Hundreds of people in the United Kingdom have suffered pancreatic problems related to the use of weight-loss injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro. These cases have forced health authorities to launch an investigation into the side effects of GLP-1 drugs (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists).
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the increase in cases of pancreatitis associated with the use of these drugs was detected through the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) Yellow Card program.
The truth is that pancreatitis is one of the rare reactions listed in the package inserts for these drugs. In theory, British health authorities have detected nearly 400 cases in patients who used Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic, and liraglutide.
Of these, almost half (181) were related to tirzepatide (Mounjaro), the British newspaper notes. More than a quarter of these cases were reported in 2025. “Along with the increase in usage, we are seeing an upswing in the number of Yellow Card reports mentioning GLP-1 drugs and acute pancreatitis,” an MHRA spokesperson is quoted as saying by The Guardian. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has said it will launch a study to investigate the causes of these adverse effects. “We want to investigate this thoroughly.” Dr. Alison Cave, director of safety at the MHRA, said: “Evidence shows that nearly a third of drug side effects could be prevented by the introduction of genetic testing. Adverse drug reactions are projected to cost the NHS more than £2.2 billion a year in hospitalizations alone.”
Indeed. The effects of Ozempic are devastating. There are also plenty of effects associated with the rebound weight gain, including reduced metabolic and cardiovascular health (physical) and anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia (psychological). I spoke about all of this in my latest essay.
DAVID, what a terrible drama described in your excellent essay.You say:
“Trish lost approximately 16 kg over five months. She was unhappy with the progress, so she switched to Saxenda, another weight loss drug. Shortly after the switch, she was hit with severe gastrointestinal problems: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. On January 16, 2023, she collapsed and died”
“This hasn’t stopped Big Pharma profits from skyrocketing. From 2019 to 2022, Ozempic prescriptions jumped from 230,000 to 2.2 million — an increase of 857%. In 2022 alone, sales grew by 77%, followed by an increase of 53% in the first nine months of 2023. And in Q1 2024, weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy (which are two brands of the same chemical) drove a 22% rise in sales and a 106% jump in obesity-care revenue.”
As I answered JUST STEVE, fad diets have serious drawbacks, but drugs like Ozempic have much more serious drawbacks in their application and in the return to a normal diet.
The prevalence of fad diets reflects the societal obsession with instant gratification. The science and psychology behind these popular but ultimately unsuccessful dietary trends.
These diets are inherently flawed, and why do they often result in nothing more than temporary success followed by an inevitable relapse? There are metabolic, psychological, and nutritional reasons for their ineffectiveness.
And the worst part is the Western Diet: The Western diet can also influence gene expression and epigenetics. Gene expression refers to the process by which genetic information is translated into functional molecules such as proteins or RNA. Epigenetics refers to the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence, but rather modifications in DNA methylation, histone modification, or microRNA regulation. The Western diet can affect gene expression and epigenetics by altering nutrient availability, cofactor supply, hormone levels, environmental cues, cell signaling pathways, transcription factors, chromatin structure, DNA methylation, histone modification, microRNA regulation, feedback loops, genetic variants, gene-environment interactions, intergenerational effects, and transgenerational effects.
In July, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced it was investigating the risk of self-harm and suicidal thoughts with the use of Ozempic and similar medications. As of July 11, the FDA was evaluating more than 150 reports.
The FDA has not taken that action. For now, the agency is monitoring the situation. "We continue to conclude that the benefits of these medications outweigh their risks when used according to the FDA-approved label," spokesperson Chanapa Tantibanchachai said in an email to NPR. She noted that the weight-loss drug Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic, semaglutide, includes a warning about suicidal thoughts on its label.
NPR analyzed the FDA's adverse event reporting system, or FAERS, and found that the agency received 489 reports of patients experiencing anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts while taking semaglutide medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.
In 96 of those reports, the patient had suicidal thoughts. Five of them died. It is unknown whether Ozempic and the other medications caused the mental health problems. The FDA database can identify questions, but is not designed to answer them.
Explains how for some time now the long list of celebrities whose appearance looks like they are in competition in an audition for The Living Dead. One more thing in a long list of focus on a number on the scale, never you mind if the result of lower numbers are from not just unwanted fat, but critical muscle and bone mass needed for true health. More lose a bunch of numbers, than gain even more back in the form of the fat you were led to believe was all you would be losing. Just look at that, don't look at the list of critical health foundations lost. What is most important? Saving the yo-yo, you lose, you gain back to lose again, and again Industry, and the millions, billions it generates, or finding the sources of real, long term, balanced health?
Big truths and big questions. And then there are fad diets.
