People with type 2 diabetes who use Ozempic or Wegovy may be gaining more than weight-loss benefits — they could also be getting added protection for their bones.
A new study indicates that semaglutide, the active ingredient in the widely used weight-loss drugs, may help improve bone strength in patients with type 2 diabetes while also supporting significant weight reduction, according to a Science Daily report.
Researchers reported that type 2 diabetes patients taking semaglutide had a 15% lower risk of bone fractures compared with patients using other commonly prescribed weight-loss medications. The result stands out because some experts have raised concerns that rapid weight loss might weaken bones and increase fracture risk.
Semaglutide users not only shed more weight than those on rival treatments, but they also appeared less likely to experience a broken bone, according to the research team led by Dr. Jairo Noreña, a former endocrinology fellow at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif.
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To reach their conclusions, investigators reviewed medical records from more than 59,000 adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Among 26,324 patients taking semaglutide, the team identified 794 fractures. In the comparison group of 33,555 patients using other weight-loss drugs, researchers found 1,045 fractures.
The results were presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting held in Chicago from June 13-16. The event drew thousands of specialists in hormone science, endocrinology and medicine.
The findings could have important real-world significance, especially for older adults using weight-loss medications who may already face an elevated risk of bone loss and fractures.
“Bone fractures are painful, expensive and can seriously affect quality of life—especially as people get older,” Noreña said. “We hope this study encourages monitoring of bone health in weight-loss programs.
“This work is an important early step toward understanding the impact of semaglutide-induced weight loss on bone health in patients with type 2 diabetes.”
