The surprising way GLP-1s could be slimming down violent crime in America

Get on a GLP-1 and take a bite out of crime.Violence across the US has seen a historic decline in the last two years, and criminologists are still trying to figure out why exactly.But one study from earlier this year has offered a new theory: The new class of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could be partially responsible.A study by Rutgers University sociology professor Daniel Semenza explored the potential relationship between GLP-1 medications, impulsivity and violent behavior — and found there’s a certain logic to the theory.“One possible explanation comes from research suggesting that GLP-1 medications affect parts of the brain involved in reward processing and self-regulation,” Semenza told The Post.The benefits of GLP-1s famously fade after users stop taking them.Semenza’s research compared current GLP-1 users and found that common risk factors for violence — namely impulsivity and alcohol use — were notably lower in people currently on the drugs.“In simple terms, they may reduce how strongly people respond to certain rewards or urges.

Our findings suggest that someone may still have impulsive tendencies, but those tendencies may be less likely to translate into violent behavior,” he explained.Semenza pointed to growing research suggesting GLP-1 medication may reduce both alcohol consumption and craving through its effects on the brain’s reward system.“What we found was that alcohol use was associated with more violent behavior, but that relationship was weaker among current GLP-1 users compared to former users,” he said.And with 15% of the adult population reported that they have taken a GLP-1 — tens of millions of Americans could find themselves newly restrained.Semenza stresses that his research doesn’t show a direct correlation between GLP-1s and lowered violent crime nationwide, or even with directly improving impulse control.“But the potential connection is that impulsivity and alcohol use are well-established ri...