OBJECTIVE: Obesity has a significant impact on reproductive health, including direct effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, endometrium, ovaries, and oocytes.1-3 The newest class of weight loss medications, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), have significant adverse reaction profiles and are contraindicated in pregnancy.3 GLP-1RAs warrant attention as patients are increasingly using them regardless of body mass index, making it crucial to understand the reliability of information being disseminated via social media.4 This study aims to evaluate the content and reliability of TikTok videos related to GLP-1RAs and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or fertility. DESIGN: Cross sectional study of the 150 most popular TikTok videos with the hashtags #GLP-1RA and #PCOS or #Fertility from 2021 to 2024. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A TikTok scraper (Apify) was used to collect the 150 most popular TikTok videos with the hashtags #GLP-1RA and #PCOS or #Fertility. Two independent reviewers assessed the source, content, impact, and quality of each video. The modified DISCERN scale was used to rate the reliability of each video on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 indicating high reliability. Data collected included the self-reported credentials of the content creator and the video content. This study was exempt from IRB approval. RESULTS: 150 TikTok videos about GLP-1RAs were reviewed. 17 non-English videos and 67 videos unrelated to PCOS or fertility were excluded. Of the 66 videos analyzed, 13 were made in 2023 and 53 were made in 2024. Healthcare professionals and non-healthcare individuals created 15% and 85% of the videos, respectively. The average DISCERN score for the videos created by non-healthcare individuals was 1.4/5 compared to 2.75/5 for healthcare professionals. CONCLUSIONS: GLP-1RAs effects on weight loss and women’s health are of growing interest worldwide. Videos discussing these topics have accumulated a total of 35.9 million views over the last 3 years. This study reveals that most of these videos consumed by the public lack a strong scientific foundation. As social media increasingly serves as a key source of information for patients, it is crucial that reliable content is available to ensure distribution of accurate and trustworthy information.
Licea et al. (Sun,) studied this question.