The Board of Directors of the National Nutrition Council (NCC) of the Republic of the Philippines explained that fad diets for weight loss are not recommended because they can pose health risks and dangers. However, as is evident in today's generation, the ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, the Atkins diet, the blood type diet, and many other fad diets are practiced worldwide. These diets are often characterized by nutritional imbalances, difficulty adhering to them, and lack of sustainability, which can lead to organic stress, a lack of emphasis on physical activity, and potential psychological consequences. Research also suggests that women, particularly adolescent girls, are more likely to adopt these fad diets. On the contrary, modifying lifestyle, eating habits, and physical activity levels are the cornerstones of preventing and treating overweight and obesity.
Vegan and vegetarian diets, unlike those that include meat and other animal products, are more environmentally friendly. It has been noted that there are health and environmental benefits to replacing animal products with plant-based products. According to the World Animal Foundation, approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide identify as vegetarians, representing 22% of the global population. Presented in the Bali and Naik study, this diet reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type II diabetes, and reduces liver disease. However, the diet had several impacts, including negative mental effects, decreased immune system function, and nutritional deficiencies.
Fad diets are short-term eating plans that often promise rapid weight loss or other health benefits. They often gain popularity quickly, driven by marketing, celebrity endorsements, or anecdotal success stories.
The prevalence of fad diets reflects a societal obsession with instant gratification. The science and psychology behind these popular but ultimately unsuccessful dietary trends.
These diets are inherently flawed and why they often result in nothing more than temporary success followed by inevitable relapse.
There are metabolic, psychological, and nutritional reasons for their ineffectiveness. In addition, we will explore the importance of adopting sustainable lifestyle changes and evidence-based approaches to achieve lasting health and fitness goals.
Fad diets are often based on extreme restrictions, unbalanced nutrition, or unconventional food combinations, making them unsustainable in the long term.
Many fad diets manipulate macronutrient ratios. For example, some may be extremely low in carbohydrates, while others may severely limit fat or protein intake. These imbalances can lead to nutritional deficiencies and negatively impact overall health. The extreme nature of fad diets can lead to deficiencies in vital nutrients such as vitamins (e.g., B vitamins, vitamin D), minerals (e.g., calcium, iron), and essential fatty acids. Over time, these deficiencies can have detrimental effects on health. Some fad diets, such as those promoting diuretic foods or severe calorie restriction, can lead to dehydration. This can negatively impact overall health and performance.
Table 6 in the third link suggests minor modifications that could be implemented to improve the dietary quality of fad dietary patterns tailored to each individual's needs, as a strategy to enhance adherence to healthy dietary patterns. It should be noted that these recommendations may not be applicable to every fad dietary pattern if strict adherence to the parameter is the priority. For this summary, we grouped fad dietary patterns as follows: least restrictive (DGA-compliant diet, plant-based/vegan diet, and fasting diet), moderately restrictive (Military diet, Paleo diet, and low-FODMAP diet), and most restrictive (Ketogenic diet, carnivore diet, and liquid diet).
And the worst part is the Western diet: The Western diet can also influence gene expression and epigenetics. Gene expression refers to the process by which genetic information is translated into functional molecules such as proteins or RNA. Epigenetics refers to the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence, but rather modifications in DNA methylation, histone modification, or microRNA regulation. The Western diet can affect gene expression and epigenetics by altering nutrient availability, cofactor supply, hormone levels, environmental cues, cell signaling pathways, transcription factors, chromatin structure, DNA methylation, histone modification, microRNA regulation, feedback loops, genetic variants, gene-environment interactions, intergenerational effects, and transgenerational effects (Figure 1, last link).
The Western diet modifies the co-expression of 445 gene pairs in mice, including small RNAs and transcription factors associated with metabolism and adiposity in humans, and dramatically alters behavior. For example, individuals fed a Western diet showed increased anxiety and decreased social integration . Similarly, the Western diet limits microbial production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in humans, preventing many microbiota-dependent events, such as histone deacetylation and DNA methylation, and causes alterations in hepatic gene expression . The Western diet evokes structural and behavioral changes in the resident microbiome, altering the representation of metabolic pathways in the microbiome and altering microbiome gene expression , in addition to inducing epigenetic changes in monocytes that affect their inflammatory response and cytokine production, altering the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in liver tissue [ 36 ], and modulating the expression of genes related to circadian rhythm and melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland . Similarly, it can also increase gene expression alterations related to a fatty liver (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).
No. It just means you are bored and want to spend more time eating. Sitting all day also helps fuel that hunger.
Hundreds of people in the United Kingdom have suffered pancreatic problems related to the use of weight-loss injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro. These cases have forced health authorities to launch an investigation into the side effects of GLP-1 drugs (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists).
