on PinterestNew research suggests that stopping GLP-1 drugs before pregnancy is linked to complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
on PinterestNew research suggests that stopping GLP-1 drugs before pregnancy is linked to complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Tatsiana Volkava/Getty Images
- A recent study suggests that stopping GLP-1s before pregnancy may be linked to higher rates of complications and excessive gestational weight gain.
- Experts caution that the findings don’t necessarily prove causation and that underlying obesity and metabolic conditions are likely contributing factors.
- GLP-1 medications prescribed for weight loss are not recommended during pregnancy.
- Experts advise focusing on balanced nutrition, gentle physical activity, and other strategies to support healthy pregnancy weight gain.
New research has found that using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic before pregnancy could influence certain pregnancy outcomes. However, more research is needed.
A recent study published in JAMA reviewed several hundred singleton pregnancies delivered within the Mass General Brigham system from 2016 to 2025.
Within that group, researchers identified roughly 450 pregnancies in which the parent had used a GLP-1 medication at some point between the three years leading up to conception and the first 90 days afterward.
About half of the female participants had their last GLP-1 medication order within six months of conceiving, around one-third had their last order earlier than that, and about 17 percent had their last GLP-1 medication order beyond conception.
On average, these participants had a prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) of about 36, which falls in the obesity range.
To assess outcomes, the researchers compared them with a second group of individuals who had never taken a GLP-1 medication but had similar prepregnancy BMIs.
In both groups, BMI values spanned from healthy to severely obese, and the proportion of people in each BMI category was comparable.
The analysis showed that people who had previously used and then stopped GLP-1s faced higher rates of preterm birth, gestational diabetes, and hypertensive conditions of pregnancy, including high blood pressure and preeclampsia.
They also gained more weight during pregnancy, averaging about 30 pounds (13.7 kilograms), compared with roughly 23 pounds (10.5 kilograms) in the comparison group.
Importantly, a greater of the GLP-1-exposed group experienced what is considered excessive gestational weight gain, a pattern linked with health risks for both parent and baby.
GLP-1 drugs and pregnancy outcomes
Andrea Braden MD, board certified OB-GYN, told Healthline it’s important to note the limitations of this research.
“This study raises important questions, but it does not prove that GLP-1 medications directly cause harm in pregnancy. The people who need these drugs often have obesity or diabetes, which already increases the risk of complications,” she explained.
“It’s a classic case of confounding by indication, and we need much better, pregnancy-specific research before drawing firm conclusions.”
Shyamala Vishnumohan, PhD, a prenatal dietitian at The Pregnancy Dietitian, told Healthline that the results of this study don’t surprise her.
“Those who need GLP-1s usually have significant obesity and insulin resistance, and when the medication is withdrawn, it’s common to see appetite and blood sugars surge,” she said.
“The message is clear: we can’t just pull away a powerful weight-loss tool right before pregnancy without a transition plan.”
Benefits, risks of stopping
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