Weight-loss drug Ozempic linked to emotional numbness and social withdrawal

A growing number of individuals on the GLP-1 drug Ozempic describe a profound flattening of emotions, referring to it as “Ozempic personality.” Journalist Katie Glass recounts losing optimism and her social life after shedding several stone, while dietitian Summer Kessel notes feeling “meh” about exercise and daily routines on TikTok. Reddit threads contain dozens of similar testimonies of diminished pleasure in food, hobbies, relationships and work, with some users likening themselves to “zombies.”

Researchers hypothesize that the medication’s suppression of “food noise” may also blunt other reward pathways, though evidence remains limited. Some users have discontinued the drug, yet others persist despite the psychological toll. Commentators connect the phenomenon to a cultural fixation on extreme thinness, citing Naomi Wolf’s critique of dieting as a tool of obedience.