Who should avoid taking weight loss medicine?

Written by: Nancy Dixit Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra

[{"selector":"#anim-239ad306-b20e-4268-88a7-88f3a597defb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68562237-7fe9-4200-b291-47f6816af779","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.09298%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Not everyone can safely use weight loss medicne (semaglutide) or for managing diabetes. If you fall into certain categories, it’s important to avoid this medication. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Expert Advice

[{"selector":"#anim-cfcb2e90-662b-4c4d-81e3-1091b4d41d5a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07eae318-6e5c-4c3f-83d7-b0f5cde22fba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 138.24642%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74a69ea4-672b-4209-8a28-5bf5213df6e8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1318be46-da2a-4007-99bc-b5b7cfc1ee95","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 646.54605%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] In some cases, experts worry that the side effects of prescription weight-loss medications might outweigh their benefits. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

How Does Semaglutide Work?

[{"selector":"#anim-dbce5a04-8573-4d4e-816e-66df70404b42","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f317b7c6-cb23-46bc-a96d-ae73c654d4dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 130.53932%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-489b581d-8843-4d33-9250-b933480ee24a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-334cbe1a-0946-4a53-bf4b-848fcf8c5648","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 435.62078%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Prescription weight-loss medications work in different ways. Some curb your hunger or help you feel full faster, while others reduce fat absorption from food. Video Credit: Pexels

Who Should Avoid This Medication?

[{"selector":"#anim-76715b9e-d26e-49bf-8904-7c0b447e9b4d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b96fdf8d-2eb1-4b1e-86e6-a03fa57834bb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.33224%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7c96b37-b6c0-460a-b543-326647ed3eae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0f1af3e7-7031-43c3-a35d-c0f49ac25aef","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 342.97371%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Let’s see who might need to stay away from semaglutide (or weight-loss medicine). Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Pancreatic Issues

[{"selector":"#anim-1c1f8903-4edd-4fbe-8112-7148767c4f97","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3d271e4c-a1fe-43b1-8e1f-b953fa322708","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.61535%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a761c6a3-d6ab-4a30-874c-061857046f10","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff7b8e1b-f300-4da5-a686-be3fd9c1a80d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 723.49212%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] If you have a history of pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation) or other pancreatic-related conditions, semaglutide may worsen these problems. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Kidney Disease

[{"selector":"#anim-d50016ab-7094-438a-a423-c26a5c934e5b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0f01836-ba5c-4575-a70a-4375abd386b0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 134.16476%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2744399a-2a79-4a8f-a331-b4338b5c7cb3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba5eee8d-df39-4e35-9882-4b4ae3e9eea6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 612.06354%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] People with kidney disease or impaired kidney function should avoid semaglutide, as it can affect kidney health. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Eye Conditions

[{"selector":"#anim-1299082e-6ab0-402d-ad72-980373770567","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11a0eb45-4513-4110-b4d8-0f1cc80678c3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.46329%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c6a2202-6732-4a97-8e34-29d86ebf575e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83e1ab78-7839-4761-afb9-9305a41dcfb4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 614.92064%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] If you have diabetes-related retinopathy, semaglutide might increase your risk of worsening this condition. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Not For Expecting or Nursing Moms

[{"selector":"#anim-22cae3c8-eb8d-4e26-afa1-54844c6ffac8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02a225b9-12ac-4d34-a386-2e03da7fba41","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.46329%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ee69cfa-6917-4bc3-961b-6cc9d6b057cd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7ea0970-3e0f-4c65-bc43-db93fa714588","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 357.67965%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Pregnant or nursing mothers should avoid weight-loss medication, as they may harm the baby. Video Credit: Pexels

Thyroid or Hormone Problems

[{"selector":"#anim-9298c886-15dd-444e-88cf-c0efcf8f281a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-677abcd7-bb6f-4dee-a577-eec6119548f5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 135.82767%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c786b0b-2e1b-4e52-81f2-cba63bc4d262","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7737f8a4-b57e-44b1-a3ed-51e3267d43a0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 390.03257%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Avoid semaglutide if you or your family has a history of thyroid cancer or any hormone-related conditions. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Not Recommended For

[{"selector":"#anim-4c1562d2-183d-4419-baaa-4b2ab98e98f4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0efba2a-9c4c-4eac-be0e-512d3b6f69f3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 136.97209%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84bc8405-62ff-4bbf-ada2-a93d1490eca7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7391bd44-3c0f-4f94-a63c-e718cadb4912","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 344.44436%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] People with type 1 diabetes. and children under 18 years of age. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

If you found this helpful,

[{"selector":"#anim-2a2c32dd-cade-4f12-b383-6fe9eaf76164","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b1e117c-692f-4f66-a48c-64305ab550b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 179.61058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90f6cc14-4123-412a-a91d-94d2b7839500","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2490831-b4da-4226-bf34-7fa0837a3555","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, -2448.9724%, 0) rotate(270deg)","rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(270deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tap on that love ❤️ button. Stay tuned for what’s coming next! Photo Credit: Shutterstock Arrow