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Ozempic patients may face dangerous risks during surgery, doctors warn

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Ozempic patients may face dangerous risks during surgery, doctors warn

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Patients who are taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and others could face complications during surgery, recent research has shown.

In one study led by UTHealth Houston, more than half of patients taking GLP-1s had “significant gastric contents” before going into surgery, even if they had followed pre-op fasting protocols, according to a press release on the university’s website.

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This could lead to a potentially life-threatening condition called pulmonary aspiration, when food or liquid is inhaled into the lungs.

OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY COULD DOUBLE AS KIDNEY DISEASE TREATMENT, STUDY SUGGESTS

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide) receptor agonists are commonly prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes (to stabilize blood glucose levels) or obesity (to assist with weight loss).

“These medications slow down digestion, which means food stays in the stomach longer,” said Dr. Alfred Bonati, the founder of the Bonati Spine Institute in Florida.

Patients who are taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and others could face complications during surgery, recent research has shown. (iStock; Getty Images)

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Pulmonary aspiration can cause severe lung damage, infections or even death, Bonati warned.

“General anesthesia can also cause nausea, and the slowed digestion from weight-loss meds can exacerbate this, leading to a higher risk of vomiting during surgery,” he said.

“These medications slow down digestion, which means food stays in the stomach longer.”

Dr. Brett Osborn, a board-certified neurosurgeon and section chief at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Florida, always advises his patients who are taking GLP-1 agonists to stop the medication at least one week before a surgical procedure, he said. 

In addition to aspiration, Osborn warned of the increased risk of postoperative ileus, a dysfunction of the intestines after surgery.

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GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide) receptor agonists are commonly prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes, to stabilize blood glucose levels — or patients with obesity, to assist with weight loss. (iStock)

“This could predispose patients to significant problems, including bowel ischemia (a rare circulatory condition that occurs when blood flow to the intestines is reduced),” he told Fox News Digital.

Healing is a secondary concern among patients taking GLP-1s, according to Osborn. 

OZEMPIC BABIES: WOMEN CLAIM WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS ARE MAKING THEM MORE FERTILE AND EXPERTS AGREE

“Those following a hypocaloric diet, as is the case with patients on GLP-1 agonists, may potentially inhibit healing and recovery from surgery, which requires a caloric surplus, particularly from protein-laden foods,” he said. 

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Proper nutrition is crucial for tissue recovery, Osborn said.

Proper nutrition is essential to healing after surgery, a doctor said. (iStock)

“By inducing a relative state of malnutrition, these medications can be problematic in perioperative patients.”

Dr. Jean-Carlos Jimenez, medical director at Attune Med Spa in Connecticut, agreed that these medications can lead to complications during surgery.

ASK A DOCTOR: ‘WHAT SHOULD I DO, OR NOT DO, PRIOR TO SURGERY?’

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“GLP-1 agonists can cause nausea, vomiting and something known as delayed gastric emptying, or gastroparesis — which means the stomach takes longer than usual to empty its contents into the small intestines,” he told Fox News Digital via email.

“Residual gastric content can increase the risk of pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia and potentially worsen post-operative recovery.”

Surgery is known to alter blood sugar levels due to stress from the procedure, a doctor noted. (iStock)

Surgery is also known to alter blood sugar levels due to stress from the procedure, Jimenez added.

Due to these risks, doctors agree that patients should review all the medications they’re taking with their surgeon and anesthesiologist. 

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For surgical procedures that require patients to fast or remain on a clear liquid diet, they may need to do this for a longer period of time, said Jimenez.

“The timing of when to stop will depend on the type of GLP-1 agonists a patient uses, but can range from holding the daily dose on the day of surgery to holding the scheduled weekly dose one week before a planned procedure,” he told Fox News Digital.

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GLP-1s typically can be restarted at the next scheduled dose, but should be carefully monitored by the doctor, he advised.

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The timing can depend on the type of surgery and the patient’s overall condition, according to Bonati.

Due to the risks, doctors say patients should review all their medications with the surgeon and anesthesiologist.  (iStock)

“It’s crucial to follow the instructions provided by the health care providers, as they will tailor the advice to your individual health needs and the specifics of your surgery,” he added.

