GLP-1 medications remain hugely popular, but one lesser-known effect may be showing up in an unexpected place: the feet.
Drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy have become widely discussed for their role in weight loss, especially among people looking for results that can be difficult to achieve through diet and exercise alone.
Although these medications were originally approved to help people with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar, they have also gained attention for a growing list of side effects and body changes reported by people using them for weight management.
As with any medication, responses can differ from person to person, and some of the changes people notice can be surprising.
That is why terms like ‘Ozempic breath’, ‘Ozempic butt’, and ‘Ozempic face’ have already entered the conversation.
Now, experts say another issue is being noticed, this time involving the feet. The phrase ‘Ozempic feet’ is not a formal medical diagnosis, but it has been used to describe foot changes some people say they notice after significant weight loss on GLP-1 drugs.
GLP-1 medications are already known to cause gastrointestinal side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, with symptoms varying depending on the individual and dosage.
But what exactly is ‘Ozempic feet’?
Podiatrists say it may be linked to fat loss throughout the body, including the cushioning found on the soles of the feet. Rapid weight loss can reduce the soft tissue that normally helps absorb pressure when standing or walking.
According to Optimum Podiatry, the loss of fat in the feet is something that can happen naturally with age, a process called Fat Pad Atrophy.
Its website reveals:
“With time, the padded insoles in footwear stop feeling comfortable. If you remove them from your shoes, you’ll notice that they look flat and worn out once you’ve worn those shoes for a long period of time. Unfortunately, the natural padding in our feet goes through the same process–it just takes longer to happen.”
In cases linked to rapid weight loss, however, that process may happen more quickly because the medication reduces fat stores across the body.
The company reveals it occurs when ‘your rapid weight loss has sped up the natural process of fat pad atrophy in your feet.’
That reduced padding can lead to problems such as corns, calluses, and discomfort when walking barefoot on hard surfaces for extended periods.
It is not only the loss of cushioning that may be visible either, as some experts say the skin can also begin to sag after significant weight loss.
Dr Claire Morrow, an orthopedic clinical specialist, explained:
“If weight loss is too rapid, the skin doesn’t have time to adjust,” said Dr Claire Morrow, an orthopedic clinical specialist. “This can create loose or sagging skin on your feet, making it appear deflated.”
Speaking to KTLA5, Dr Dana Figura said the changes can even affect shoe size.
She said:
“Some patients have gone down a full shoe size, and some have gone from a wide foot to a regular or narrow foot. These aren’t vanity complaints.”
She added:
“They’re functional problems that can lead to blisters, calluses, ulcers and, in patients with diabetes, much more serious wounds.”
Health experts say the main drivers behind these changes are not unique to Ozempic itself, but to the rapid reduction in body weight that can happen with GLP-1 treatment. Studies have found that GLP-1 drugs reduce body fat substantially, though some lean mass loss can also occur during weight loss.
To help reduce the chances of fat pad loss, Optimum Podiatry recommends increasing protein intake, strengthening the muscles in the feet, and focusing on strength and resistance exercises, noting that ‘these moves will have a lower impact on your feet.
Its website added:
“At the same time, they can help build up your muscles to reduce the impact of fat-pad loss and improve the appearance of the skin on your feet.”
More broadly, doctors often advise patients taking GLP-1 drugs to pair treatment with adequate protein, regular resistance training, and proper footwear to help preserve muscle, maintain balance, and reduce pressure on the feet as weight changes.
Novo Nordisk has been approached for comment.