In the case of treating weight problems, kind 2 diabetes, and different continual well being circumstances, GLP-1 agonist medication–comparable to Ozempic, Zepbound, and Wegovy–have been a gamechanger for actually tens of millions of Individuals.
However as with all treatment, these medication can ship unwelcome unintended effects. And a current research that simply garnered a bunch of consideration raised the potential of new ones.
The analysis, which was offered on the 2026 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual assembly in March and has not but been peer-reviewed, discovered a hyperlink between GLP-1 use and elevated threat of bone points, together with osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones) and osteomalacia (smooth bones). The research additionally discovered a hyperlink between GLP-1 use and heightened threat of gout, a sort of arthritis that causes ache and swelling within the joints.
The lead research writer stated he turned all for whether or not GLP-1s may have an effect on bone and different connective tissue after a few of his sufferers “developed critical tendon tears following comparatively minor accidents,” in line with NBC Information. After analyzing 5 years of medical information from almost 147,000 adults with kind 2 diabetes and weight problems, the research authors concluded that GLP-1 use was related to a “considerably elevated” threat of osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and gout.
After all, this information is probably going unsettling for anybody on these drugs. However ought to we be legit frightened about these findings? And the way precisely might GLP-1s hurt bone well being within the first place? We tapped two consultants for solutions, together with sensible ideas for safeguarding bone well being whereas taking GLP-1s.
How regarding are these findings?
First, some relieving information: As of now, there may be “no sound scientific proof” that means GLP-1s instantly improve the chance of osteoporosis or osteomalacia,” Marci Laudenslager, MD, an weight problems drugs doctor with The Johns Hopkins Healthful Consuming, Exercise & Weight Program, tells SELF. (Similar goes for gout, she provides.)
Dr. Laudenslager, who was not concerned within the research, factors out that it was observational in nature, which means it checked out correlation…not causation. “Whereas well-conducted observational research can reveal a possible relationship between a drugs and a medical end result, they can’t decide whether or not a drugs instantly causes that medical end result,” she explains.
One other limitation of the research is that it relied on medical information alone, which implies it assumed that each one sufferers who had been prescribed GLP-1s, as famous of their medical information, had been really taking the drug. In actuality, many sufferers who’re prescribed GLP-1s are unable to take them due to price or treatment shortages, Dr. Laudenslager says. Furthermore, individuals who do begin taking don’t all the time proceed as a consequence of insurance coverage, price, or issues tolerating the drug, she provides.
