Use of GLP-1 medications for weight loss has ballooned in recent years; a Kaiser Family Foundation poll found about one in eight adults reported trying a GLP-1 drug. A new Rutgers Health study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research looked at why people continue using semaglutide (Ozempic) even when they experience unpleasant side effects.
The researchers used an “infoveillance” approach, analyzing 60 publicly available anonymous online reviews of Ozempic to identify patterns in patient experience. The strongest predictors of treatment satisfaction and the intention to keep taking the drug were measurable weight loss and perceived reductions in appetite and food cravings. Approximately 67% of reviewers described one or more of those benefits, mirroring results seen in clinical trials.
Gastrointestinal symptoms were common. About 62% of reviewers reported nausea or vomiting, and many mentioned constipation. Despite that frequency, these symptoms often did not prompt discontinuation. The study and clinicians consulted for context reported that many patients are willing to tolerate nausea or constipation if the medication produces meaningful weight loss. By contrast, diarrhea and abdominal pain were more likely to lead people to stop treatment. Reviewers who experienced little or no weight loss or who had bothersome non-GI side effects were also more likely to discontinue therapy.
The study also noted a higher tolerance for side effects among people paying out of pocket. Those patients may be highly motivated to continue and sometimes ask for additional medications or strategies to manage side effects rather than stopping the GLP-1 therapy.
Authors and outside experts called for more research. Important unanswered questions include whether perceptions of benefit and tolerability differ by sex, how attitudes change if weight loss plateaus or reverses, possible mental health effects of semaglutide-class drugs, and how demographic and treatment details influence decisions—information that anonymous online reviews cannot fully capture.
Serious but rarer complications, such as inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas, remain recognized risks. Overall, the Rutgers analysis highlights that many patients prioritize the benefits of weight loss and appetite suppression enough to accept common, often tolerable side effects when deciding whether to continue GLP-1 therapy.
