As demand for weight-loss injections sold under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy continues to soar, a study has uncovered neurological and behavioral health benefits amid risks for pancreatitis and kidney disease.

The media queen also confessed that she was reluctant to take a GLP-1 drug because she felt it was “the easy way out.” That changed after a special on weight loss with experts and clinicians that she taped in July 2023. The panel discussion left her with her “biggest aha moment” about the medication.

Popular GLP-1 medications approved for weight loss, diabetes, and heart disease may have untapped potential to reduce the risks of substance abuse disorders, psychosis, infections, some kinds of cancer and dementia,

In all, researchers found that people taking GLP-1 medications had lower risks for 42 health outcomes, including liver failure, lung failure, cardiac arrest, aspiration pneumonia and shock.

Over 2 million people were included in new research to test these drugs against 175 different health outcomes.

GLP-1 weight loss drugs - such as Wegovy and Mounjaro - may reduce risk of conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

A study of more than 2 million Veterans Health Administration patient records found GLP-1 drugs lowered the likelihood of dozens of health conditions including Alzheimer's disease but also had some unexpected risks.

A new peer-reviewed study based on data from nearly 2M individuals highlights a wide range of clinical benefits and risks, including several newly found conditions linked to the GLP-1 class of weight loss and diabetes drugs.