Weight-loss jabs may ease anxiety and depression, study finds
Weight-loss jabs may ease anxiety and depression, study finds
New registry-based study links semaglutide and liraglutide to lower risks of worsening anxiety and depression among people with diabetes or obesity.
A recent large registry-based study suggests that the diabetes and weight-loss drugs semaglutide and liraglutide may help ease anxiety and depression symptoms for people with diabetes or obesity. Using data from Swedish health registries collected between 2009 and 2022, researchers examined information on more than 95,000 patients who had a diagnosis of anxiety or depression and were using anti-diabetic medications, including 22,480 individuals treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The study, published in a major medical journal, found that semaglutide was associated with a 44% lower risk of worsening depression and a 38% lower risk of worsening anxiety. It was also linked to a reduced risk of substance abuse. Liraglutide showed a similar, though smaller, association with a lower risk of worsening depression.
While the registry-based design cannot establish cause, the researchers emphasized that the associations were strong. They suggested several potential explanations, including weight loss and changes in lifestyle that often accompany GLP-1 treatment, which may in turn influence mood and substance use. The authors noted that semaglutide and liraglutide could serve as dual-purpose options to manage both metabolic and mental health symptoms in some patients.
The findings add to a growing interest in how metabolic medicines may affect mood disorders, but experts caution that semaglutide is not a quick fix for mental illness. The drugs remain prescription therapies for obesity and type 2 diabetes, and any mood benefits should be weighed against known side effects and individual health considerations. More research, including clinical trials, is needed to determine whether the observed associations reflect true mood benefits or are driven by other factors such as weight loss or reduced alcohol consumption.
In Stockholm, researchers say the results could spur future studies on how GLP-1 therapies might be integrated into comprehensive care for patients facing both metabolic and mental health challenges.
