People taking GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss have begun reporting an unusual set of changes to their feet, a phenomenon now being called "Ozempic feet." The changes include a more bony, loose, or deflated appearance in the feet, along with pain, aching, and a burning sensation. Some users say tendons and veins have become more prominent, particularly on the tops of their feet.
The condition is not listed among the official side effects of GLP-1 medications. According to Healthline, doctors say "Ozempic feet" is not a direct result of the medication itself but is instead a consequence of rapid and significant weight loss.
"We see similar changes in our surgical weight loss patients. It is essentially a change in the appearance of the feet; as fat and muscle are lost, the skin may appear looser or wrinklier, and a patient's shoe size may decrease," said Mir Ali, MD, medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.
Doctors have identified several physical mechanisms behind the changes. One is fat pad atrophy, which is the thinning of the plantar fat pad, a layer of soft tissue between the skin and the heel bone that cushions the heel during walking and running. When weight is lost rapidly, this pad can thin, causing heel pain that some people describe as walking on pebbles.
Muscle loss is another factor. GLP-1 drugs may cause a reduction in lean mass, including muscle tissue in the feet. Small muscles in the feet help support the arches and maintain stability. If those muscles shrink, it can change how the arches flatten and affect a person's gait. Reductions in calf muscle mass can also affect the Achilles tendon and ankle stability.
The reported effects fall into several categories. On the aesthetic side, skin on top of the foot may look loose, wrinkled, or saggy, with veins and tendons more visible than before. Functionally, some users report aching or burning in the balls of their feet or new heel pain. Shoe fit has also been affected, with some people reporting that they have dropped an entire shoe size or shifted from a wide foot to a regular or narrow width.
The reports come as GLP-1 drugs continue to see widespread use for weight loss. Similar body-change patterns have been described elsewhere, including in the face and buttocks, and have been attributed to the same mechanism of rapid fat and muscle loss.
