Teenagers with obesity who take weight loss drugs are less at risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts than teenagers with obesity who do not take the drugs, according to a new study by a Hadassah researcher published in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA Pediatrics and spotlighted in Newsweek.
With the growing use of drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Victoza in adolescents since their FDA approval, “it became essential to investigate this possible association systematically,” first author Dr. Liya Kerem, pediatric endocrinologist at the Hadassah Medical Organization, told Newsweek.
“No previous studies had directly addressed this question in adolescents, which made it important to explore in our large cohort,” she said.
The study found that obese teens who took these drugs were 33 percent less likely to experience suicidal thoughts, or try to commit suicide, compared with teenagers prescribed diet and lifestyle changes instead.
"Obesity in adolescents is known to be associated with an increased risk of both depression and suicidal behavior," Dr. Kerem told Newsweek. “Since weight loss might alleviate these psychiatric comorbidities, it was reassuring to observe a reduced risk of suicidal behavior.”
Read the full story in Newsweek.
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