Doctors warn of worrying Ozempic side effect that can cause chronic bone condition
Experts fear that the weight loss drug could put certain people at higher risk
Doctors are warning people about a worrying Ozempic side effect that can cause chronic bone condition.
The drug has seen a lot of people have success with weight loss but now some doctors fear that Ozempic could be linked to a chronic condition.
This is according to a report by the Daily Mail who claim that the weight loss drug could see an increased risk of bone fractures and may possibly be linked to osteoporosis, which is a condition that can cause brittle bones.
This comes after concerns were expressed by the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) following a study by the University of Liverpool that revealed up to 40% of the weight that is lost from GLP-1 injections actually comes from vital muscle and bone mass.
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GLP-1 injections include drugs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy.
Speaking to the Sunday Express, Julia Thomson, who is a specialist nurse with the ROS, said: “This is an emerging field of research and people need to be warned that using these drugs increases the risk of losing bone and muscle as well as fat.
“Bone and muscle health is key to preventing the risk of falling and fractures which can lead to premature death or else have a devastating effect on people's ability to live independently.”
Professor Carl Heneghan, the director of Oxford University’s Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, added: “Any drug that reduces muscle mass and bone density is a bad idea for people who are frail and those vulnerable to fractures with osteoporosis.
“The evidence is clear – these drugs carry significant risks and the longer a patient stays on them, the greater the risk.”
There are currently an estimated 500,000 people in the UK alone taking GLP-1 drugs and, according to Healthline, around ‘one in eight or about 13% of American adults have used a GLP-1 agonist’.
Doctors are now concerned that this potential loss of muscle as a result of the drug can weaken bone strength as well as joint stability.
Dr Taher Mahmud, who is the founder of the London Osteoporosis Clinic, said: “It is essential that those taking GLP-1 agonists know about the importance of good nutrition and weight-bearing exercise.”
Doctors have previously warned about a possible ‘Ozempic aftermath’ after a simulation showing the side effects left people feeling disturbed.
Dr Cunningham, an advanced aesthetics specialist at Dr Emma Clinics, told the Sun that her clients have experienced something known as ‘GLP-1 Face’.