A new study has reported an association between the use of weight-loss medications and a higher likelihood of depression and suicidal thoughts among adults.
Researchers in South Korea analysed mental health data from around 27,000 adults, including 846 people who reported using prescription weight-loss medication.
According to the study, people using weight-loss medications were 93% more likely to report depression and 168% more likely to report suicidal thoughts than those who did not use the medicines.
The researchers also examined people who had used GLP-1 medications over a period of nearly a decade and found that the reported mental health risks were higher among those who regained weight after being prescribed the medication.
Dr Kyung-Young Son and colleagues wrote that the use of weight-loss medications was associated with an increased risk of depression and suicidal tendencies, adding that the risk appeared to be higher among people who regained weight following treatment.
The researchers highlighted weight regain after treatment as a factor that may be associated with a further increase in mental health risks. However, the findings show an association rather than establishing that weight-loss medications directly cause depression or suicidal thoughts.
The study adds to ongoing research into the potential mental health effects of medications used to treat obesity and support weight loss. Concerns about a possible link between weight-loss medications and suicidal thoughts have previously prompted safety reviews.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received hundreds of reports from patients who said they experienced suicidal thoughts or severe feelings of hopelessness while taking such medications.
Some patients reported that they had no previous history of mental health problems but developed such symptoms after starting the medication.
Read also: Weight-loss drugs may reduce asthma attacks by up to 40 percent
