Weight loss drugs may increase risks for digestive problems: study

People taking popular medications for weight loss may be at higher risk for serious digestive problems such as stomach paralysis, pancreatitis, and bowel obstructions, according to a new study published on Thursday. 

For the study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association researchers at the University of British Columbia sifted through a random sample of more than 16 million insurance claims from a prescription drug database that covers about 93 percent of all outpatient prescriptions in the United States. 

The researchers examined gastrointestinal adverse events associated with GLP-1 agonists used for weight loss in a clinical setting. They found that use of GLP-1 agonists was associated with increased risk of pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, and gastroparesis. The researchers noted that these problems are not mild. Bowel obstructions, for example, can be medical emergencies.