Health
Ozempic and similar drugs could interfere with common medical procedure, research warns
GLP-1 weight loss pill in development
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel discusses advancements in weight loss drugs, safety concerns surrounding nicotine patches and his interview with FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary on vaccine protocol.
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Researchers have revealed a surprising new side effect linked to GLP-1 agonists, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound.
These popular treatments for diabetes and obesity could interfere with medical imaging, such as PET and CT (“CAT”) scans.
CT scans are often used to get detailed internal images to detect injuries, tumors or other abnormalities, according to Cleveland Clinic. A typical use of PET scans is to examine organs and tissues, detect cancer activity or monitor how the body is responding to treatment.
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In the case review, presented this week at the 38th Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine in Barcelona, Spain, researchers analyzed cancer scans of patients who were taking GLP-1 medications, according to a press release.
They found some “atypical” scan results that could be mistaken as signs of disease.
Popular treatments for diabetes and obesity could interfere with medical imaging, such as PET and CT scans, a study suggested. (iStock)
“We noticed an unusual uptake in one of our patients on a GLP-1 agonist, which prompted a wider review across our network,” lead author Dr. Peter Strouhal, medical director at Alliance Medical Ltd in the U.K., stated in the release.
“We found that these altered patterns are increasingly common, yet there is currently no national or international guidance in the U.K. addressing this emerging issue.”
“It’s something we’ll keep an eye on in our industry, but more information is needed.”
Misunderstanding these scan results can lead to extra tests, incorrect cancer assessments and delays in treatment, which can cause stress and anxiety for patients, the release noted.
“Knowing how GLP-1 medications can affect scan images helps doctors avoid confusion and unnecessary procedures, so patients get the right care quickly and confidently,” Strouhal said.
“We noticed an unusual uptake in one of our patients on a GLP-1 agonist, which prompted a wider review across our network,” the lead study author said. (iStock)
Despite these findings, the researchers said they don’t recommend that patients stop taking GLP-1s prior to having a scan — but they did emphasize that imaging teams should consider patients’ medication use when interpreting scan results.
Looking ahead, the research team plans to gather more data from global imaging centers to strengthen these findings.
Sue Decotiis, M.D., a medical weight-loss doctor in New York City, pointed out that the results of the study are still very preliminary.
“They just noticed an increase, but it didn’t mention which organs or specific body parts,” Decotiis, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
Researchers said they don’t recommend that patients stop taking GLP-1s prior to having a scan — but they did emphasize that imaging teams should consider patients’ medication use when interpreting scan results. (iStock)
“It will be important to see more data from many more patients to understand exactly what they saw. It’s something we’ll keep an eye on in our industry, but more information is needed.”
Adam Wolfberg, M.D., chief medical officer at Virta Health in Massachusetts, also reflected on the study.
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“GLP-1s have many effects on the body, and one of them is altering the way glucose is metabolized,” Wolfberg, who also did not take part in the study, told Fox News Digital. “Since the tracer agent used in these PET scans contains glucose, uptake of the agent — a metabolic ‘dye’ of sorts — can be impacted.”
“Interpretation of the corresponding images would require knowledge of this clinical background.”
“Knowing how GLP-1 medications can affect scan images helps doctors avoid confusion and unnecessary procedures, so patients get the right care quickly and confidently,” the researcher said. (iStock)
He echoed, however, that he doesn’t think this finding is a “big deal.”
“PET scans are always interpreted in the context of the whole patient,” Wolfberg said. “A skilled oncologist or radiologist would always take into account a patient’s medical history as well as the medications they are taking when reading this type of scan.”
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Wolfberg agreed that much more data would be required before these observations should impact medical practice.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment, as well as to manufacturers of GLP-1 medications.
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Just four minutes of daily strength exercises can dramatically improve mobility, balance and leg strength in older adults, per new research from the Penn State College of Medicine.
Standard public health guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. However, the study suggests that fewer than one in five older adults meet the recommended muscle-strengthening guidelines.
The research team designed a home-based program called Functional Activity Strength Training, or FAST-2. They evaluated 97 sedentary participants 65 and older, with an average age of 74.
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Before entering the study, these individuals were averaging just 18 minutes of total physical activity each week.
The older adults were randomly split into two groups, with one group performing the daily exercise routine and the other serving as a control group that received no intervention, according to the study’s press release.
