Weight Regain After Weight-Loss Medication Linked to Four-Fold Rise in Suicidal Thoughts

People who have taken weight-loss medication (搜索)搜索该药品 and subsequently regained weight are more than four times as likely to experience suicidal thoughts (搜索)搜索该疾病, according to a study led by Professor Son Ki-young of the Department of Family Medicine at Asan Medical Center查看公司主页 in Seoul. The findings, published in the latest issue of the Korean Journal of Family Practice (KJFP), highlight mental health concerns associated with weight-loss medications and the psychological toll of failed weight control.

The research team analyzed data from 27,741 adults—10,908 men and 16,833 women—drawn from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2013 and 2022. Participants were divided into 846 individuals who had taken medication prescribed by a doctor for weight control in the past year and 26,895 who had not. The study did not distinguish between types of medication.

Elevated Depression and Suicide-Related Indicators Among Users

Compared with non-users, people who had taken weight-loss medication (搜索)搜索该药品 were 1.9 times more likely to experience depression (搜索)搜索该疾病 and 2.7 times more likely to report suicidal thoughts (搜索)搜索该疾病. These associations held true even after adjusting for confounding variables that could influence the outcomes.

The raw prevalence figures underscored the gap. Among medication users, 22.1 percent experienced depressive feelings lasting two or more consecutive weeks, compared with 11.4 percent of non-users. Mental health counseling was sought by 8.4 percent of medication users versus 3.4 percent of non-users. Over the past year, 9.9 percent of medication users reported suicidal thoughts (搜索)搜索该疾病, compared with 4.5 percent of non-users. Suicide plans were made by 2.2 percent of users versus 1.4 percent of non-users, and suicide attempts were reported by 1.7 percent of users compared with 0.6 percent of non-users.

In summary, relative to non-users, weight-loss drug users were 1.9 times more likely to experience depression (搜索)搜索该疾病, 2.0 times more likely to seek mental health counseling, 2.7 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts (搜索)搜索该疾病, 1.9 times more likely to make suicide plans, and 1.7 times more likely to attempt suicide—indicating a higher risk of mental health issues across multiple domains.

Weight Regain Amplifies the Risk

The most striking finding emerged among those who regained weight after taking weight-loss medication (搜索)搜索该药品. Compared with non-users, individuals who gained back weight after using such drugs were 1.9 times more likely to experience depression (搜索)搜索该疾病, 1.8 times more likely to seek mental health counseling, and 4.2 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts (搜索)搜索该疾病—a substantially higher risk of mental health problems.

The research team explained that the trend of depression (搜索)搜索该疾病 and suicide-related indicators increasing in proportion to the amount of weight regained may reflect not only the neuropsychiatric effects of the medication itself, but also a combination of psychological and social factors related to failed weight control. "Failing to achieve the expected weight loss—or regaining weight after stopping the medication—can intensify dissatisfaction with one's appearance and psychological frustration, making depression-related symptoms even more pronounced," the researchers stated.

Study Limitations

The study did not prove a direct causal relationship between the use of weight-loss drugs and the onset of depression (搜索)搜索该疾病 or suicidal thoughts (搜索)搜索该疾病. The researchers noted that the observed rise in depression and suicide-related indicators tied to weight regain may stem from both the drugs' neuropsychiatric effects and psychological and social factors associated with unsuccessful weight management.