Neurologists are warning that popular weight-loss medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, could have severe negative effects on patients with neurodegenerative conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). According to Jinsy Andrews, MD, a neurologist and director of NYU Langone’s ALS Center, the rapid weight loss caused by these medications can accelerate a patient’s physical decline.

Rapid Weight Loss and ALS

GLP-1 agonists, such as semaglutide, have been shown to be highly effective at managing diabetes and obesity. However, when it comes to an incurable neurodegenerative disease like ALS, losing weight and body fat can worsen the condition. In fact, standard clinical care guidelines for ALS often recommend that patients maintain or even gain weight to help preserve their remaining nerve and muscle function.

A 2025 case report published in the medical journal Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration found that a 52-year-old ALS patient who was prescribed semaglutide to treat her type 2 diabetes experienced a sudden and dramatic shift in her disease trajectory, with symptoms worsening significantly, after losing 25 pounds in three months. Once the semaglutide was discontinued, the patient’s rapid physical decline stabilized.

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