As Ozempic use grows, lesser-known risks emerge – DW – 07/10/2025
One in eight adults in the US have taken the weightless drugs like Ozempic, according to survey analysis.
But more than 30% of those drop the meds after just four weeks, according to a study by Blue Health Intelligence, a US healthcare data company, before the drug can have a meaningful impact on their health.
Along with weight loss, Ozempic, which is also sold under the brand name Wegovy, has also won a reputation for its unpleasant side effects. The most common side effects people report are nausea, diarrhea or other digestive problems.
Vision changes, erectile dysfunction and mood changes have also been reported, and you may have heard of side effect phenomena like ʺOzempic faceʺ or ʺOzempic buttʺ (sagging in all the wrong places).
But what's worrying medical professionals more are reports of severe medical illnesses after taking the weight loss drug, also called semaglutide or GLP-1 drugs, for several months.
ʺThe most concerning side effects include pancreatitis and the effects on musculoskeletal disorders,ʺ Penny Ward, a physician-doctor at Kings College London, UK, told DW.
A UK regulator has highlighted potentially deadly side effects of acute pancreatitis — an inflammation of the pancreas — after at least ten deaths were linked to this condition among British users of GLP-1 drugs.
GLP-1 drugs have been on the (US) market since 2017. Ozempic was first approved to treat type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy was approved as a weight-loss medication in 2021.
Clinical trials testing their safety and effectiveness showed them to be safe enough for their intended users. But since being release to the public, people have been reporting new side effects that hadn't appeared in the original clinical trials.
Ward said it's ʺnot unusualʺ for additional adverse reactions to be noted once a product goes into clinical use.
ʺRarer side effects may emerge as more patients take these medicines in clinical practice,ʺ she said, "simply as a result of the much larger number of people treated than were included in the clinical development trials.
ʺThis is why we continue to monitor the safety of medicines on the market,ʺ Ward added.
A major study published in the journal in January 2025 set out to systematically analyze all the reported health risks of over 215,000 people taking GLP-1 drugs to treat diabetes.
The researchers found risks of taking GLP-1 drugs beyond those previously recognized in clinical trials, including an 11% increased risk in arthritis and a 146% increased risk of pancreatitis. Increased risks of low blood pressure, dizziness or fainting, kidney stones and kidney inflammation were also reported.
The study also highlighted well-known risks of several gastrointestinal disorders, backing up numerous past studies showing an increased risk of gastrointestinal side effects.
Last year, people also started reporting that they'd gone blind after taking Wegovy. Researchers who investigated the matter found that GLP-1 drugs are associated with an increased risk of a disease affecting the optic nerve, called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
While the condition is rare, affecting an estimated 10 in 100,000 people, a study published in the journal found that people with diabetes taking GLP-1 drugs are four times more likely to develop NAION than the population average.
ʺThis research does suggest an association between semaglutide treatment and one form of sight-threatening optic neuropathy, but this would ideally be tested in larger studies,ʺ Graham McGeown, an honorary professor of physiology at Queen's University Belfast, UK.
Experts say much more research is needed in representative populations to better understand the side effects of GLP-1 drug and their real-world risks for people taking them.
ʺFor example, [more data is needed about] those taking the drug for obesity, who need a higher dose compared to people with diabetes, and taking it for longer than two years,ʺ said Karolina Skibicka, a neuroendocrinologist at University of Calgary, Canada.
ʺBut especially, we need studies which include women. Women show unique side-effects to many pharmacotherapies, and still [in] most studies women are often underrepresented at various stages of testing,ʺ Skibicka added.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Despite concerns about new side effects, Skibicka told DW, ʺthe list of benefits for this drug, if taken as prescribed, is still significantly longer and more impactful than risks. It has the promise of saving and improving many lives.ʺ
As such, Skibicka said it was ʺunlikelyʺ that the appearance of rare but serious side effects would be grounds to create new, stricter recommendations for prescribing GLP-drugs.
Researchers are also finding surprising 'beneficial' side effects of taking GLP-1 dugs, too.
Studies show that GLP-1 drug use is associated with a reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are also investigating whether the drugs could be used to treat substance use disorders.
The January study also reported reduced risks of blood coagulation and clotting disorders, cardiorenal and metabolic disorders, and several respiratory conditions in diabetic patients taking GLP-1 drugs.
