Are obesity drugs causing a severe complication? What the science says

"Last month, the United Kingdom issued a warning about the possible link between drugs that mimic a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and acute pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. Since 2007, the country has recorded 19 deaths from pancreatitis in people taking GLP-1 drugs. Brazil, which has registered six deaths in the past five years, issued its own warning ten days later."

"But it's not clear whether the drugs actually cause the disease, says Jaime Almandoz, an endocrinologist and obesity specialist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. As the use of GLP-1 drugs increases, reports of side effects are likely to become more common, he says. Vigilant monitoring and rigorous studies are needed "to help refine our understanding of these rare adverse events"."

Potent GLP-1 drugs are widely used to treat obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other conditions. Regulators in the United Kingdom and Brazil issued warnings after increases in reported acute pancreatitis cases, including deaths. The UK recorded 19 pancreatitis deaths linked to GLP-1 drugs between 2007 and October 2025 and nearly 1,300 associated reports; Brazil reported six deaths and 145 cases from 2020 to December 2025. The pancreatitis risk appears on patient information leaflets, but causal links remain uncertain. Experts call for vigilant monitoring and rigorous studies to clarify these rare adverse events as GLP-1 use expands.

Read at Nature