According to findings published by Weekly Chosun on August 23, 2026, patients who took prescribed weight-loss drugs and subsequently gained weight faced a more than fourfold increase in the likelihood of experiencing thoughts of suicide compared to individuals who did not use such medications.
Research Methodology and Findings on Mental Health Risks
Among the participants, 846 individuals reported taking doctor-prescribed weight-loss medications over the preceding year, while 2만6895 individuals served as non-users. The analysis evaluated the direct correlations between weight-loss drug use, subsequent weight fluctuations, and documented indicators of psychological distress.
According to the survey results, 22.1% of weight-loss medication users reported experiencing continuous feelings of depression for two weeks or longer, nearly double the 11.4% rate observed among non-users. Furthermore, 9.9% of users considered suicide within a one-year period, compared to 4.5% of non-users. Mental health consultation rates stood at 8.4% for users and 3.4% for non-users. When assessing severe psychological distress indicators, 2.2% of users formulated a suicide plan and 1.7% attempted suicide, compared to 1.4% and 0.6% respectively among individuals who did not use the treatments.
Adjusted Associations and the Impact of Weight Regain
After adjusting for confounding variables that typically influence mental health, the research team found that weight-loss medication users demonstrated a 1.9-fold higher probability of experiencing depressive symptoms and a 2.0-fold higher probability of seeking mental health counseling compared to non-users. The likelihood of suicidal ideation increased by 2.7 times, suicide planning by 1.9 times, and suicide attempts by 1.7 times among the user group.
The psychological toll intensified when patients failed to maintain their weight loss. Individuals who used prescribed weight-loss medications but still experienced an increase in body weight faced a 4.2-fold higher likelihood of experiencing suicidal thoughts relative to non-users. Within this subgroup, the probability of experiencing depressive symptoms rose by 1.9 times, and the likelihood of utilizing mental health counseling increased by 1.8 times.
According to the research team, these outcomes stem largely from psychosocial factors rather than direct neuro-psychiatric drug toxicity. Frustration over unfulfilled weight reduction expectations and the psychological burden of weight regain heavily influence psychological well-being. The team noted that as weight rebounds after treatment, mental health indicators tied to depression and suicide register sharp increases.
Contextual Limitations and Modern Prescription Trends
Medical professionals emphasize that the study establishes an observational association rather than a direct causal link. The data source does not identify the specific pharmacological classes of the weight-loss drugs consumed by individual participants.
Crucially, the dataset spans the years 2013 through 2022, which predates the widespread market introduction of contemporary glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists such as those in the GLP-1 class in South Korea. Consequently, the study’s conclusions cannot be directly applied to evaluate the safety profile of newer GLP-1 medications.
Prescription volumes for modern incretin-based therapies have expanded rapidly. Individuals in their 20s and 30s accounted for 79만4781건 of those prescriptions, representing 52.9% of the total usage volume during that timeframe.
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