‘Unusual’ new side effect of drugs like Ozempic becoming ‘increasingly common’

https://nypost.com/ ^ | Oct. 7, 2025 | McKenzie Beard

[bitt]

From sagging jowls and sulfurous burps to deflated breasts and surprise pregnancies, the side effects of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have ranged from subtle to strange.

Now, new research suggests that these wildly popular medications may also be throwing off critical medical imaging scans, interfering with doctors’ ability to detect serious — even deadly — diseases.

Experts say this could lead to delayed diagnoses and treatments for some patients, while others might undergo tests and procedures they didn’t need in the first place.

Originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 meds have become a sensation due to their powerful weight-loss effects. In the US alone, usage jumped a staggering 700% between 2019 and 2023.

These drugs mimic a natural hormone called GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. They also boost insulin production, slow digestion and make people feel full longer, helping them slim down in record time.

While these biological changes can improve health, they may interfere with PET-CT scans, a tool doctors use to detect cancer and inflammatory diseases.

The science behind the scare PET-CT scans combine two powerful imaging tools to give doctors a detailed picture of what’s happening in the body.

The PET scan uses a radioactive substance called FDG that travels through the bloodstream and is absorbed by tissues. Cancer cells and other abnormal cells — like those involved in inflammation — soak up more FDG because they have a higher metabolic rate, according to UConn Health.

The PET scanner detects the radiation emitted by the FDG, creating images that highlight where the substance has collected.

[Peter ODonnell]

Oh, uh-oh, Ozempic,

[Flaming Conservative]

It has to do with a large amount of fat loss can improve ovulation.