The authors speculate that GLP-1 drugs might influence the risk of so many conditions for two reasons: first because they act on many parts of the body, and second because they treat obesity, which contributes to several health issues.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
2 days ago
- DW
As Ozempic use grows, lesser-known risks emerge – DW – 07/10/2025
The longer weight loss GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been on the market, the more side effects people are reporting. In very rare cases they can be deadly. Here's what to know. One in eight adults in the US have taken the weightless drugs like Ozempic, according to survey analysis. But more than 30% of those drop the meds after just four weeks, according to a study by Blue Health Intelligence, a US healthcare data company, before the drug can have a meaningful impact on their health. Along with weight loss, Ozempic, which is also sold under the brand name Wegovy, has also won a reputation for its unpleasant side effects. The most common side effects people report are nausea, diarrhea or other digestive problems. Vision changes, erectile dysfunction and mood changes have also been reported, and you may have heard of side effect phenomena like ʺOzempic faceʺ or ʺOzempic buttʺ (sagging in all the wrong places). But what's worrying medical professionals more are reports of severe medical illnesses after taking the weight loss drug, also called semaglutide or GLP-1 drugs, for several months. ʺThe most concerning side effects include pancreatitis and the effects on musculoskeletal disorders,ʺ Penny Ward, a physician-doctor at Kings College London, UK, told DW. A UK regulator has highlighted potentially deadly side effects of acute pancreatitis — an inflammation of the pancreas — after at least ten deaths were linked to this condition among British users of GLP-1 drugs. GLP-1 drugs have been on the (US) market since 2017. Ozempic was first approved to treat type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy was approved as a weight-loss medication in 2021. Clinical trials testing their safety and effectiveness showed them to be safe enough for their intended users. But since being release to the public, people have been reporting new side effects that hadn't appeared in the original clinical trials. Ward said it's ʺnot unusualʺ for additional adverse reactions to be noted once a product goes into clinical use. ʺRarer side effects may emerge as more patients take these medicines in clinical practice,ʺ she said, "simply as a result of the much larger number of people treated than were included in the clinical development trials. ʺThis is why we continue to monitor the safety of medicines on the market,ʺ Ward added. A major study published in the journal in January 2025 set out to systematically analyze all the reported health risks of over 215,000 people taking GLP-1 drugs to treat diabetes. The researchers found risks of taking GLP-1 drugs beyond those previously recognized in clinical trials, including an 11% increased risk in arthritis and a 146% increased risk of pancreatitis. Increased risks of low blood pressure, dizziness or fainting, kidney stones and kidney inflammation were also reported. The study also highlighted well-known risks of several gastrointestinal disorders, backing up numerous past studies showing an increased risk of gastrointestinal side effects. Last year, people also started reporting that they'd gone blind after taking Wegovy. Researchers who investigated the matter found that GLP-1 drugs are associated with an increased risk of a disease affecting the optic nerve, called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). While the condition is rare, affecting an estimated 10 in 100,000 people, a study published in the journal found that people with diabetes taking GLP-1 drugs are four times more likely to develop NAION than the population average. ʺThis research does suggest an association between semaglutide treatment and one form of sight-threatening optic neuropathy, but this would ideally be tested in larger studies,ʺ Graham McGeown, an honorary professor of physiology at Queen's University Belfast, UK. Experts say much more research is needed in representative populations to better understand the side effects of GLP-1 drug and their real-world risks for people taking them. ʺFor example, [more data is needed about] those taking the drug for obesity, who need a higher dose compared to people with diabetes, and taking it for longer than two years,ʺ said Karolina Skibicka, a neuroendocrinologist at University of Calgary, Canada. ʺBut especially, we need studies which include women. Women show unique side-effects to many pharmacotherapies, and still [in] most studies women are often underrepresented at various stages of testing,ʺ Skibicka added. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Despite concerns about new side effects, Skibicka told DW, ʺthe list of benefits for this drug, if taken as prescribed, is still significantly longer and more impactful than risks. It has the promise of saving and improving many lives.ʺ As such, Skibicka said it was ʺunlikelyʺ that the appearance of rare but serious side effects would be grounds to create new, stricter recommendations for prescribing GLP-drugs. Researchers are also finding surprising 'beneficial' side effects of taking GLP-1 dugs, too. Studies show that GLP-1 drug use is associated with a reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are also investigating whether the drugs could be used to treat substance use disorders. The January study also reported reduced risks of blood coagulation and clotting disorders, cardiorenal and metabolic disorders, and several respiratory conditions in diabetic patients taking GLP-1 drugs. The authors speculate that GLP-1 drugs might influence the risk of so many conditions for two reasons: first because they act on many parts of the body, and second because they treat obesity, which contributes to several health issues.
