GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Found to Have Mental Health Benefits, According to New Study

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A new study found that GLP-1 drugs are linked to lower rates of depression and anxiety

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 100,000 people

Experts say the findings show a strong association but do not yet explain how the medications may impact mental health

Medications commonly used to treat diabetes and induce weight loss may also be connected to better mental health, according to a large new study analyzing health data from tens of thousands of people.

Researchers found that people taking GLP-1 medications were less likely to require hospital care or take extended leave from work due to psychiatric conditions. The findings, published in The Lancet, come from a study led by the University of Eastern Finland in collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Griffith University in Australia.

The study followed nearly 100,000 individuals in Sweden between 2009 and 2022, including more than 20,000 people who used GLP-1 medications. These drugs are typically prescribed to help manage blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes and, more recently, to induce weight loss by reducing appetite and increasing feelings of fullness, according to the National Academy of Medicine.

Related: GLP-1 Medications Are Everywhere. How Do They Affect People with Eating Disorders? (Exclusive)

Researchers observed that during periods when patients were taking GLP-1 drugs, they were significantly less likely to experience worsening mental health. The need for psychiatric hospital care or extended sick leave was 42% lower compared with periods when patients were not using these medications.

The study also found lower risks across several specific conditions. Rates of depression were 44% lower, and anxiety disorders were 38% lower during periods of semaglutide use. In addition, issues related to substance use, including hospital visits or time away from work, were reduced by nearly half.

Related: People on GLP-1s Are Getting an Old-Timey Sailors’ Disease

Researchers also noted a reduced incidence of self-harm among people taking GLP-1 medications.

Still, the study does not definitively prove that the medications directly improve mental health, and some experts urged caution.

“Because this is a registry-based study, we cannot determine exactly why or how these medications affect mood symptoms, but the association was quite strong,” said Markku Lähteenvuo of the University of Eastern Finland. He said possible explanations could include lifestyle changes linked to weight loss, better control of blood sugar, or even effects on how the brain processes reward.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

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