JMIR infodemiologyApr 8, 2025

What YouTube Videos Say About Semaglutide’s Side Effects and Safety

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

A total of 189 YouTube videos related to semaglutide were analyzed for content quality and readability.

There was no significant difference in the average number of views between full-length videos and shorts.
Full-length videos demonstrated higher content quality compared to shorts, with better scores on established evaluation tools.
Both types of videos were found to be fairly easy to read and predominantly conveyed a neutral tone.
Full-length videos from health sources had significantly higher content quality than those from non-health sources.
Key topics, such as long-term data and risks associated with semaglutide, were insufficiently covered in the analyzed videos.
The findings emphasize the importance of consulting healthcare professionals rather than relying solely on online videos for medical information.

Simplified

BACKGROUND: Social media has been extensively used by the public to seek information and share views on health issues. Recently, the proper and off-label use of semaglutide drugs for weight loss has attracted huge media attention and led to temporary supply shortages.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform a content analysis on English YouTube (Google) videos related to semaglutide.

METHODS: YouTube was searched with the words semaglutide, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. The first 30 full-length videos (videos without a time limit) and 30 shorts (videos that are no longer than 1 minute) resulting from each search word were recorded. After discounting duplicates resulting from multiple searches, a total of 96 full-length videos and 93 shorts were analyzed. Video content was evaluated by 3 tools, that is, a custom checklist, a Global Quality Score (GQS), and Modified DISCERN. Readability and sentiment of the transcripts were also assessed.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the mean number of views between full-length videos and shorts (mean 288,563.1, SD 513,598.3 vs mean 188,465.2, SD 780,376.2, P=.30). The former had better content quality in terms of GQS, Modified DISCERN, and the number of mentioned points from the custom checklist (all P<.001). The transcript readability of both types of videos was at a fairly easy level and mainly had a neutral tone. Full-length videos from health sources had a higher content quality in terms of GQS and Modified DISCERN (both P<.001) than their counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS: The analyzed videos lacked coverage of several important aspects, including the lack of long-term data, the persistence of side effects due to the long half-life of semaglutide, and the risk of counterfeit drugs. It is crucial for the public to be aware that videos cannot replace consultations with physicians.

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What YouTube Videos Say About Semaglutide’s Side Effects and Safety

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