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the increase in cases of pancreatitis associated with the use of these drugs was detected through the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) Yellow Card program.
The truth is that pancreatitis is one of the rare reactions listed in the package inserts for these drugs. In theory, British health authorities have detected nearly 400 cases in patients who used Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic, and liraglutide.
Of these, almost half (181) were related to tirzepatide (Mounjaro), the British newspaper notes. More than a quarter of these cases were reported in 2025. “Along with the increase in usage, we are seeing an upswing in the number of Yellow Card reports mentioning GLP-1 drugs and acute pancreatitis,” an MHRA spokesperson is quoted as saying by The Guardian. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has said it will launch a study to investigate the causes of these adverse effects. “We want to investigate this thoroughly.” Dr. Alison Cave, director of safety at the MHRA, said: “Evidence shows that nearly a third of drug side effects could be prevented by the introduction of genetic testing. Adverse drug reactions are projected to cost the NHS more than £2.2 billion a year in hospitalizations alone.”
Indeed. The effects of Ozempic are devastating. There are also plenty of effects associated with the rebound weight gain, including reduced metabolic and cardiovascular health (physical) and anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia (psychological). I spoke about all of this in my latest essay.
DAVID, what a terrible drama described in your excellent essay.You say:
“Trish lost approximately 16 kg over five months. She was unhappy with the progress, so she switched to Saxenda, another weight loss drug. Shortly after the switch, she was hit with severe gastrointestinal problems: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. On January 16, 2023, she collapsed and died”
“This hasn’t stopped Big Pharma profits from skyrocketing. From 2019 to 2022, Ozempic prescriptions jumped from 230,000 to 2.2 million — an increase of 857%. In 2022 alone, sales grew by 77%, followed by an increase of 53% in the first nine months of 2023. And in Q1 2024, weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy (which are two brands of the same chemical) drove a 22% rise in sales and a 106% jump in obesity-care revenue.”
https://substack.com/@davidmaren/p-167587860---------------------------------------------------------------------
As I answered JUST STEVE, fad diets have serious drawbacks, but drugs like Ozempic have much more serious drawbacks in their application and in the return to a normal diet.
The prevalence of fad diets reflects the societal obsession with instant gratification. The science and psychology behind these popular but ultimately unsuccessful dietary trends.
These diets are inherently flawed, and why do they often result in nothing more than temporary success followed by an inevitable relapse? There are metabolic, psychological, and nutritional reasons for their ineffectiveness.
And the worst part is the Western Diet: The Western diet can also influence gene expression and epigenetics. Gene expression refers to the process by which genetic information is translated into functional molecules such as proteins or RNA. Epigenetics refers to the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence, but rather modifications in DNA methylation, histone modification, or microRNA regulation. The Western diet can affect gene expression and epigenetics by altering nutrient availability, cofactor supply, hormone levels, environmental cues, cell signaling pathways, transcription factors, chromatin structure, DNA methylation, histone modification, microRNA regulation, feedback loops, genetic variants, gene-environment interactions, intergenerational effects, and transgenerational effects.
In July, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced it was investigating the risk of self-harm and suicidal thoughts with the use of Ozempic and similar medications. As of July 11, the FDA was evaluating more than 150 reports.
The FDA has not taken that action. For now, the agency is monitoring the situation. "We continue to conclude that the benefits of these medications outweigh their risks when used according to the FDA-approved label," spokesperson Chanapa Tantibanchachai said in an email to NPR. She noted that the weight-loss drug Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic, semaglutide, includes a warning about suicidal thoughts on its label.
NPR analyzed the FDA's adverse event reporting system, or FAERS, and found that the agency received 489 reports of patients experiencing anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts while taking semaglutide medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.
In 96 of those reports, the patient had suicidal thoughts. Five of them died. It is unknown whether Ozempic and the other medications caused the mental health problems. The FDA database can identify questions, but is not designed to answer them.
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/21/1200201186/as-ozempic-use-grows-so-do-reports-of-possible-mental-health-side-effects
Explains how for some time now the long list of celebrities whose appearance looks like they are in competition in an audition for The Living Dead. One more thing in a long list of focus on a number on the scale, never you mind if the result of lower numbers are from not just unwanted fat, but critical muscle and bone mass needed for true health. More lose a bunch of numbers, than gain even more back in the form of the fat you were led to believe was all you would be losing. Just look at that, don't look at the list of critical health foundations lost. What is most important? Saving the yo-yo, you lose, you gain back to lose again, and again Industry, and the millions, billions it generates, or finding the sources of real, long term, balanced health?
Big truths and big questions. And then there are fad diets.
