More than metabolism – could weight-loss drugs boost mood too?
A study reported in Medical News Today1, involving over three million individuals with diabetes, found that people taking a certain weight-loss medication were 45% less likely to be diagnosed with depression and 44% less likely to have anxiety compared to participants not taking the drug. For another weight loss drug, the reduced risk of depression was 65%.
Dr Winnett says other studies in the peer-reviewed medical journal Nature Medicine2 found that certain weight-loss drugs also reduce the risk of addiction disorders (alcohol and tobacco), psychological disorders, epileptic seizures, and neurocognitive disorders (including Alzheimer’s disease).
The reason is that these medications may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help reduce neuroinflammation.3
According to this research, obesity and depression are both caused by chronic inflammation. It found that adipose tissue contains a variety of immune cells, which produce signalling proteins related to inflammation.
Another study found depressed patients often have higher levels of cytokines in their bodies4, which may in turn increase obesity and a range of other inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, asthma and cancer. Inflammation is also thought to be involved in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Past controversies, present confidence
Weight-loss medications have had a chequered past when it comes to mood.
In 2023, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and British regulators5 launched an investigation into a weight-loss drug because some patients reported ‘mood swings and suicidal thoughts’.
However, in a preliminary conclusion released in 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 6 stated that there is currently no evidence of a direct relationship between the weight-loss drug and suicidal thoughts or behaviours.’
Another vindicating study, published in JAMA Psychiatry7 in May 2025 and involving 107,000 participants, found that compared with placebo, treatment with weight-loss medications was not associated with increased risk of psychiatric adverse events.
Are there risks or side effects associated with weight-loss medications?
Dr Winnett says that whilst the medications have changed lives for many of his patients, they are not ‘a magic carpet ride’.
‘Rare side effects include gastroparesis which can cause paralysis, usually temporary, but has resulted in 1800 lawsuits in the US as of May 2025.
‘More common side effects include putting on weight again after stopping the medication – and for people with severe obesity, surgery may be a less expensive and more viable option in the long run.’
“Although several large studies to date show that there is no significant mood link between Ozempic and depression, there have been some smaller clinical reports of mood improvement in patients with previous depression where mood improved when they ceased weight-loss medication. So if patients notice ANY significant side effects including mood changes, they should be sure to tell their doctor promptly.”
The future of obesity treatment – the mind-body link
As science continues to uncover the surprising ripple effects of weight-loss medications, these discoveries challenge us to rethink how we approach obesity. The future of treatment may not lie in choosing between body and mind, but in recognising that healing one often means healing both.
If you’d like support on your health and weight-loss journey, speak to your GP or book an appointment with us to discuss the full spectrum of treatment options.
Dr Jason Winnett
Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgeon
P (03) 9417 1555 admin@winnettspecialistgroup.com.au
www.winnettspecialistgroup.com.au
Queens Terrace, 382 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne 3002
Sources:
1* Can weight loss drugs actually help lower depression and anxiety risk?
2*Association of semaglutide with risk of suicidal ideation in a real-world cohort
3* Weight-loss jabs may be good for mental health, research shows.
4* How Inflammation Affects the Brain in Depression: A Review of Functional and Structural MRI Studies.
5* EMA statement on ongoing review of GLP-1 receptor agonists
7* Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and Mental Health A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Additional sources:
https://people.com/celebrities-ozempic-wegovy-what-theyve-said-7104926
https://www.drugwatch.com/legal/ozempic-lawsuit/
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023: Case Report: Semaglutide-associated depression: a report of two cases
This article was reviewed by Dr Jason Winnett, AHPRA No: MED0001155541
This page contains general information only. Not medical advice. All procedures carry risks and results are individual. Consult your GP and a specialist surgeon, or seek a second opinion, before proceeding.
