British Surgeon Warns: Weight Loss Injections May Cause Serious Neurological Complications
A British orthopedic surgeon cautions that GLP-1 weight loss injections may cause foot drop in patients due to peripheral nerve dysfunction following rapid weight loss.
Tim Synnott, a leading British foot and ankle surgeon, has warned of emerging neurological complications among users of GLP-1 weight loss injections. Over the past six months, he noted a rise in foot drop cases, a condition preventing patients from lifting the front part of the foot while walking, linked to rapid weight loss affecting peripheral nerves.
Synnott explained that nerves are normally protected by a layer of fat acting as insulation. Rapid fat loss can impair nerve function, though damage is usually not permanent. Recovery requires months of physical therapy and sometimes braces, along with stabilizing body weight.
Around 1.5 million people in the UK use GLP-1 medications, with experts cautioning that many may be unaware of potential side effects. Synnott noted there is no guaranteed method to prevent foot drop, predicting more cases as injection use spreads.
Reports have also linked dozens of deaths in the UK to GLP-1 injections like Ozempic and Mounjaro, with 52 fatal reports recorded since early 2024 among 173 total serious outcomes, according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Tim Fry, head of the National Obesity Forum, emphasized the importance of medical guidance and warned of serious complications when these injections are used without proper medical need.
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