DW
3 days ago
- DW
Death cap: The mushroom behind deadly dinner in Australia – DW – 07/09/2025
It started as a home-cooked meal, ended in multiple deaths and a court sentence for Erin Patterson. Here's how the death cap became the center of a chilling murder case. A jury in Australia has found Erin Patterson guilty on three counts of murder and one of attempted murder. The murder weapon: Toxic mushrooms. Prosecutors argued Patterson intentionally served four of her family members with meal portions containing toxic death cap mushrooms in 2023. Patterson denied being guilty, originally telling police she had used store-bought mushrooms from a supermarket, then an Asian grocer in Melbourne. A search of such stores found no evidence that poisonous mushrooms had ever been sold. During the trial, Patterson said she may have foraged for the mushrooms but could not say for certain where she had obtained the death caps. Deadly by name and by nature, death cap mushrooms ( are full of a highly stable toxin called alpha-Amanitin. The toxin is so stable that it won't break down when exposed to heat in cooking. When a death cap is eaten, people don't usually feel symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea until at least 6 hours later. During this time the alpha-Amanitin toxins are making their way through the bloodstream into organs of the body. The toxin primarily acts in the liver, where it causes cells in the liver to die. Alpha-Amanitin binds with RNA polymerase-II enzymes, preventing the cells from creating new proteins. Eventually, the liver starts to shut down. Death can occur within 24 hours. The Amanita genus of fungi is well-known for their toxic properties. This group include the fairytale "toadstool" commonly known as the fly agaric, death caps, and "destroying angels". But some other Amanita mushrooms are edible. Most cases of death cap poisoning are often a case of misidentification — their classic white appearance and domed cap looks like many other types of fungi. Identification of mushrooms requires a knowledge of different parts of the anatomy: the cap or fruiting body, the gills or spores beneath the cap, and the stipe — or stalk. While death caps look like many other mushrooms, one defining characteristic is their bad smell. "They don't store well at all, unless you dehydrate them. They quickly go very stinky and very nasty," Brett Summerell, a fungi expert and Chief Scientist at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Australia, told DW. Because of the risk of misidentification by amateurs, it's usually recommended that foragers go for edible species that cannot be mistaken. Of course, foraging under the supervision of a trained mycologist — a fungi scientist — is usually a safe option. The jury ultimately didn't find Patterson's defense — that she mixed up foraged mushrooms in the same container as store-bought ones — believable. The prosecution argued Patterson knowingly put the toxic mushrooms in the home-cooked lunch and disposed of evidence. Summerell said the likelihood that death caps could get into store-bought products "is, to be honest, farcical." The reason? Death caps only grow next to oak and beech trees. Death caps, like many fungi, are mycorrhizal, meaning they have a symbiotic relationship with the tree species. Death caps obtain their nutrients from nearby tree roots and return nutrients to the nearby soil. But because they can only grow at the base of oak and beech trees, it means there's no chance of them sprouting in a commercial setting, where spores are cultivated in highly controlled conditions — and with no trees in sight. Death caps aren't native to Australia, and neither are the oak and beech trees that support them. The trees were first introduced into Australia from Europe in the 19th ecntury, and death caps in the 1960s. Summerell and other mycologists are now discussing the possibility of removing oak trees in some parts of Australia. "We have argued that, in Sydney, if it's at all possible, we should start to think about removing oak trees from some of these suburbs just from the point of view of a public health risk," said Summerell. Removing introduced oaks could harbor positive benefits, both from a public health perspective by removing the risk of the top cause of mushroom poisoning, as well as providing more space for native Australian plant life.
