People taking popular GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound may face a higher risk of bone disease and gout, according to research presented in March at the 2026 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting.
The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, analyzed five years of medical records from nearly 147,000 adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Researchers concluded that GLP-1 use was associated with a significantly increased risk of osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and gout.
Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle. Osteomalacia is a separate condition that softens the bones. Gout is a form of arthritis that triggers pain and swelling in the joints.
The lead study author told NBC News he began looking into connective tissue effects after some of his patients developed serious tendon tears following relatively minor injuries. That observation prompted the broader review of bone and joint outcomes among GLP-1 users.
The findings add a new wrinkle to a class of medications that has surged in popularity across the United States. GLP-1 agonists are approved to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, and millions of Americans now take them. The drugs have been widely praised for delivering substantial weight loss and better blood sugar control.
But side effects have drawn growing scrutiny. Common complaints include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Reports of muscle loss and, more recently, tendon problems have also surfaced.
The new study is observational, meaning it shows an association between GLP-1 use and these conditions, not a cause-and-effect relationship. It also has not been vetted by independent experts through the peer-review process, a key step before findings are considered reliable enough to guide medical decisions.
Experts quoted in the original report said patients should not stop taking their medication based on a single unpublished study. Bone health can be protected in other ways, including weight-bearing exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, and routine screening.
Anyone concerned about bone or joint symptoms while on a GLP-1 should talk to their doctor before making changes to their treatment plan.
The study authors did not release a full paper, and it is unclear whether they plan to submit the work for peer review. NBC News first reported the details of the presentation.
