SHIVER ME TIMBERS: Weight loss drugs may induce pirate era disease, according to study
Researchers in Australia have warned that popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, which include Ozempic and similar medications used for diabetes and obesity, may increase the risk of scurvy due to reduced food intake.
A systematic review by the Hunter Medical Research Institute found that clinical trials of these drugs failed to report patients' dietary intake, despite the medications' significant impact on appetite and satiety. Laureate Professor Clare Collins of the University of Newcastle stated that while the drugs drive significant weight loss, they also raise the risk of inadequate protein, fiber, vitamin, and mineral intake if diet quality is not monitored. This can lead to malnutrition, including vitamin C deficiency, which causes scurvy.
Scurvy, historically known as a pirate disease from prolonged periods without nutritious food, results in symptoms such as anemia, loosened teeth that may fall out, bleeding under the skin, bruising, swollen legs, rough and scaly skin, dry and brittle hair that coils, re-opening of wounds, and swollen, bleeding gums. Signs of deficiencies can overlap with common side effects of the medications, including fatigue, lethargy, nausea, poor appetite, and irritability, making them easy to miss.
British singer Robbie Williams was diagnosed with scurvy in 2025 after taking a drug similar to Ozempic. The review also highlighted risks of other deficiencies, such as iron leading to anemia and vitamin B1 causing beriberi or Wernicke’s encephalopathy.
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Collins emphasized that a reduction in body weight does not mean a person is well-nourished, and nutrition is largely missing from the evidence on these drugs. She called for greater attention to diet when prescribing them, recommending patients consult accredited dietitians, consider targeted multivitamins or supplements, and receive medical nutrition therapy.
Future clinical trials should use validated dietary assessment tools and report food and nutrient intakes transparently to prevent adverse effects. The findings raise major concerns about macro and micronutrient deficiencies and their metabolic impacts.