THINKING OF QUITTING WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS? NEW STUDY LINKS STOPPING TO HEART RISK
If you are taking one of the popular Ozempic-style weight loss drugs, or you know someone who is, a new study is worth knowing about.
Researchers have found that people with type 2 diabetes who stopped these medicines were more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, or to die, than those who kept taking them.
The study was published in The Lancet Regional Health, Europe, on November 10, and was reported by ABC News.
What the study found about weight loss drugs
The medicines in question are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They were first used to treat type 2 diabetes and are now widely known as weight loss drugs.
The researchers followed more than 80,000 Italian adults with type 2 diabetes who did not have heart disease when the study began.
They were tracked between 2004 and 2024.
About 60 per cent of them stopped taking their medicine at some point.
Around 4 in 100 people who stopped had a heart attack or stroke, or died from any cause.
Among those who kept going, the figure was about 2 in 100.
The risk was higher again for people living with obesity.
People who stopped also saw modest rises in weight, blood pressure and blood sugar, though the researchers said these changes did not fully explain the difference.
Why this matters in Australia
About half a million Australians use these medicines each month, according to the ABC.
People stop these medicines for all sorts of personal and medical reasons, so the question of what happens next is a very real one.
Lead author Antonio Ceriello, from the Italian hospital IRCCS MultiMedica, believes the drugs may directly protect the heart and blood vessels, and that this protection is lost when they are stopped.
The important caveats
Before anyone panics, Australian experts not involved in the study urged caution.
The research shows a link, not proof that stopping the drugs caused the heart problems.
Crucially, it did not record why people stopped.
Clara Chow, academic director of the Westmead Applied Research Centre at the University of Sydney, told the ABC that stopping may be a sign that someone is already unwell, rather than the cause.
Associate Professor Brendon Neuen from Royal North Shore Hospital agreed, saying people who stop for medical reasons are typically sicker to begin with.
The study also did not include tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, and only a small number of people were taking semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.
Most were on older medicines in the same family.
And because everyone in the study had type 2 diabetes, the results may not apply to people taking these drugs for weight loss alone.
Natalie Raffoul from the Heart Foundation called the findings interesting but said more research was needed.
Thinking of stopping? Talk to your doctor first
The clearest message from experts is not to make changes on your own.
If you are thinking about stopping or cutting back, speak to your GP or specialist first.
They can help you plan a safe approach, keep an eye on your blood pressure, blood sugar and weight, and look at other ways to protect your heart.
Associate Professor Neuen said that if a medicine is helping to manage a chronic condition, long-term treatment appears to be important.
Chow has also called for people on these drugs to be monitored over longer periods, as there is still limited data on long-term effects.
Looking after your heart, whatever you decide
Whether or not you take these medicines, everyday habits still make a real difference to heart health.
Regular movement, such as a brisk daily walk, helps with blood pressure, blood sugar and mood.
Eating plenty of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and legumes, and cutting back on salty and highly processed foods, is a good foundation.
Getting enough sleep and finding ways to manage stress matter too.
It is also a good idea to have regular heart health checks with your GP, especially if you have diabetes or a family history of heart disease.
As one expert put it, this study is just one small piece of a much bigger puzzle.
