Wait, Can Ozempic Change Your Personality?
You already know that Ozempic babies are a thing. Now, experts are sharing that Ozempic and other weight loss drugs could change your personality and your sex drive. What gives?
That comes down to how weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro work to begin with, weight loss doctors told Parade.
Related: Ozempic Before and After Pictures
Why Might Ozempic and Weight Loss Medications Be Correlated With Personality Changes?
"Ozempic and similar GLP-1 medications work on two main areas: the gut and the brain. They reduce cravings and hunger by affecting the brain's pleasure and fullness signals, similar to how substances like alcohol work," Dr. Michelle Pearlman, MD, board-certified gastroenterologist and obesity medicine specialist, explains. "This concept isn't new. Older weight loss drugs also target the brain to change eating behaviors. What's unique about these newer medications is that they can also influence how much pleasure people feel from eating, which might lead to a change in habits and even personality over time. This is why these drugs are getting a lot of attention, both positive and negative, and are important tools in managing weight and improving health."
That said, experts are careful not to conflate correlation with causation, especially when more data needs to be collected.
"The relationship between anti-obesity medications and personalities has not been studied," Dr. Beverly Tchang, MD, a New York City board-certified internist, obesity specialist and endocrinologist, and Ro advisor, points out. "We do have a large body of research showing how anti-obesity medications and subsequent weight loss improve quality of life in physical, psychological and social metrics."
Doctors agree that it's those improvements in patients' physical, psychological and social metrics—especially in their confidence—that may lead to patients feeling better.
"I don't think it has a direct correlation with anything negative like depression. I think it has more of a positive effect on personality," Dr. Sue Decotiis, MD, a New York City weight loss doctor, concurs. "When people lose weight they have better self-esteem, and they feel more confident in their own skin."
Dr. Decotiis adds that, anecdotally, she's seen mood improvements in some patients.
Related: What It's Like to Take Ozempic, Week by Week
"I have people who were using sedatives for anxiety or depression and then when they took these drugs they felt better and didn't need them as much. My patient who had ADHD felt they had better focus and concentration," she says. "I have never had anyone who's gone into depression or has felt worse after taking these drugs."
According to Dr. Tchang, diet, exercise and lifestyle shifts can simply make patients feel better, regardless of whether they're also on medications for weight loss, though if you're not eating well, you may see negative mood effects.
"Additionally, focusing on mindfulness, stress management and sleep optimization is crucial. As individuals adjust to consuming less sugar or caffeine, for example, they may notice shifts in their behavior and mood, generally for the better," she points out. "However, side effects like fatigue and mood changes can occur if the diet lacks essential nutrients or protein, especially when appetite is significantly reduced by medications."
One thing to be careful of in terms of weight loss drugs and mood and personality changes, Dr. Decotiis warns, comes for patients with histories of eating disorders—especially binge eating disorders.
"For people who used food as a crutch and would go to food for comfort, they may miss food a lot because they used to get that dopamine hit from using food to make them feel better," she explained. "These individuals would need a counselor while using these drugs and they must be supervised very carefully. They may miss their best friend, which is food. This doesn't mean the drug causes the problem, [just that] it's a secondary effect to a pre-existing issue."
Related: Stars Who've Used Ozempic
How Can Ozempic and Weight Loss Medications Impact Libido?
According to Dr. Decotiis, a lot of this depends on the patient.
"In the beginning, realize there's a tremendous metabolic change going on in the body that can cause fatigue and when someone is tired, their libido goes down. I always advise my patients to do low-intensity work-outs and to take it easy so your body can adjust," she says. "In the long term, it may have a positive effect on libido. You feel better without clothes on and you're more confident. Over-weight people statistically have lower libido so when you lose weight this can increase libido, but I don't think these drugs directly affect libido."
That said, men may see more impacts on sex drive than women, and that comes down to hormones: Hormonal shifts during weight loss can cause testosterone to fluctuate, which can impact libido. Even then, outside factors and lifestyle choices can exacerbate or relieve that potential side effect as well.
"This hormone is crucial for male sexual function, and a decrease could lead to reduced libido and other issues like erectile dysfunction," Dr. Pearlman notes. "It's important for anyone experiencing significant changes in sexual function to consult a healthcare provider and to ensure that other lifestyle factors that could impact testosterone and libido are optimized. These include managing chronic medical conditions, stress, sleep, diet (emphasizing whole, plant-based foods), regular exercise and limiting alcohol consumption. These factors, if not managed well, can compound the effects of weight loss medications like GLP-1 on libido."
Related: What Really Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic
How Can You Mitigate Weight Loss Medication's Impact on Sex Drive?
If you're worried about hitting a dry spell just as you begin to feel more confident in your own skin, don't worry—you've got options, so long as you're honest with your care team.
"To mitigate the effects of weight loss drugs on libido, individuals must seek advice from healthcare professionals. For men, especially those with obesity or chronic medical conditions who often have low baseline testosterone levels, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) might be recommended," Dr. Pearlman says. "Assessing testosterone levels before starting weight loss treatment and considering supplementation can effectively address potential side effects like muscle loss and changes in libido."
Ladies, you can have relief too. "For women, options such as estrogen therapy or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be considered under medical supervision to correct hormonal imbalances affecting libido," Dr. Pearlman adds. "Additionally, addressing stress or relationship issues, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits like regular exercise and adequate sleep, and keeping open communication with healthcare providers are essential for effectively managing any changes in sex drive."
Next, This Is the Best Exercise for People on Ozempic, According to Obesity Docs
