Weight loss drugs may reduce violent crime behaviours, a new study suggests. Researchers at Rutgers University have found that people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy show a significantly weaker link between impulsivity, alcohol consumption and violent acts, raising the possibility that these widely used medications could have unexpected public safety benefits.
The study, published in the journal Criminology, analysed survey data from 7,521 US adults, including 821 who had ever used a GLP-1 medication. The core finding was that the well‑established association between impulsivity and violent behaviour was about 62 per cent weaker among current users compared with former users. Similarly, the link between alcohol use and violence was roughly 52 per cent weaker among current users, although the researchers noted that this particular result was less consistent across different statistical analyses.
GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking a natural hormone that regulates blood sugar, appetite and digestion. But drugs containing semaglutide — sold as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss — also act on the brain’s reward centres. They have been shown to dampen the abrupt surge of dopamine, the “feel‑good” neurotransmitter linked to addictions such as alcohol, nicotine and gambling. By moderating this reward pathway, the medications may weaken the impulse to act aggressively, even when underlying impulsivity or alcohol intake remains.
Christopher Thomas, an assistant professor at Rutgers University‑Camden and a co‑author of the study, described the effect as working “like cognitive behavioural therapy, weakening the path from impulse to action rather than eliminating impulsivity itself.” Daniel Semenza, the lead author and director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at the Rutgers School of Public Health, added: “The strongest finding in the study was that the well‑established link between impulsivity and violent behavior was substantially weaker among current GLP‑1 users compared to former users.”
For the study, violent behaviour was self‑reported using an “offending scale” that assessed acts such as fighting, assault and robbery. The researchers compared current GLP‑1 users with former users to examine whether the medication changed the relationship between violence, impulsivity and alcohol use. Because the study is observational and cross‑sectional, the authors caution that they cannot draw firm conclusions about cause and effect. More research, including longitudinal and experimental studies, is needed to confirm whether GLP‑1 drugs actually reduce the risk of violence and to understand the exact mechanisms involved.
How the drugs may influence behaviour
The potential behavioural effects of GLP‑1 medications extend beyond weight loss and blood sugar control. Addiction, including alcohol misuse, is understood to involve the brain’s reward system, which is driven by dopamine. Addictive substances can hijack this system, leading to compulsive behaviours. GLP‑1 drugs appear to influence these reward pathways, potentially reducing cravings and the reinforcing effects of substances such as alcohol, nicotine and even opioids. Broader research has suggested that people taking GLP‑1 medications have a lower risk of developing substance use disorders and fewer addiction‑related emergencies, hospitalisations and drug‑related deaths.
Alcohol is a significant factor in violent crime in the UK. In England and Wales, victims believed offenders were under the influence of alcohol in 39 per cent of violent incidents in 2023/24, according to Office for National Statistics data. Alcohol can lower inhibitions and impair judgment, increasing aggression and risk‑taking. Impulsivity itself is a known risk factor for violence, and the new study suggests that GLP‑1 drugs may weaken the pathway from an impulsive tendency to a violent act.
The Rutgers team propose that the medications might affect behavioural pathways relevant to violence risk by influencing reward processing, craving, stress regulation and behavioural control. This is consistent with the finding that the link between impulsivity and violence was substantially weaker among current users, even when they reported similar levels of impulsivity as former users.
Context and limitations
In the UK, two GLP‑1 drugs are currently licensed for weight loss: tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Wegovy). Semaglutide is also available as Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the UK’s first GLP‑1 receptor agonist tablet for weight loss. However, concerns about safety, cost and side effects remain barriers to wider adoption. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and bloating. Less common but serious side effects can include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease and allergic reactions. There have also been reports of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, though the MHRA has found no causal link between GLP‑1 receptor agonists and suicidal or self‑injurious thoughts.
The study’s observational nature means that other factors could explain the weaker associations seen among GLP‑1 users. The researchers emphasise that further work is needed to establish causality and to determine whether the drugs themselves reduce violent behaviour or whether people who choose to take them differ in other ways. “As GLP‑1 drugs become increasingly widespread, it is important to understand all of their potential behavioral effects, including those relevant to public safety,” Professor Semenza said.