Doctors have warned of some hidden and potentially lethal side effects of using Ozempic amid the increasing popularity of the weight loss medication in Kenya.
Originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes, Ozempic has now morphed into one of the most popular weight loss medications, thanks to its effectiveness and potency in helping individuals struggling to lose weight.
Ozempic was approved by US authorities to be used as a weight loss medication, and it has since garnered praise for its benefits, including instant weight loss as well as heart and kidney protection. A number of Kenyan celebrities have, in recent times, promoted the medication while flaunting how it has helped shed excess weight without necessarily embarking on a journey.
However, there is an emerging catch as medical experts are raising concerns about the safety of these medications for a specific group of people and the public in general.
Individuals with type 1 diabetes are particularly at a high risk of developing complications if they overly use Ozempic. Unlike type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas has trouble producing insulin, the hormone essential for regulating blood sugar levels. Patients with type 1 diabetes typically require lifelong insulin therapy, either through injections or a pump.
In the past, individuals with type 1 diabetes used to be of normal or below-average weight, but this trend is changing, as a recent study in March 2025 showed a worrying rise in obesity cases.
Obese youth can be prescribed GLP-1 medications like liraglutide, semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy), or tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound), and while these medications help the pancreas produce insulin, they can have severe effects on patients, including leading to extremely low blood sugar, a condition known as hypoglycemia. It is kind to note that hypoglycaemia can lead to ketosis, which can be life-threatening.
New research has also linked GLP-1 medication to mental health risks - a condition which has flown under the radar with the rising popularity of Ozempic.
According to a recent study published in Current Neuropharmacology, the genetic pathways affected by GLP-1 receptors were analysed, and it was found that they could trigger depressive symptoms in individuals predisposed to lower dopamine activity.
Thanks to the use of sophisticated pharmacogenomic tools, researchers from the United States, Brazil, Iran, and Israel also discovered that these substances interact with genes critical to mood regulation and reward processing, such as DRD3, BDNF, and CREB1.
These pathways, if disrupted, may lead to mood disorders and suicidal thoughts, especially among individuals with reduced dopamine signalling.
Dr Kenneth Blum, senior author of the mental health study and a professor at Western University Health Sciences and Ariel University, insists these risks cannot be overlooked and there is a need to administer Ozempic with caution, especially for certain individuals.
“This study should not be ignored, despite the hype surrounding the positive clinical outcomes of GLP1 receptor agonists,” he said. “We urge the clinical prescribing community to proceed with caution to avoid another tragic wave of ‘people dying to lose weight’.”
