New research says the drug semaglutide, sold as Ozempic, Wegovy or Rybelsus, might protect bones. People with type‑2 diabetes who took the medicine broke fewer bones and lost more weight than those who used other weight‑loss pills.
The results were shown at the Endocrine Society’s ENDO 2026 meeting in Chicago.
Semaglutide belongs to a group called GLP‑1 receptor agonists. These medicines help lower blood sugar and help people lose weight.
Earlier studies warned that fast weight loss could thin bones and raise fracture risk. Slower loss may keep bones stronger. Researchers wanted to see how semaglutide compares.
They looked at medical records of adults with type‑2 diabetes who had never broken a bone and were not taking osteoporosis drugs. The study compared people on semaglutide with those on dulaglutide, phentermine/topiramate or bupropion/naltrexone.
In total, 26,324 patients used semaglutide and 33,555 used the other medicines.
People on semaglutide lost more body‑mass index (BMI) and had fewer fractures. The semaglutide group reported 794 fractures, while the comparison group had 1,045.
Lead researcher Dr. Jairo Noreña said bone breaks are painful and costly, especially for older adults. He hopes the findings will encourage doctors to watch bone health during weight‑loss programs.
More studies are needed to confirm these early results.