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

Wegovy and Mounjaro have sparked a global craze, leading to shortages and marking a new turning point in obesity treatment. 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 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 finally able to break free from the cycle of obesity. Professor Jang praises the drugs, stating that obesity is not a matter of willpower but a disease that requires treatment, and that these obesity medications have opened a new era.
Comedian Nam Hyo-na also lost nearly 30kg using obesity medication. Hyo-na says that as she lost weight, the chronic illnesses caused by her obesity improved. She says she can now wear whatever clothes she wants and calls the 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 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 had no prior health issues, the medical staff's warning that diabetes could be a long-term complication was terrifying. Jung Ha-eun (pseudonym) lost 8kg with the medication but had to stop due to worsening nausea and hair loss. However, she regained all the weight she had lost within two months. Despite this, Ha-eun decided that risking the side effects was better than the struggle of losing 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 is on the rise as so-called "mecca" clinics have emerged that prescribe Wegovy and Mounjaro even to those who are at a normal weight or even underweight.
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 documents her daily weight changes and side effects on her blog, and she constantly receives comments asking where she got her prescription. Although Yu-jin reached her goal weight of 48kg, she has not been able to stop taking the drug 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 look into the reality of the misuse of obesity medications for cosmetic purposes.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.