The Board of Directors of the National Nutrition Council (NCC) of the Republic of the Philippines explained that fad diets for weight loss are not recommended because they can pose health risks and dangers. However, as is evident in today's generation, the ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, the Atkins diet, the blood type diet, and many other fad diets are practiced worldwide. These diets are often characterized by nutritional imbalances, difficulty adhering to them, and lack of sustainability, which can lead to organic stress, a lack of emphasis on physical activity, and potential psychological consequences. Research also suggests that women, particularly adolescent girls, are more likely to adopt these fad diets. On the contrary, modifying lifestyle, eating habits, and physical activity levels are the cornerstones of preventing and treating overweight and obesity.
Vegan and vegetarian diets, unlike those that include meat and other animal products, are more environmentally friendly. It has been noted that there are health and environmental benefits to replacing animal products with plant-based products. According to the World Animal Foundation, approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide identify as vegetarians, representing 22% of the global population. Presented in the Bali and Naik study, this diet reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type II diabetes, and reduces liver disease. However, the diet had several impacts, including negative mental effects, decreased immune system function, and nutritional deficiencies.
Fad diets are short-term eating plans that often promise rapid weight loss or other health benefits. They often gain popularity quickly, driven by marketing, celebrity endorsements, or anecdotal success stories.
The prevalence of fad diets reflects a societal obsession with instant gratification. The science and psychology behind these popular but ultimately unsuccessful dietary trends.
These diets are inherently flawed and why they often result in nothing more than temporary success followed by inevitable relapse.
There are metabolic, psychological, and nutritional reasons for their ineffectiveness. In addition, we will explore the importance of adopting sustainable lifestyle changes and evidence-based approaches to achieve lasting health and fitness goals.
Fad diets are often based on extreme restrictions, unbalanced nutrition, or unconventional food combinations, making them unsustainable in the long term.
Many fad diets manipulate macronutrient ratios. For example, some may be extremely low in carbohydrates, while others may severely limit fat or protein intake. These imbalances can lead to nutritional deficiencies and negatively impact overall health. The extreme nature of fad diets can lead to deficiencies in vital nutrients such as vitamins (e.g., B vitamins, vitamin D), minerals (e.g., calcium, iron), and essential fatty acids. Over time, these deficiencies can have detrimental effects on health. Some fad diets, such as those promoting diuretic foods or severe calorie restriction, can lead to dehydration. This can negatively impact overall health and performance.
Table 6 in the third link suggests minor modifications that could be implemented to improve the dietary quality of fad dietary patterns tailored to each individual's needs, as a strategy to enhance adherence to healthy dietary patterns. It should be noted that these recommendations may not be applicable to every fad dietary pattern if strict adherence to the parameter is the priority. For this summary, we grouped fad dietary patterns as follows: least restrictive (DGA-compliant diet, plant-based/vegan diet, and fasting diet), moderately restrictive (Military diet, Paleo diet, and low-FODMAP diet), and most restrictive (Ketogenic diet, carnivore diet, and liquid diet).
And the worst part is the Western diet: The Western diet can also influence gene expression and epigenetics. Gene expression refers to the process by which genetic information is translated into functional molecules such as proteins or RNA. Epigenetics refers to the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence, but rather modifications in DNA methylation, histone modification, or microRNA regulation. The Western diet can affect gene expression and epigenetics by altering nutrient availability, cofactor supply, hormone levels, environmental cues, cell signaling pathways, transcription factors, chromatin structure, DNA methylation, histone modification, microRNA regulation, feedback loops, genetic variants, gene-environment interactions, intergenerational effects, and transgenerational effects (Figure 1, last link).
The Western diet modifies the co-expression of 445 gene pairs in mice, including small RNAs and transcription factors associated with metabolism and adiposity in humans, and dramatically alters behavior. For example, individuals fed a Western diet showed increased anxiety and decreased social integration . Similarly, the Western diet limits microbial production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in humans, preventing many microbiota-dependent events, such as histone deacetylation and DNA methylation, and causes alterations in hepatic gene expression . The Western diet evokes structural and behavioral changes in the resident microbiome, altering the representation of metabolic pathways in the microbiome and altering microbiome gene expression , in addition to inducing epigenetic changes in monocytes that affect their inflammatory response and cytokine production, altering the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in liver tissue [ 36 ], and modulating the expression of genes related to circadian rhythm and melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland . Similarly, it can also increase gene expression alterations related to a fatty liver (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).
https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/12/1858 (2024)
https://www.benthamdirect.com/content/journals/cnf/10.2174/1573401316999200407092922 (2020).---
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/21/4526 (2024).--
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/6/1067 (2025).--
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/12/2749 (2023)