T he newest weight-loss drugs, Wegovy and Zepbound, are incredibly popular. But doctors are still learning about all of the ways they affect the body—both helpful and harmful—beyond reducing weight. In report published in Nature Medicine,

GLP-1 medications linked to a lower risk of dementia and addiction but higher risk of kidney, pancreatic, and gastrointestinal issues. Demand for weight-loss medications, including popular brands like Ozempic and Wegovy,

About 140,400 obese patients in Massachusetts were prescribed medications like Wegovy and Zepbound in 2024, a 255 percent increase from 2023, according to a Globe analysis of insurance claims data.

Federal officials are targeting the blockbuster drugs as part of their ongoing initiative to lower drug costs.

The skyrocketing popularity of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, one of a class of drugs called GLP-1s, is fast becoming a state budgetary concern. In deciding whether to cover the medications, policymakers must choose between the long-term benefits of reducing obesity among public employees and their families—which could cut spending on the treatment of chronic diseases—and the short-term costs.

A class of drugs designed to fight diabetes and weight loss can help with a host of other problems, but also carry some side effects.

As demand for weight-loss injections sold under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy continues to soar, a study has uncovered neurological and behavioral health benefits amid risks for pancreatitis and kidney disease.