When it comes to treating obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic health conditions, GLP-1 activating drugs — such as Ozempic, Zepbound, and Wegovy — have been a game-changer for millions of Americans.
But as with any medication, these medications can lead to unwanted side effects. And a recent study just got an A A bunch of attention Raised a new possibility.
the researchwhich was presented at the 2026 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in March and has not yet been peer-reviewed, found a link between GLP-1 use and an increased risk of bone problems, including: Osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones) and Osteomalacia (soft bones). The study also found a link between GLP-1 use and an increased risk of cancer GoutIt is a type of arthritis that causes pain and swelling in the joints.
The study’s lead author said he became interested in whether GLP-1 might affect bones and other connective tissues after some of his patients suffered “serious tendon ruptures after relatively minor injuries,” according to the American “space” website. NBC News. After analyzing five years of medical records from nearly 147,000 adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity, the study authors concluded that GLP-1 use was associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and gout.
Of course, this news is likely to be worrying for anyone taking these medications. But should we be concerned about these findings? How can GLP-1 harm bone health in the first place? We tapped two experts to get answers, plus practical tips for protecting bone health while taking GLP-1s.
How important are these results?
First, some comforting news: So far, there is “no sound scientific evidence” to suggest that GLP-1 directly increases the risk of osteoporosis or osteomalacia. Marcy Loudenslager, MDan obesity medicine physician at the Johns Hopkins Healthy Eating, Activity, and Weight Program, tells SELF. (The same applies to gout, she adds.)
Dr. Laudenslager, who was not involved in the study, points out that it was observational in nature, meaning it looked at the association…no Causality. “While well-conducted observational studies can reveal a potential relationship between a drug and a clinical outcome, they cannot directly determine whether the drug causes that clinical outcome,” she explains.
Another limitation of the study is that it relied on medical records alone, meaning it assumed that all patients who were prescribed GLP-1, as listed in their medical records, were already taking the drug. In fact, Dr. Laudenslager says many patients who are prescribed GLP-1 are unable to take them due to cost or lack of medication. Moreover, people who He does She adds that starting medication doesn’t always stick because of insurance, cost or drug tolerance issues.
