Ozempic-like fat jabs linked to horror side effect that causes sudden blindness, study reveals
Injections like Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic are all the rage because of their rapid slimming effects – but they are not without side effects.
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Users mostly report gut problems that tend to end after they stop taking the medicines.
But new research warns weight loss jabs might pose a permanent risk to patients' eyes.
A study of type 2 diabetes patients taking semaglutide – the ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy – found a link to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
The condition, known as NAOIN, causes sudden blindness.
Sufferers lose blood supply to the nerve behind the eye, breaking the connection between eye and brain and leaving the eye completely blind.
It typically happens quickly and painlessly to one eye and cannot be cured.
A study by the US National Institutes of Health analysed data from 3.8million type 2 diabetes patients over the age of 65.
It found semaglutide raised the risk by 15 per cent compared to other diabetes medications such as insulin or metformin.
Writing in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers said: 'Our findings demonstrate an association between semaglutide use and an increased risk of NAION.'
'Patient safety is top priority'
It adds to a previous study that suggested the medicine increased the risk as much as four to eight times above average.
Watch Ellen's weight loss journey on fat jabs
The authors of that study said: 'As with any drug, therapeutic benefits are inseparable from adverse effects.'
Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy and Ozempic, said: 'Patient safety is our top priority, and we take any reports about adverse events from the use of our medicines very seriously.
'In June 2025 we concluded that the data did not suggest a reasonable possibility of a causal relationship between semaglutide and NAION and that the benefit-risk profile of semaglutide remains favourable.
'Novo Nordisk will continue to collaborate with the MHRA to discuss any UK impact.
'We recommend that any patients experiencing side effects while taking our medicines report them to their healthcare provider.'
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.'
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
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