Weight-loss drugs have been soaring in popularity over the past few years. People have even been using a drug like Ozempic, although it's only approved for diabetes, simply because it helps them lose weight. In just the last three months of 2022, there were over 9 million prescriptions issued in the U.S. for weight-loss drugs. In less than three years, the number of prescriptions has soared by 300%.

People have been rushing out to use weight-loss drugs -- and shares of Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), the company which makes Ozempic, have also jumped over 150% in three years. But there could be one big risk with Ozempic and other, similar drugs, and that's the side effects.

In Canada, at the University of British Columbia, researchers concluded in an epidemiological study that Ozempic -- along with other GLP-1 receptor agonists that aim to subdue a person's appetite -- may lead to increased risk of stomach paralysis. This means that the flow of food in the body stops, which can cause continual vomiting. There have also been media reports of a higher risk of bowel obstruction with these drugs.

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Source Fool.com