Postpartum Weight-Loss Drugs: A Growing Trend with Unknown Effects

A recent study has uncovered a surprising trend: more new mothers in Denmark are using weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy after giving birth. This is quite unusual, considering the natural weight loss and hormonal changes that typically occur postpartum. The numbers are striking. In 2018, fewer than five out of every 10, 000 new moms were prescribed these drugs in the first six months after childbirth. But by mid-2022, that number had shot up to 34 per 10, 000. And by mid-2024, it had skyrocketed to 173 per 10, 000, which is nearly 2% of all postpartum mothers. Most of these women were over 30 and had more than one child. Many were overweight but did not have diabetes or a history of using these drugs, known as GLP-1s. This trend has caught the attention of researchers, who find it unexpected given the natural weight loss and hormonal shifts that happen after childbirth. The study looked at over 382, 000 pregnancies in Denmark from 2018 to mid-2024. By linking birth records with prescription data, researchers could track every live birth and every postpartum prescription of GLP-1 medications. While semaglutide, the active ingredient in these drugs, is known to help with weight loss, its effects on new mothers are not well understood. This is especially true during the postpartum period, when hormonal changes are significant. There is also limited evidence on the safety of these drugs for breastfeeding infants. Semaglutide has not been detected in breast milk, and no adverse effects have been observed in breastfed babies of mothers taking it. However, very few studies have been done, and the long-term effects on a baby’s metabolism, pancreas, and growth are still unknown. This trend raises important questions about the use of weight-loss drugs postpartum and the need for more research to understand their effects on both mothers and their babies.