Weight-Loss Injections: The Risky Trend of Cosmetic Use Without Medical Oversight

A concerning trend is emerging as individuals increasingly turn to popular weight-loss injections, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, not for medical necessity but for cosmetic enhancement, often without clinical supervision. This practice raises significant health alarms among medical professionals.

One such individual, Gabriela, a 40-year-old Brazilian lawyer, shared her experience. Standing at 1.69m and weighing 76kg, with a BMI of 26.6, Gabriela considered herself a fitness enthusiast. After struggling to shed stubborn weight gained during the Covid pandemic, she found traditional diets and intense six-day-a-week workouts ineffective. Friends introduced her to weight-loss injections, prompting her to purchase Ozempic in February 2024 from a Rio de Janeiro pharmacy without a prescription. The effects were almost immediate, described by Gabriela as “surreal,” noting she felt completely full after just a few pieces of sushi. However, the transformation proved temporary; upon discontinuing the jabs, the weight gradually returned. For the past year, Gabriela has been on a cycle of taking the injections when dissatisfied with her appearance and stopping when content, estimating she has spent over $2,000.

Millenium TV has learned that doctors are voicing strong warnings against such intermittent, unsupervised use, particularly for those without a medical need. In the UK, for instance, the National Health Service typically reserves weight-loss injections for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) above 35 or 40, or those with specific weight-related health conditions. Gabriela, despite being muscular and active, fell well below these thresholds.

Dr. Bharti Shetye, vice-president of the Obesity Medicine Association in the US, confirmed to Millenium TV the observed “growing trend of its use for cosmetic purposes.” Echoing this sentiment, Professor and endocrinologist Simone van de Sande Lee firmly stated, “These are drugs approved to treat conditions like diabetes or obesity – they are not cosmetic tools.”

Andrew, a 49-year-old London executive, also sought the injections for cosmetic reasons. Despite a BMI of 26.9, he felt “puffy” and unhappy with his appearance. He obtained Wegovy and Mounjaro through an online pharmacy by completing a self-assessment, with no apparent verification of his reported details. Andrew began weekly injections in early 2024, finding that the “food noise went away,” reducing his urge to constantly think about eating. Like Gabriela, Andrew also cycles on and off the medication, timing its use around social events like a Mediterranean boat trip or before Christmas.

Health experts are highlighting the inherent risks associated with using these medications irregularly and without medical oversight. Simon Cork, a senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK, noted the lack of data on the long-term effects of these drugs when used purely for cosmetic purposes. Dr. Bruno Halpern, endocrinologist and president-elect of the World Obesity Federation, stressed that while the drugs are “relatively safe” for approved uses, widespread use by healthy individuals could lead to rarer side effects becoming more common. These include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, with more serious, though rare, issues like acute gallstone disease, pancreatitis, and severe allergic reactions also possible. Gabriela reported only mild stomach pain, which she attributed to a combination of not eating and consuming alcohol.

Another critical concern is muscle loss, particularly for slimmer individuals on restrictive diets, as highlighted by Dr. Halpern. He warned that if weight is regained, body composition worsens, leading to a “yo-yo cycle” that increases the long-term risk of weight gain. The official patient leaflets for Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro explicitly recommend once-weekly injections on a fixed schedule under medical supervision, emphasizing their intended use for regular, continuous treatment.

Beyond physical risks, there are psychological dangers. Dr. Halpern observed that patients often hold unrealistic expectations that weight loss will bring happiness and acceptance, leading to feelings of failure when the weight returns. Dr. Cork explained that the body naturally resists long-term weight loss by increasing hunger hormones and slowing metabolism, a fight that resumes once the hunger-suppressing jabs are stopped.

In response to growing concerns over misuse and supply shortages, both the UK’s General Pharmaceutical Council and Brazilian authorities have tightened regulations this year concerning the sale and prescribing of these injections. Despite these warnings and regulatory changes, both Gabriela and Andrew express no intention of stopping their use. Gabriela admitted, “I think I’ve become addicted to it,” while Andrew views the drug as a “relatively informed risk” and a long-term commitment to maintaining his appearance.