New Study Links Ozempic Use to Lower Risk of Violent Behavior

Medications in the GLP-1 class, including Ozempic and Wegovy, may be associated with a reduced likelihood of violent criminal behavior among people currently taking them, according to a peer-reviewed study from Rutgers University researchers published Wednesday in the journal Criminology.

The study found that the relationship between impulsive tendencies and violent actions was significantly weaker among current GLP-1 users than among former users. Researchers reported that the connection between impulsivity and violent behavior was reduced by 62%, while the association between alcohol consumption and violent conduct was 52% weaker among those actively using the medications.

Violent behavior in the study was based on participants’ self-reported actions and included incidents such as physical fights, assaults, and robberies. Researchers examined data from a 2025 survey involving 7,521 adults across the United States, with particular attention given to 821 respondents who had used a GLP-1 medication at some point.

Christopher Thomas, assistant professor of criminal justice at Rutgers University–Camden and a coauthor of the research, said the results are “consistent with these medications working like cognitive behavioral therapy, weakening the path from impulse to action rather than eliminating impulsivity itself.”

The authors emphasized that the findings do not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship and called for additional research to better understand whether GLP-1 medications can lower the risk of violent behavior. Daniel Semenza, the study’s lead author and director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at the Rutgers School of Public Health, said continued investigation is important as the use of these medications expands and their broader effects on behavior and public safety become more relevant.

Originally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for diabetes treatment and later for obesity management, GLP-1 drugs have increasingly been linked to a range of additional health benefits. Some versions have received approval for treating sleep apnea, severe liver disease, kidney disease, and for reducing the risk of heart attacks. Previous research has also suggested these medications may help curb alcohol cravings and lower the likelihood of substance use disorders.

Despite their growing popularity, GLP-1 medications are known to carry side effects, including nausea, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues. In March, the FDA issued a warning to Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, alleging the company failed to report certain serious adverse events potentially associated with the drug, including three deaths and instances of suicidal ideation.

Use of GLP-1 medications has risen sharply in recent years. A Gallup survey conducted in October found that the number of people using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss had more than doubled since early 2024, with slightly more than 12% of respondents reporting they had used one for that purpose. The market has also continued to evolve, with Novo Nordisk receiving approval in December for the first oral GLP-1 medication after securing authorization for a pill version of Wegovy.