Ozempic’s hidden dangers: Muscle loss, mental health warnings and the rebound effect

By willowt // 2025-06-07

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Ozempic/Wegovy users risk losing muscle, bone mass and mental health as severe side effects.
GLP-1 drugs linked to 62,000 adverse events and 162 deaths since 2018, with soaring post-2022 reports.
71% of users report difficulty affording the drugs despite some insurance coverage.
Over 40% of diabetics and 22% of overweight Americans use GLP-1 agonists, fueling debate over Medicare’s coverage.
Experts urge natural alternatives and caution against long-term or high-dose use.

By 2025, Ozempic and Wegovy had become household names, with 1 in 8 Americans relying on GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide to slim down. Yet experts warn that these drugs may cost more than excess pounds: a recent study highlights severe risks to muscle mass, mental health and long-term wellbeing. Dr. Benjamin Bikman of Brigham Young University, highlighting the dangers of Ozempic’s rise, predicts a tidal wave of consequences — frailty, depression, and a “rebound effect” where users regain unhealthy fat. With 162 deaths tied to the drug and 62,000 adverse events since 2018, the question isn’t just whether Ozempic works but at what price.

The triple threat: Muscle loss, bone frailty and shorter lifespans

GLP-1 drugs achieve rapid weight loss by altering physiology, but the tradeoff may be lethal. A 2022 clinical trial found Ozempic users shed 23 pounds of fat after 68 weeks — but also lost 15 pounds of lean muscle mass, risking bone fragility and premature death. Dr. Bikman cautions: “Frail people are much more likely to die young.” Low muscle mass amplifies vulnerability to infections, while bone density decline raises fracture risks. For seniors, these effects could erode independence and survival odds. The FDA has yet to mandate warnings for muscle or bone atrophy, despite mounting evidence. While marketed as a solution to obesity, Ozempic’s design undermines the body’s foundation, swapping dangerous fat loss for biologically critical tissue. “This goes beyond vanity — it’s losing the ability to survive,” says Dr. Bikman.

Mental collapse: How Ozempic dulls joy and spurs depression

Ozempic’s mental health toll is stark. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals users face a 195% higher risk of major depression and over 100% greater suicidal behavior likelihood compared to non-users. The drug targets brain regions regulating emotion and dopamine, the neurotransmitter governing pleasure and motivation. Users report losing interest in sex, hobbies and social bonds — the “cravings for life” diminished alongside hunger. The FDA and EMA downplay causality, but Bikman insists links are clear: “If you’re flattening your appetite, you’re also flattening your will to live.” Over 10% of reported side effects involve neurological issues like anxiety or detachment, with thousands now filing lawsuits alleging mental health harm. For some, the cost of feeling “full” is an emotional void that fuels despair.

The rebound effect: Why Ozempic can make you fatter

Quitting isn’t an exit strategy — it’s a trigger. After stopping, users regain up to two-thirds of lost weight within a year, but with a worse fat-to-muscle ratio. A 2022 trial found discontinuation led to renewed appetite cravings, while lost muscle rarely returned. Worse, Ozempic spurs fat-cell growth, creating a body primed to hoard fat. “You end up with more fat than when you started, just in smaller packages,” explains Bikman. Northwestern University researchers found post-Ozempic users saw surging cholesterol levels and heart risks, worsening their health. This rebound effect undermines Ozempic’s promise, transforming it from tool to trap.

Emerging dangers: From gastroparesis to 162 deaths

Beyond muscle and mind, Ozempic disrupts digestion — common nausea devolves into life-altering Gastroparesis, where food stalls in the stomach, triggering vomiting and malnutrition. Reports of kidney damage, pancreatitis and thyroid cancer also grow. The FDA’s Adverse Event System recorded over 10,000 serious reactions by 2024, including heart failure and hospitalizations. Even before discontinuation, patients endure relentless side effects. Clinical trials cite 80-90% of participants reporting adverse effects, though many cite the toll as worth the pounds lost.

Medicare’s crossroads and public opinion: The fight over coverage

Medicare currently excludes coverage for Ozempic’s weight-loss use, but public sentiment may shift policy. A KFF poll reveals 61% of Americans—not just users (71%) but also Republicans (55%) and seniors (58%)—support Medicare funding. Proponents argue the drugs deliver long-term cost savings by preventing obesity-linked disease. Critics counter that expanding coverage would subsidize Big Pharma’s profits while ignoring safer lifestyle interventions. Cost remains a critical barrier. Over half of users report affordability struggles, even with insurance. As subsidies increasingly prioritize medication over systemic health solutions, the debate reflects a fractured view of health: quick fixes vs holistic care.

Rewriting the obesity playbook

Ozempic’s popularity masks its paradox: a solution that hazards the very systems it aims to protect. Experts like Bikman plead for caution, urging lower dosing, dietary shifts (like reducing vegetable oil intake) and ending drug dependency. With natural alternatives like Akkermansia probiotics showing promise, the question is clear: Can society prioritize longevity over short-term gains? As Gastroparesis diagnoses rise and depression lawsuits mount, the answer may determine public health’s future. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org KFF.org DailyMail.com