A recent study revealed concerning information about weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy and their effects on bone health. These new findings are the latest in a string of health concerns about GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) drugs, which were designed to manage Type 2 diabetes but are increasingly being used off-label by non-diabetics for rapid weight loss. This study is an important installment in the ongoing research on the health effects of weight loss drugs, and it has the potential to heavily impact the growing litigation against companies producing these drugs, like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

Bone Health Study Findings

Published in June 2024 by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network, the study assessed hip, spine, and forearm bone mineral density (BMD) after various weight loss methods. 195 adults with obesity were randomly divided into four test groups: moderate to vigorous exercise program (just exercise), 3.0 mg daily liraglutide (just medication), a combination of exercise and medication, or a placebo. Liraglutide, the medication used in the study, is the active ingredient in the weight-management drug Saxenda. It is a GLP-1 RA in the same family as popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which contain the closely related semaglutide. 

Following a 1-year clinical trial, study participants were examined for site-specific bone mineral density (BMD) changes at the hip, lumbar spine, and distal forearm, which was assessed by x-ray absorptiometry. Results showed that a combination of exercise and weight loss drugs resulted in the most significant weight loss while preserving BMD, especially at the hip and spine. The study also revealed that liraglutide alone led to a higher reduction in BMD at similar weight loss levels, pointing to its potential to damage bone health. 

These findings are alarming for patients who use or used weight loss drugs without incorporating an exercise program, raising concern about future health consequences. Low bone density can lead to serious health complications like osteopenia and osteoporosis, which can cause fragile bones and fractures. This research highlights the importance of adding exercise to minimize bone loss for patients using weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Saxenda, and Wegovy.

Bone Health Study: The Next Chapter in Weight Loss Drug Litigation?

Thousands of patients have already filed lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, claiming weight loss drugs caused irreversible harm to their health. The weight loss drug litigation is poised to become the next big player in major mass torts. 

Aggressive marketing will be a huge focus in the ongoing litigation, as lawsuits allege drug makers touted the weight loss benefits while ignoring the health risks of the drugs. Litigants claim the pharmaceutical companies employed predatory marketing tactics, including relentlessly advertising on social media and even using celebrities and influencers to promote weight loss drugs. Many believe this instilled a false sense of security in consumers, who used the drugs without concern and later suffered from health problems.

The current slew of lawsuits filed by plaintiffs alleges serious side effects like vision loss, blood clots, and severe and sometimes fatal gastrointestinal complications, including gastroparesis, gallbladder issues, pancreatitis, and intestinal blockages. Cases like Georganne Welsh’s are heavy reminders of the increasingly recognized dangers of weight loss drugs. The 45-year-old wife tragically lost her life after a short time of using Ozempic for weight-loss purposes and developing serious gastrointestinal issues like gastroparesis (paralysis of the stomach). Welsh’s husband, Quentin Welsh, filed a lawsuit on his wife’s behalf, hoping to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their failure to properly alert patients to the risks of using weight loss medication. Sadly, Georganne Welsh is just one such story of pain, suffering, and wrongful death at the hands of heavily marketed weight loss drugs.

Bone health side effects fit right in among the other grave health concerns that have already prompted patients and their grieving loved ones to file lawsuits. The complications from bone density problems like osteopenia and osteoporosis have the potential to cause serious harm to patients, resulting in mobility problems, loss of independence, and even death. Bone loss resulting from osteoporosis is not reversible, meaning affected patients will suffer from it for the rest of their lives. This is a terrifying reality when considering the statistic that over 20% of elderly people who sustain a hip fracture will die from complications within one year.

As awareness increases about the results of the bone health study, patients who suffer bone density loss and resulting health complications after using weight loss drugs are likely to come forward and file lawsuits. Litigation against the makers of these drugs is expected to intensify as a result of this study. The study also has the potential to strengthen plaintiffs’ arguments and even impact future settlements, giving hope to those harmed by these weight loss drugs and the companies that produce them.

Research on medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Saxenda is ongoing, and it continues to uncover unknown risks of these blockbuster drugs. As more and more information about the long-term effects of weight loss drugs comes to light, we are likely to witness the scale of this litigation surge.