Just four minutes of daily home strength training can significantly improve mobility, balance and leg strength in older adults, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study. (iStock)
Participants performed four basic movements for 30 seconds each, separated by 30-second rest intervals. The entire routine lasted exactly four minutes. The circuit consisted of push-ups, chair stands, two-arm resistance-band rows and stair stepping.
To keep the routine accessible, researchers provided written explanations and simple modifications. For example, participants could perform push-ups against a kitchen counter or wall, or use their hands on their knees for support during chair stands.
Participants were also given four elastic resistance bands and an adjustable step platform.
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“Exercise is actually really complicated, because you have to decide how many repetitions, how far, how many sets, how much rest and how many times per week,” co-author Smita Dandekar, associate professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, said in the press release.
“It’s hard work … so if we can make it short, we’re part [of the] way there.”
The program consisted of four basic movements: push-ups, chair stands, resistance-band rows and stair stepping. (iStock)
As the participants grew stronger, they were encouraged to progress to higher levels of difficulty, such as transitioning away from modifications or increasing the height of the stepper.
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After 12 weeks, the results suggested that a tiny dose of regular exercise could yield noticeable physical benefits. In a 30-second chair-stand test, the exercise group performed an average of 4.2 more repetitions than the control group.
“These indicators … give you a sense of whether or not you’re going to be able to be active in the future.”
The adults doing the exercises also shaved 2.3 seconds off their time during a test measuring how they could stand up and sit down five times consecutively. Furthermore, they extended their one-legged balance time by an average of 3.6 seconds.
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The researchers emphasized that these specific measurements are critical medical indicators of an older adult’s future health.
By keeping the routine ultra-short, researchers eliminated common barriers like time constraints and exhaustion, resulting in an exceptionally high 81% workout completion rate. (iStock)
“These indicators predict your future ability to go into a nursing home, your future likelihood of falling and of developing difficulty walking,” noted lead author Christopher Sciamanna, professor of medicine and of public health at Penn State College of Medicine, in the press release.
“They give you a sense of whether or not you’re going to be able to be active in the future.”
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While traditional home exercise programs generally see low engagement, the participants in this study successfully completed their workouts on 81% of the tracked days, according to the researchers.
After 12 weeks, exercising seniors gained the ability to complete an average of four more chair-stand repetitions than those who did not exercise. (iStock)
The study had several noted limitations. As it tracked a relatively small sample size of fewer than 100 individuals over a brief 12-week time frame, it is unknown whether these mobility gains can be sustained long-term.
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Additionally, the researchers did not specify the exact dropout rates or detail how the routine might affect seniors who already relied on assistive devices like walkers or canes.
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Because the final trial results reflected a specific group of participants who met the entry criteria, further investigation is required to determine whether the short routine can safely benefit older adults facing more severe physical limitations or cognitive decline.
The study was published in the journal PLOS One.
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Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy, has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The popular “mommy blogger” had been fighting the disease for the past two years, according to an announcement posted on ScaryMommy.com on Monday.
The stay-at-home mother of three launched the blog in 2008 as a place to share the “joys and pitfalls” of parenting, according to the article.
As Scary Mommy expanded from a personal blog into a major parenting brand, Smokler built a following with her honest, often self-deprecating take on motherhood. She went on to speak at blogging conferences, author bestselling books, appear on national television programs and earn three Webby Awards, her biography states.
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“Jill spent her life telling the truth about motherhood — that it could be wonderful and impossible in the very same breath — and in doing so, she gave millions of women permission to stop pretending and feel a little less alone,” her family shared in a statement following her passing.
Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy (pictured in 2018), has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock)
“She was funny, fearless, generous and entirely herself. More than anything she built, Jill was proudest of her three children, Lily, Ben and Evan. We are heartbroken to lose her, and endlessly proud of the mark she left on the world.”
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Smokler’s first sign of the disease was in April 2024, when she experienced a sudden seizure. She then underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, after which she didn’t recognize her own children, she previously shared with Today.
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“I am definitely grateful that I don’t remember the looks on their faces when I didn’t recognize them,” she said. “That must have been gutting.”
Smokler was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults and one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. There is currently no cure.
About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. (iStock)
Following surgery, the blogger underwent radiation and chemotherapy, during which she was open about her treatment side effects, including fatigue and hair loss. Additional surgeries and clinical trials followed, according to previous interviews.
“Thank you, Jill, for everything. May you rest in peace,” the Scary Mommy post concluded.
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About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. More than 12,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
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Median survival is approximately 12 to 18 months after diagnosis, even with treatment. Only about 5% to 7% of patients survive five years after diagnosis, data shows.
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