"I'd Rather Risk Side Effects": Why People Can't Quit 'Miracle Drugs'

Wegovy and Mounjaro, which have sparked a global frenzy, are becoming a turning point in obesity treatment, even leading to supply 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 was once a patient with super-obesity, weighing up to 118kg. Since high school, he had tried every diet imaginable and 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 obesity medications for opening a new era, stating that obesity is a disease that requires treatment, not a matter of willpower.
Comedian Nam Hyo-na also lost nearly 30kg using obesity medication. Hyo-na says that as she lost weight, chronic illnesses caused by obesity also improved. She says she can now wear any clothes she wants and calls obesity medication a "miracle drug" that changed her life.
On social media, along with success stories, there are many posts from people complaining about side effects. Lee Su-jin (pseudonym), a 20-something office worker, rushed to the hospital with severe abdominal pain after taking 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 had no prior health issues, the medical staff's warning that she could develop diabetes as a complication was terrifying. Jung Ha-eun (pseudonym) lost 8kg with obesity medication but had to stop taking it due to worsening nausea and hair loss. However, the weight she had lost returned to its original state in just two months. Even so, Ha-eun says she would rather endure the side effects than struggle to lose weight through diet and exercise, and she recently started taking the medication again.
Obesity medications are intended to be prescribed to patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30, or those with a BMI of 27 or higher who have comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia. However, misuse and abuse are increasing as so-called "hotspot" clinics have emerged that prescribe Wegovy and Mounjaro even to those with normal or even underweight BMIs.
Choi Yu-jin (pseudonym), who is 160cm tall and weighs 56kg, has been taking obesity medication for four months. She has been documenting her daily weight changes and side effects on her blog, and she receives constant comments asking where she got her prescription. Although Yu-jin 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.

In this week's SBS News Story, we examine the pros and cons of the Wegovy and Mounjaro craze through the eyes of actual users and highlight the reality of the misuse and abuse of obesity medications spreading for cosmetic purposes.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.