In June 2023, the American Society of Anesthesiologists published an announcement warning of the risks and recommending that patients consider pausing their doses in the days or weeks leading up to an elective surgical procedure.

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The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology has issued a similar recommendation.

Fox News Digital contacted Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, requesting comment.

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I Lost 215 Lbs and Transformed My Health Without GLP-1s and Only Mindset Shifts—Here Are My Biggest Tips

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I Lost 215 Lbs and Transformed My Health Without GLP-1s and Only Mindset Shifts—Here Are My Biggest Tips


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4 anti-aging approaches revealed in 2025 that may help Americans live longer

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4 anti-aging approaches revealed in 2025 that may help Americans live longer

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On average, Americans want to live to be 91 years old, according to a recent Pew Research survey — a goal that has driven a focus on longevity-boosting practices.

Over 60% of U.S. adults use supplements and most prioritize long-term health and wellness behaviors as part of an anti-aging approach, research has shown.

In 2025, researchers revealed the following anti-aging discoveries that may help you live a longer life.

COMMON DAILY VITAMIN SHOWN TO SLOW AGING PROCESS OVER 4-YEAR PERIOD

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1. Vitamin D could slow the aging process

A study by researchers at Mass General Brigham and the Medical College of Georgia discovered that taking vitamin D supplements may protect against biological aging.

Research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in May 2025 found that supplementing with daily vitamin D3 can reduce biological wear and tear equivalent to nearly three years of aging.

Vitamin D3 supplementation can reduce biological wear and tear equivalent to nearly three years of aging, research has shown. (iStock)

Three months later, researchers at Harvard confirmed this correlation with their own study published in the same journal.

Daily vitamin D3 supplementation was found to prevent the shortening of telomeres, the protective ends on chromosome strands, which is a hallmark of aging.

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2. Meditation practices may boost longevity

An April 2025 study by Maharishi International University (MIU), the University of Siegen, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences found that transcendental meditation can significantly alleviate stress and slow down aging.

The long-term meditation practice involves silently repeating a mantra in your head to achieve deep relaxation.

WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS COULD ADD YEARS TO AMERICANS’ LIVES, RESEARCHERS PROJECT

The study, published in the journal Biomolecules, found that participants who practiced transcendental meditation had lower expression of the genes associated with inflammation and aging.

“These results support other studies indicating that the transcendental meditation technique can reverse or remove long-lasting effects of stress,” co-author Kenneth Walton, a senior researcher at MIU, previously told Fox News Digital. “Lasting effects of stress are now recognized as causing or contributing to all diseases and disorders.”

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Those who practiced transcendental mediation had a lower expression of genes associated with aging. (iStock)

3. GLP-1s are linked to reduction in mortality

A September 2025 study discovered that GLP-1 drugs, which are designed for diabetes and weight loss, could significantly reduce mortality for Americans.

Researchers at Swiss Re, a reinsurance company in Zurich, Switzerland, estimated that GLP-1 drugs could lead to a 6.4% reduction in all-cause mortality in the U.S. by 2045. In the U.K., more than a 5% reduction in mortality was projected over the same 20 years.

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Obesity is one factor that has “stalled progress in life expectancy,” as it is linked to 70% of the leading causes of death in high-income countries, according to the researchers.

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4. Creativity and socialization could extend lifespan

In October 2025, various research investigated the impact of social engagement on longevity.

A study published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity found that social relationships can slow cellular aging.

A September 2025 study discovered that GLP-1 drugs could significantly reduce mortality for Americans. (iStock)

Researchers at Cornell University explored the long-term benefits of social connections on biological aging.

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“We found that strong social ties can literally slow down the biological aging process,” lead study author Anthony Ong previously said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Strong social ties appear to work in the background over many years, building a more resilient body by reducing the chronic, low-grade inflammation that is a key driver of accelerated aging.”

Social connection is a major player in extending longevity, research has shown. (iStock)

A similar study was published the same month, revealing that creative activities such as music, dance, painting and even certain video games may help keep the brain biologically younger.

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Researchers from 13 countries — including teams at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland and SWPS University in Poland — analyzed brain data from more than 1,400 adults of all ages worldwide. Those who regularly pursued creative hobbies had brain patterns that appeared younger than their actual age.

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Even short bursts of creative activity, such as a few weeks of strategy-based video gaming, had noticeable benefits.

