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.
