Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic could also help fight dementia but raise other health risks, study says [Video]

Ozempic was first approved to treat diabetes in Canada seven years ago. Now the largest study of its kind suggests it and other medications like it have a host of other potential health benefits beyond obesity, but could also bring increased risk of other conditions.

The class of medications called GLP-1 agonists mimic the actions of a natural hormone that helps curb appetite and slows digestion. The GLP-1 medications approved by Health Canada include Ozempic and Wegovy. These drugs have become popular in the past few years thanks to their weight-loss benefits by extending how long people feel full. 

A study released Monday of 200,000 people in the U.S. taking GLP-1s suggested the drugs’ potential benefits extend beyond those currently recognized, such as a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

“This is a great study, but don’t go buying the medications yet” for conditions other than diabetes and obesity, said Dr. Abraham Snaiderman, …