People who have taken weight-loss medication and regained weight afterward were more than four times as likely to have suicidal thoughts, according to a study from Asan Medical Center that points to mental health concerns associated with the drugs.

The research team said on Sunday that people who used weight-loss medication were 1.9 times more likely to experience depression and 2.7 times as likely to have suicidal thoughts than those who had not used such medication.

The team analyzed data from 27,741 adults, including 10,908 men and 16,833 women, using information from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2013 and 2022.

Participants were divided into two groups: 846 people who had taken doctor-prescribed medication for weight control in the previous year, and 26,895 people who had not. The study did not distinguish among types of medication.

Among medication users, 22.1 percent reported depressive feelings lasting two or more consecutive weeks, compared with 11.4 percent of non-users. Mental health counseling was sought by 8.4 percent of medication users, compared with 3.4 percent of non-users.

A similar pattern appeared in suicide-related indicators. Over the past year, 9.9 percent of medication users said they had suicidal thoughts, compared with 4.5 percent of non-users.

Suicide plans were reported by 2.2 percent of medication users, compared with 1.4 percent of non-users, while suicide attempts were reported by 1.7 percent, compared with 0.6 percent among non-users.

The strongest difference was seen among people who regained weight after taking the medication. In that group, the odds of having suicidal thoughts were 4.2 times higher than among non-users. They were also 1.9 times more likely to experience depression and 1.8 times more likely to seek mental health counseling.

The findings add to broader concerns about how weight-loss treatment intersects with mental health, especially as more people use prescription drugs to manage body weight. But the study did not distinguish among types of medication, and its results reflect associations rather than a direct cause-and-effect link.

The research team said the increase in depression and suicide-related indicators associated with weight regain may reflect not only the neuropsychiatric effects of the drugs, but also psychological and social factors linked to unsuccessful weight control.

When people fail to lose as much weight as expected, or regain weight after treatment, dissatisfaction with their appearance and psychological frustration may intensify, the team added.

If someone you know shows warning signs of suicide, contact Korea's Suicide Crisis hotline at 109. For foreign-language assistance to connect with mental health professionals, call Danuri Portal's helpline at 1577-1366.