GLP-1 medications for weight loss have surged in use, with a Kaiser Family Foundation poll finding about 1 in 8 adults reporting they’d tried a GLP-1 drug. A new Rutgers Health study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, examined why many people keep taking Ozempic despite unpleasant side effects.
Using an “infoveillance” method—analyzing publicly available online health reviews—the researchers evaluated 60 anonymous patient reviews of Ozempic. They found that the strongest predictors of treatment satisfaction and the intent to continue were measurable weight loss and perceived reductions in appetite and food cravings. Roughly 67% of users in the sample reported weight loss, appetite reduction, or fewer cravings, findings that align with clinical trial results.
Gastrointestinal side effects were common: about 62% of reviewers reported nausea or vomiting. Despite this, these symptoms often did not lead to stopping treatment. The study and consulted clinicians noted patients are often willing to tolerate nausea, vomiting, and constipation if the medication produces meaningful weight loss. By contrast, diarrhea and abdominal pain were more likely reasons to discontinue therapy. People who experienced little or no weight loss or who had non-gastrointestinal side effects were also more likely to quit.
Researchers and clinicians emphasized that for many patients the trade-off is straightforward: effective weight loss can outweigh considerable discomfort. This high tolerance for side effects is particularly apparent among those paying out of pocket, who may be highly motivated and sometimes request additional medications to manage side effects rather than stopping the primary treatment.
The study’s authors and outside experts say more research is needed. Future work should examine whether treatment perceptions differ by sex, how attitudes evolve as weight loss plateaus or reverses, potential mental health effects of semaglutide and related drugs, and the influence of demographic and treatment details that were not available in anonymous online reviews.
Less common but more serious complications—such as inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas—are recognized risks, though they are relatively rare. Overall, the Rutgers study highlights that many people prioritize the benefits of weight loss and appetite reduction over common, often tolerable side effects when deciding whether to continue GLP-1 therapy.
