risk of self-harm was also lower among patients using semaglutide.
Both semaglutide and liraglutide are active ingredients in GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, which work by mimicking the effects of the naturally produced GLP-1 hormone, helping to regulate appetite and blood sugar levels.
The study included data from more than 95,000 people, with an average age of 50.6 years, who had been diagnosed with depression or anxiety and had used at least one antidiabetic medication between 2009 and 2022.
The authors emphasize that their work does not prove that weight loss directly leads to improved mental health, and the relationship between these treatments, weight loss, and mental wellbeing is likely complex. Further research is needed to fully understand these connections.
While observational studies cannot establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, researchers believe these findings provide a foundation for future clinical trials, as reported by Medscape.
Mental Health and Diabetes: A Vicious Cycle
In Europe, approximately 140 million people – one in six – live with a mental health condition, with varying degrees of severity impacting daily life, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Rates are even higher among individuals with diabetes and obesity. Adults with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to experience depression, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
This connection is bidirectional: experiencing a mental health condition also increases the risk of developing diabetes.
According to the IDF, biological, behavioral, and social factors fuel this two-way link, creating a challenging cycle to break.
The burden is particularly heavy for individuals living with severe mental illness, where diabetes is two to three times more common, influenced by certain treatments, health inequalities, and lifestyle factors. Understanding these interconnected risks is crucial for improving overall patient care, experts at Science Media Centre noted.