DW
4 days ago
- DW
India: How a small town topped global pollution charts – DW – 07/08/2025
New Delhi continues to be the most polluted capital on Earth, but it's not the world's most polluted city. That title goes to Byrnihat, an industrial town in India's northeast. DW explores why. Byrnihat looks like many other towns in India's picturesque northeastern states of Assam and Meghalaya. But while it is nestled among lush green hills and scenic river valleys, it holds the unwanted title of the world's most polluted city, according to Swiss air quality monitor IQAir's 2024 report. Walking along the town's hilly roads on a rainy afternoon, the views and stillness are only broken by the rhythmic clanking from nearby factories. This town of about 70,000 people is also home to about 80 industries, many of them focused on iron and steel. The serpentine roads are lined with long rows of trucks — some stalled, others hauling goods to and from factories. The National Highway 40 cuts through the town, which straddles the border between Assam and Meghalaya states. According to IQAir's Armen Araradian, Byrnihat's air had an average PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. That is more than 25 times higher than what the World Health Organization (WHO) considers safe to breathe. Dr. Prasanta Kr Brahma has spent eight years treating patients in Byrnihat. He said he has seen an "increasing number of cases of respiratory tract infection and other issues related to pollution." According to government data analyzed by IQAir, there was a 76.77% rise in the number of cases of respiratory infection in the region between 2022 and 2024. "Over the years, cancer has also become very common, especially head and neck cancer (HNC), which is related to air pollution," Dr. Brahma said. Studies have shown that PM2.5 exposure is associated with an increased incidence of HNC, like oral, nasal, and throat cancers. The recommended safe level of PM2.5 is no more than 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, according to the WHO. "Of the 359 days IQAir has data from Byrnihat, 356 did not meet the WHO's PM2.5 guidelines," Araradian told DW. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Byrnihat developed into an industrial and transport hub in the late 1990s due to its access to coal in Meghalaya and its proximity to Guwahati, the largest city in India's northeast, about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) away. The major industries in the region are iron and steel plants, cement factories, wood manufacturing units and plants for industrial equipment like ferroalloy products. With pollution levels soaring, a 2022 report by the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board recommended halting construction and limiting truck traffic to reduce harmful PM2.5 levels in Byrnihat. Faced with Byrnihat's severe air quality, the Meghalaya government shut down a handful of factories which were thought to be the main drivers of pollution. But the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) found that there was negligible change in the ambient air quality in Byrnihat after six ferroalloy and related units were ordered to shut down on January 29, 2025, for non-compliance with environmental regulations. In fact, CPCB data showed the highest PM2.5 level of 385 was recorded on February 3 — four days after the closures. The factories are not the only cause of pollution. Experts also point to other contributing factors, primarily the vehicular traffic that passes through the town. "Some check on trucks is a must to reduce PM2.5," said Dr Sharad Gokhale, professor of environmental engineering at Indian Institute of Technology in Guwahati. Byrnihat is on one of India's key transit routes, with the NH40 enabling a constant flow of old, heavy commercial vehicles — many of which use low-quality fuel and don't meet emissions standards. Sunil Dahiya, founder of the environmental group EnviroCatalysts, said the trucks, whether idling for hours or just passing through, exacerbate local pollution levels. Byrnihat also serves as a transit hub for coal transport to other regions. The coal stockpiles in the area and the way they are stored also contribute to the air pollution, Dahiya told DW. "A major concern is that much of the coal is stored in the open, uncovered, and across multiple sites. This leads to fugitive emissions, as coal dust becomes airborne and spreads, contributing further to air pollution," he said. Municipal and industrial waste management in the area must also be considered, Dahiya pointed out. Burning industrial waste, which raises pollution levels, is a common practice in Byrnihat and other similar areas. When DW visited some of Byrnihat's factories, some were engulfed in emitted smoke. Wind direction and the proximity of major city Guwahati also play a significant role in Byrnihat's pollution levels, as does geography. "Byrnihat's bowl-shaped topography also traps pollution. The city is surrounded by hills on nearly all sides, and its topography does not allow pollutants to easily disperse," IQAir's Araradian said. Yet another factor behind Byrnihat's position at the top of the world's most polluted cities in 2024 was the fact that last year, both Assam and Meghalaya saw below-normal rainfall. Less rain means more particles, including harmful PM2.5, in the air. Byrnihat's top ranking put the spotlight on a town many in India would not be able to locate on a map. But the focus on air pollution is usually on New Delhi and the country's other major cities. In 2024, more than half of the world's 20 most polluted cities were in India. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Araradian said IQAir's global data often reveals extremely high — but largely unnoticed — air pollution levels in small or lesser-known towns which barely feature in national discussions. Many of these smaller urban centers weren't even monitored until recently, said Dahiya. And while smaller metropolitan areas are slowly getting more attention, most of the policy and media focus remains concentrated on Delhi and other big cities. "Ultimately, environmental planning should be a core part of urban development. Without that, we continue making poor policy decisions," Dahiya said. "Even five years after the launch of the NCAP (National Clean Air Programme), the debate still centers on Delhi, while smaller towns remain on the sidelines. That needs to change," he added. Improving air quality takes political will, experts say. If small towns keep slipping through the cracks of anti-pollution regulations, less visible communities like Byrnihat will keep paying the price. "This is our home," said Lucy Marak, a local resident. "Where are we supposed to go if our home becomes unlivable?"
