Suicidal thoughts increase by 4.2 times upon weight gain after medication
People who have used medication to lose weight are more prone to <a href="https://healthylife7.com/studies-have-shown-that-depression-and-suicide-related-indicators-are-relatively-high-in-those-who-h/” title=”Studies have shown that depression and suicide-related indicators are relatively high in those who h..”>depression or suicidal thoughts, which rises even more when they regain that weight, a South Korean study showed Sunday
It found that people using medication for weight loss were 2.7 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts, twice more likely to receive counseling for mental health issues and 1.9 times more likely to suffer from depression, compared to those who had never been on such medication, according to researchers at the Asan Medical Center
The use group were also 1.9 times more likely to plan suicide and 1.7 time more likely to attempt it, compared to the nonuse group
The study was based on an analysis of 27,741 Koreans across the country who participated in state-run health surveys from 2013 to 2022. The subjects were separated into 26,895 who never used medications to lose weight and 846 who were on any type of weight-loss medication in the year prior to the survey
It found that regaining weight after being on medication was correlated with substantially increased suicidal thoughts, with 4.2 times more than the nonuse group. Likelihood of depression stayed the same as those who did not regain the weight
“The increase in suicide-related index, among those who regained weight after weight-loss medication, is not just related to the neurological and psychiatric effects of the medicine itself. It is likely to be connected in a complex way to the psychological and social elements related to failing to control one’s weight,” explained the research team, which was led by Son Ki-young, a professor of family medicine at the Asan Medical Center
The research team said failing to reach a target weight after taking weight-loss medication or regaining that weight could intensify one’s frustration and dissatisfaction, aggravating psychological symptoms
The study was published in the Korean Journal of Family Practice
If you’re thinking about self-harm or suicide, dial the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 109, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please request a translator for English-language services
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
