Weight loss drug Ozempic linked to lower depression and anxiety risk
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- Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) reduced psychiatric hospital care and sick leave by 42% during treatment periods compared with non‑treatment periods.
- Depression risk fell 44% and anxiety disorders dropped 38% among users of GLP‑1 receptor agonists.
- Substance‑use disorder hospitalizations and work absences fell 47% when semaglutide was taken.
- Study cohort comprised nearly 100,000 Swedes from 2009‑2022, with over 20,000 GLP‑1 users.
- Mark Taylor of Griffith University highlighted prior Swedish data linking GLP‑1 meds to lower alcohol‑use disorder risk.
Why it matters: Patients with type 2 diabetes or obesity gain a 42% cut in psychiatric hospital visits and sick leave, saving employers up to millions in absenteeism costs while easing pressure on mental‑health services.
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