Weight Loss Drugs Likely To Increase Digestive ProblemsRisks: Study

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Los Angeles: People taking popular medications for weight loss may be at higher risk for serious digestive problems such as stomach paralysis, pancreatitis and bowel obstructions, according to a new study.

A study published in JAMA on Thursday, University of British Columbia Researchers found that glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists are medications approved for the treatment of diabetes that have recently also been used off-label for weight loss.

They found that the use of GLP-1 agonists was associated with an increased risk of pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, and gastroparesis.

Researchers sifted through a random sample of more than 16 million insurance claims from a prescription drug database that covers about 93 percent of all outpatient prescriptions in the United States.

The researchers examined gastrointestinal adverse events associated with GLP-1 agonists used for weight loss in a clinical setting. They noted that these problems are not mild. Bowel obstructions, for example, can be medical emergencies.