Scientists have been rushing to develop medications aimed at helping people lose as much weight as possible, but recent preliminary results are prompting them to reconsider. In a study regarding retatrutide, a compound being developed by Eli Lilly, participants suffering from obesity and knee osteoarthritis lost an average of 28.7% of their body weight after 68 weeks on the highest dose. This is significantly more than the approximate 20% weight loss observed with currently available weight-loss medications over the same period.

However, the study also revealed concerning side effects, with between 12% and 18% of participants abandoning the trial due to adverse reactions, a higher dropout rate than typically seen in existing weight-loss drug trials. Some participants reportedly left the study because they felt they were losing too much weight, which has raised alarms among external researchers about the implications of such high weight loss.

Eli Lilly sponsored the trial, which included 445 participants, but the complete data has not yet been published, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the safety and efficacy of retatrutide. As the situation evolves, health professionals will need to balance the potential benefits of these medications against the risks of excessive weight loss and associated health issues.