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Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Bardolf and Melissa Rudy contributed reporting.

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Hidden factor in cancer treatment timing may affect survival, researchers say

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Hidden factor in cancer treatment timing may affect survival, researchers say

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The time of day patients receive cancer treatments could have an impact on the outcome, a new study suggests.

New research published in Cancer, the official journal of the American Cancer Society, found that patients who received standard immunochemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) earlier in the day saw “significantly greater benefit” compared to those who got the same treatment later in the afternoon.

In the study, researchers from the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine at Central South University, China, analyzed data from nearly 400 patients who were treated between May 2019 and October 2023.

FAST-GROWING CANCER COULD BE SLOWED BY COMMON BLOOD PRESSURE DRUG, RESEARCH SHOWS 

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All patients had ES-SCLC and received first-line immunotherapy (atezolizumab or durvalumab) along with chemotherapy, according to a press release.

“Our study found that patients who received immunochemotherapy before 3:00 PM had substantially longer progression-free survival and overall survival,” lead study author Dr. Yongchang Zhang, medical oncologist and chief director at the Hunan Cancer Hospital in Changsha, China, told Fox News Digital. 

The time of day patients receive cancer treatments could have an impact on the outcome, a new study suggests. (iStock)

“After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, earlier administration was associated with a 52% lower risk of cancer progression and a 63% lower risk of death.”

“It was quite surprising that simply changing the infusion time could lead to such substantial survival benefits for patients,” he added.

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TWO POPULAR TYPES OF EXERCISE COULD REDUCE CANCER GROWTH, STUDY FINDS

The findings align with the idea of chronotherapy, which suggests that the body’s natural daily rhythms affect how the immune system works and how drugs act in the body. 

This means cancer treatments may be more effective at certain times of day, likely because immune activity and drug processing change over the 24-hour cycle, the study suggests.

“This study should not prompt patients to delay treatment or panic about appointment times.”

Based on the findings, Zhang recommends scheduling immunotherapy infusions in the early part of the day.

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“Research across multiple cancer types has shown that patients receiving immunotherapy earlier in the day experience longer survival,” he noted. “Our findings in non-small cell lung cancer, supported by both multicenter retrospective studies and prospective clinical trials, confirm this pattern.”

NEW CANCER THERAPY HUNTS AND DESTROYS DEADLY TUMORS IN MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH STUDY 

Gilberto Lopes, M.D., chief of medical oncology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, noted that previous, similar studies in non-small cell lung cancer have shown better outcomes when immunotherapy is administered earlier in the day, reinforcing the idea that the immune system follows circadian rhythms that influence treatment response. 

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“In that sense, the results are biologically plausible and consistent with a growing body of evidence across cancers,” Lopes, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “What is striking is that this signal now appears in small cell lung cancer, a disease where outcomes have been notoriously difficult to improve.”

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All patients had ES-SCLC and received first-line immunotherapy (atezolizumab or durvalumab) along with chemotherapy. (iStock)

The study did have some limitations, as detailed in the published study. Most notably, the study was retrospective and observational, meaning it could not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between timing of treatments and outcomes.

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With this type of study, Lopes said, “investigators start with an idea and go back and review patient records.” In this case, other factors can have an impact on the outcome, according to the oncologist.

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“For instance, did patients who come early in the day have a better quality of life, performance status and socioeconomic status and that is what made the difference?” he asked. “Or something else we don’t know? These results need to be confirmed prospectively to eliminate known and unknown sources of bias.”

“The next step is prospective testing, but until then, this research invites us to rethink something medicine usually ignores: timing itself,” an oncologist said. (iStock)

Zhang also pointed out that this was a single-center study including only Chinese patients. “To obtain more definitive evidence, prospective clinical trials conducted across multiple countries and diverse populations are needed,” he told Fox News Digital.

Looking ahead, the researchers plan to conduct randomized trials to confirm these preliminary findings and pinpoint optimal treatment windows based on individual patients’ chronotypes (internal body clocks).

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“This study should not prompt patients to delay treatment or panic about appointment times,” Lopes cautioned. “But it raises an important, low-cost question for oncology systems: If scheduling flexibility exists, should earlier infusion times be preferred?”

“The next step is prospective testing, but until then, this research invites us to rethink something medicine usually ignores: timing itself.”

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