News Story: The Weight Loss Injection Craze — What Is the Truth Behind the 'Miracle Drug'?

Wegovy and Mounjaro, which have sparked a global craze, have become a new turning point in obesity treatment, even leading to shortages. Professor Jang Hyung-woo of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital has always emphasized the importance of weight loss to his patients. However, as a doctor, he himself was once a patient with super-obesity, weighing up to 118kg. Since high school, he had tried every diet imaginable and eventually even underwent a sleeve gastrectomy, but four years later, his weight began to climb again. It was only after he started taking Wegovy that he was able to break free from the cycle of obesity. Professor Jang praises the obesity drugs for opening a new era, stating that obesity is not a matter of willpower but a disease that requires treatment.
Comedian Nam Hyo-na also lost nearly 30kg using obesity medication. Nam says that as she lost weight, the chronic illnesses caused by her obesity improved. She can now wear the clothes she always wanted to, and she calls the obesity medication a "miracle drug" that changed her life.
On social media, along with success stories of obesity medication, there are quite a few posts complaining about side effects. Lee Su-jin (pseudonym), a 20-something office worker, rushed to the hospital due to severe abdominal pain after using obesity medication for about three months and was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Her inflammation levels had soared to nearly 10 times that of a normal person, and part of her pancreas was necrotic. For Su-jin, who previously had no health issues, the medical staff's warning that diabetes could be a long-term complication was terrifying. Jung Ha-eun (pseudonym) lost 8kg with obesity medication but had to stop due to worsening nausea and hair loss. However, she regained the lost weight within two months. Despite this, she recently started taking the medication again, saying she would rather endure the side effects than struggle to lose weight through diet and exercise.
Obesity medications are intended to be prescribed to patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or those with a BMI of 27 or higher who have comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia. However, the misuse and abuse of these drugs are increasing as "go-to" clinics that prescribe Wegovy and Mounjaro even to those with normal or even underweight BMIs have emerged.
Choi Yu-jin (pseudonym), who is 160cm tall and weighs 56kg, was at a normal weight but has been taking obesity medication for four months. She records her daily weight changes and side effects on her blog, and she constantly receives comments asking where she got her prescription. Although Yu-jin has reached her target weight of 48kg, she has not been able to stop taking the medication because she wants to be even thinner. Experts warn that because there has been no research on the effects of these drugs on people who are not obese, they should never be used for cosmetic purposes.

This week, SBS News Story examines the pros and cons of the Wegovy and Mounjaro craze through the experiences of actual users and highlights the reality of the misuse and abuse of obesity medications that are spreading for cosmetic purposes.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.