Across continents, a profound shift is unfolding in how societies approach weight loss and health. Medicines, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, have moved obesity from the margins of personal struggle into the centre of medical and public discourse. In many ways, this marks progress. Obesity is increasingly being recognised as a chronic disease shaped by biology, hormones, environment, stress and modern living, rather than a simple failure of willpower.
In the US, prescriptions for these drugs have surged at an unprecedented pace. It began as treatment for diabetes and then rapidly expanded into weight loss, fuelled by clinical results, celebrity narratives and social media amplification. Demand soon outstripped supply, leading to shortages for patients with medical need and a parallel rise in unregulated online sales. Regulators have since warned repeatedly about counterfeit versions circulating through digital platforms, some containing incorrect doses or unsafe substitutes.
Canada’s experience has been more cautious and they restricted exports of weight-loss drugs, after cross-border demand from the US threatened domestic availability. In parts of Europe, regulators have tightened prescribing norms and advertising rules, while reinforcing that weight-loss drugs are not intended for cosmetic use or rapid transformation.
In India, the recent entry of Ozempic has been accompanied by an explicit caution from its makers that it is a prescription diabetes medicine and not a miracle weight-loss solution, underscoring the need for doctor-led use and firm resistance to self-medication or social media-driven demand.
Further, in March 2026, the expiry of Novo Nordisk’s Semaglutide patent triggered a wave of generic launches. Leading pharmaceutical companies entered the market, signalling greater affordability and access. This expansion, however, makes it even more important to ensure responsible prescribing, strong clinical oversight and safeguards against misuse. Truly, the greatest danger emerging worldwide lies in self-medication, particularly when weight-loss drugs are accessed without medical supervision. In such situations, risks tend to accumulate quietly, rather than dramatically. Underlying health conditions may remain undiagnosed, doses may be escalated too rapidly, and side effects such as dehydration, severe gastrointestinal distress, muscle loss, or nutritional deficiencies can go unnoticed. Weight may reduce, but health may slowly erode, and without regular follow-up, early warning signs are easily missed, leaving the body to bear the cost in silence.
Alongside these physical risks lies a deeper and less visible challenge. When medicines are framed as solutions rather than supports, expectations can become fragile. Social media narratives often celebrate dramatic transformations while overlooking setbacks, and the reality that obesity is a chronic condition requiring sustained care.
Across the world, countries that are navigating this transition most effectively share a common philosophy. They position weight-loss medicines within structured systems of care rather than consumer markets. Medical assessment forms the starting point, followed by nutritional guidance, support for physical activity, mental health screening and long-term monitoring. Advertising is carefully regulated, counterfeit markets are actively pursued, and the public message remains consistent. These therapies are prescription medicines intended for medical use, not lifestyle accessories.
At the same time, responsible nations recognise that treatment alone cannot undo what environments create. Prevention, therefore, remains indispensable. Healthier food systems, supportive workplaces, walkable cities, and early health education are not optional additions, but the foundation on which meaningful and lasting medical innovation must stand. Above all, for individuals, responsibility begins with self-respect rather than self-blame. Seeking medical help for weight management is not vanity, but an acknowledgement that health matters. It also calls for discernment and patience.
Finally, when approached with care and perspective, the growing use of weight-loss medicines has the potential to mark a meaningful turning point. It need not become a rush toward thinner bodies, but can instead support a collective move toward healthier lives shaped by responsibility, equity, and compassion. Science has opened a door, and what we choose to build beyond it will determine the future we step into.
Dr Preetha Reddy is Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited.