In a world chasing speed, it’s no surprise that fast slimming is the latest obsession, including fast food, fast fashion, fast technology.
However, the demand for rapid weight loss has opened up a new controversial chapter in global health. It is the widespread use of prescription-only diabetes medications such as Ozempic and Moonjaro for aesthetic purposes.
These drugs, which are part of the GLP-1 class, were developed to aid in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, their dramatic side effects – substantial weight loss – have been extremely popular among people without underlying medical needs. It’s a trend that health experts now warn that they could be caught up in a global crisis.
Over 1 billion people around the world live with obesity, and over 830 million people manage diabetes. In Europe, more than half of the adult population is overweight and 17% are clinically obese. The World Obesity Federation predicts that by 2050 60% of adults around the world will fall into this category.
GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Saxenda are designed to address these numbers through treatment. They regulate insulin levels, slow digestion, reduce appetite, and help some users to drain up to 15% of their weight.
For people with health conditions associated with obesity, these drugs are a breakthrough. But for others, they have become a shortcut, especially for younger and image-sensitive people. A way to maintain a lean state without dieting or exercising. And in today’s fast-paced hyperfilter world, many are willing to skip medical legitimacy completely.
Although legally restricted in most countries, ozempics and similar drugs are often available with incredible ease.
A simple online search reveals a number of websites that offer “digital consultations” where users fill out surveys, upload their IDs, and often receive prescriptions without talking to their doctor.
In some countries, the process is even more relaxed. Online platforms may not require access to the user’s official medical records, allowing anyone with basic Photoshop skills and scale to potentially play the system. In others, the local pharmacy bends the rules. Locations like Poland, Turkey, Greece and Kosovo have reported access via informal channels despite existing regulations.
A thriving grey market fills the gap. Private group chat on messaging apps works like a digital black market. In just a few minutes, users can view listings, orders, and unregulated GLP-1 drug payments. No questions, but no prescription is required. Users post photos celebrating their arrival and turn health risks into social memes.
Growth of this off-label trend has serious consequences. GLP-1 medications are not risk-free if misused or taken without medical supervision. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, and dehydration.
More serious complications may require swelling of the pancreas, gallbladder disease, particularly when combined with other drugs, surgical removal, loss of muscle tissue, kidney damage, and hypoglycemia.
Thyroid tumors have been recognized in animal studies of drugs.
Then there is the risk of fakes. In 2023, Austrian and British authorities reported hospitalizations with fake Ozempic pens, some of which were found to contain insulin instead of semaglutide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global alert for counterfeit versions of semaglutide found in the UK, the US and Brazil.
“These counterfeiting can be life-threatening,” Dr Nakatani warned who. “We urge people to stop using suspicious products and report them immediately.”
Despite growing awareness, execution is lagging behind. These drug sales messaging platforms continue to operate with minimal surveillance.
Named after “fitness” or “health”, closure groups are often digital storefronts for illegal sales. The algorithm does not distinguish between useful tips and harmful products. Until someone gets injured.
This loophole highlights the blind spots of growing regulations. Health officials may police pharmacies and clinics, but the world’s most popular communications platform remains a terrain that is largely unregulated when it comes to drug trafficking.
A spokesperson for the European Commission noted that online platforms have an obligation to protect consumers under the EU’s digital services law. The law requires users to report illegal content and products promptly. The platform requires the removal of illegal products, and the online market must track traders.
“The DSA requires that we address the risks of illegal content and products. The committee monitors compliance and, according to a spokesman, will not hesitate to open further procedures.
The rise in weight loss medications is engaging in a new dilemmas in both medicine and society. These are powerful tools with life-changing potential, but only for the right reasons, if used safely.
As regulators struggle to meet demand, tech companies and messaging platforms need to step up too. Health is not just a personal issue, it is a systematic issue. And with no stronger protection in place, a rush for quick fixes can leave a long-term damage trajectory.
