Health

Weight regain after anti-obesity drugs linked to higher suicidal ideation risk

A South Korean observational study linked anti-obesity drugs to increased mental health struggles, according to Fox News.

Updated Sep 9, 2026 · 11:51 UTC1 reports

The short version

An observational study of 27,741 adults conducted at South Korea's Asan Medical Center found users of weight-loss drugs faced higher risks of depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts.[Fox News]
The observed mental health risks were even more pronounced among participants who gained or regained weight while taking the medication.[Fox News]
Medical experts noted the research involved older medications rather than modern GLP-1 drugs and demonstrates correlation rather than causation.[Fox News]

An observational study of 27,741 adults at Asan Medical Center in South Korea examined mental health metrics among prescription weight-loss medication users.[Fox News]
Participants taking weight-loss medications were 1.9 times more likely to report depression and twice as likely to seek mental health counseling.[Fox News]
Weight-loss drug users were 2.7 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and 1.7 times more likely to make a suicide attempt.[Fox News]
The correlation with negative mental health indicators was stronger in patients who gained or regained weight.[Fox News]
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have reported no elevated risk or under 1% rates of suicidal ideation in trials for modern GLP-1 treatments.[Fox News]

The observational format establishes correlation but cannot verify whether the medications caused the mental health issues or pre-existed.[Fox News]
The study analyzed older anti-obesity drugs prescribed over a decade rather than newer GLP-1 receptor agonists.[Fox News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.