Occupied Jerusalem: Many parents and doctors seem concerned that weight-loss drugs like Vigovi may increase psychological risks in children and adolescents, including suicidal tendencies.
But a new study of more than 54,000 American teenagers found no such connection.
In fact, children with autism who used the drug had a 33 percent lower risk of suicide than youth who did not use the drug, the researchers reported.
A team led by Dr. Lia Karim of Jerusalem’s Hadassah University Medical Center said that there may be several reasons why drugs like Vigovi can improve mental outlook.
One is very clear: “Obesity during adolescence itself is associated with a reduced quality of life and an increased risk of psychiatric disorders”.
“So as drugs like Vigovi help young people lose weight, their risk of suicidal thoughts may also decrease,” the researchers said.
The above findings have been published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
