Benefits As Medical Treatment And Dangers Of Unethical, Casual Use!
A new class of medicines originally developed for diabetes has rapidly become the centre of a global weight loss craze.
Celebrities, influencers and social media personalities are discussing these injections as if they are shortcuts to an ideal body. Increasingly, even people who need to lose only a few kilograms are asking doctors whether they should start these medicines.
This trend needs careful scientific understanding.
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What Are These Medicines?
The most commonly discussed drugs belong to a group called GLP-1 receptor agonists and related medicines.
Examples include:
Semaglutide
Tirzepatide
Liraglutide
Researchers are also developing newer and more powerful medicines including dual-agonist and triple-agonist drugs that act on multiple hormonal pathways related to appetite, metabolism and blood sugar control.
Some of the newer medicines attracting attention include:
Retatrutide
Orforglipron
CagriSema
Oral pill versions of some of these medicines are also becoming available, which may further increase their popularity and commercial use in the coming years.
While these newer drugs may improve weight loss in selected patients, they also raise concerns about increasing casual use, aggressive marketing and long-term overmedicalisation of body weight.
These medicines were originally developed for treating type 2 diabetes. Doctors later observed that many patients also lost weight while taking them.
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How Do They Work?
These drugs mainly:
reduce appetite,
increase the feeling of fullness,
slow stomach emptying,
and improve blood sugar control.
Many patients naturally eat less while taking them.
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Can They Help?
Yes — in properly selected overweight or obese individuals, especially those with:
diabetes,
prediabetes,
fatty liver disease,
metabolic syndrome,
abdominal obesity,
hypertension,
or sleep apnoea,
these medicines can sometimes produce meaningful weight reduction and metabolic improvement.
For severely obese individuals struggling despite sincere lifestyle changes, they may reduce long-term health risks.
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The Growing Misuse
The problem is that these medicines are increasingly being used by:
mildly overweight people,
individuals wanting “camera-ready” appearances,
young adults influenced by social media,
and even normal-weight individuals afraid of gaining weight.
Medicines meant for obesity and metabolic disease are slowly being turned into cosmetic lifestyle products.
Weight Loss Alone Is Not Health
A person may lose weight and still become unhealthy.
Rapid weight loss without proper nutrition may reduce:
muscle mass,
strength,
stamina,
and nutritional reserves.
Especially in middle-aged and older individuals, excessive muscle loss can become a serious long-term problem.
The goal should not merely be ‘lighter weight’, but:
healthier metabolism,
lower abdominal fat,
improved strength,
better fitness,
and sustainable habits.
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These Medicines Require Specialist Supervision
These are powerful prescription medicines and are usually best supervised by endocrinologists, diabetologists or cardiologists familiar with obesity-related metabolic disease.
Before starting treatment, doctors may need to assess:
blood sugar,
kidney and liver function,
pancreatic and gall bladder health,
cardiovascular risk,
nutritional status,
and existing medications.
Careful follow-up is important to monitor:
side effects,
hydration,
nutritional adequacy,
and muscle preservation.
***
Using these medicines casually for cosmetic slimming without proper supervision may expose otherwise healthy individuals to unnecessary risks.
Possible Side Effects
Common side effects include:
nausea,
vomiting,
acidity,
constipation,
diarrhoea,
bloating,
and fatigue.
More serious concerns may include:
gall bladder disease,
pancreatitis,
dehydration,
nutritional deficiencies,
and excessive muscle loss.
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Another Important Reality — Weight Often Returns
Many people regain weight after stopping the medicine if lifestyle habits have not changed.
These medicines cannot permanently replace:
dietary discipline,
physical activity,
sleep regulation,
and behavioural change.
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Final Message
These newer medicines represent an important scientific advance in obesity treatment and may genuinely help selected patients.
But their growing misuse reflects a larger commercial culture obsessed with appearance and rapid slimming.
Most of the use of these powerful prescription drugs in India is unethical, likely suggested by gym trainers and beauty clinics and word of mouth in social circles and parties, often procured from grey markets.
Such use is extremely dangerous.
Health should remain the primary goal — not simply becoming thinner for photographs, social approval or social media trends.
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