The TikTok-fueled weight loss hype for injectable Type 2 diabetes drugs Saxenda, Ozempic, and Wegovy has triggered a global supply shortage, including in the UAE, Dubai doctors revealed to Arabian Business.
The demand for these “quick fix” injectable weight loss drugs, which garnered a lot of popularity earlier this year, has shown no sign of waning.
“Nowadays, these medications have become very fashionable, and there are people who are using them over the counter to lose weight without doctor consultation,” Dr. Ahmed Raza Khan, Internal Medicine Specialist at MBZ city’s Bareen International Hospital warned.
Healthcare professionals have already raised alarm bells over users attempting this weight loss hack without proper medical supervision, with concern mounting that short-term appearance gains could be putting lives at risk.
These professionals warned that it is crucial that individuals seek medical advice before attempting any weight loss hacks, especially those involving prescription medications meant for other conditions.
Supply shock felt in UAE
Dr. Mohammad Fityan, Consultant Internal Medicine and HOD Weight Management Clinic at the UAE’s Burjeel Medical City, told Arabian Business that the hospital struggled to get diabetic patients their medications because of this TikTok-spurred trend.
“We always face this [supply shortage] problem so we encourage all physicians to consult obesity-specialised physicians before prescribing these medications.”
The manufacturers of these medications have expanded their marketing strategies for these drugs in recent months due to the sudden surge in interest. But Fiyan stressed that they should begin to think about addressing misuse, “especially with the global shortage affecting patients who need these medications the most.”
Similarly, another medical facility in the UAE has also experiences the effects of the supply shock.
“In recent months, demand for the drug has soared which led to a shortage of injectable drugs, because of its weight loss benefits not because of rising rates of diabetes,” said Khan explained.
“There are many users on social media mentioning the properties of the drugs as a good option to lose weight and now these GLp1-agnostics are in extreme shortage in the market for actual patients due to misuse,” he added.
Improper use
Proper dosage adjustment and injection technique are crucial when taking Ozempic, Saxenda or Wegovy. Individuals typically start with the lowest dose and gradually increase it based on their needs. After disinfecting the injection site, the medication is typically administered into the lower abdominal area, with the skin at the injection site being pinched and the needle inserted at a 90-degree angle. Once done, the injection is removed and the needle unscrewed and disposed of.
For those who have never self-administered an injection before, this process can be particularly difficult. Incorrect injection technique can cause mild to severe side effects, making it important to follow the prescribed dosage and injection procedure.
These drugs are intended for individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes or obesity, and people who are not grappling with these issues should avoid them even if the promise of easy and rapid weight loss might be tempting.
With a number of Dubai pharmacies selling them without asking for prescription, doctors have warned against the improper use of these drugs.
Sold at exorbitant prices ranging from AED 1,146 to AED 1,712, misuse of these drugs can have serious consequences, including low blood sugar, dehydration, and kidney damage.
“I have seen and treated patients with adverse side effects from using these medications. Some cases were mild and seen in the outpatient clinic; few were severe enough to be admitted to the hospital,” Fityan said, adding that most of the cases were patients who obtained these medications without a prescription and took it without medical supervision.
“Most of those medications have mild gastrointestinal side effects. As a rule, any weight loss medication has to be stopped if the patient suffers from side effects or does not respond to the medicine. Initially, no response means weight loss of 5 percent of body weight within three months of the effective dose,” Fityan said.
Bareen International Hospital’s Dr. Khan also said that he has come across a few cases of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain in patients who obtained them with a doctor’s prescription, leading them to take the wrong dosage.
A new, and widely believed to be even more powerful, drug Mounjaro is looming on the horizon.
In a clinical study, the drug yielded exceptional results for weight loss, helping a typical individual with obesity who weighed just over 104kgs to lose up to around 22.6kgs a 17-month test period.
“Mounjaro is a new injectable medication recently approved and released for treating type 2 diabetes. It shares some similarities to other medicines like Ozempic and Saxenda regarding the mechanism of action with some differences,” Fityan said.
Although it has not yet been approved for weight loss, the drug is already available in the UAE.
“It is planned for the medication to be proposed to get approval for weight management in non-diabetic patients,” he added.
‘Quick fix’ culture and eating disorders
According to Clinical Psychologist Dr. Reena Thomas, of Dubai’s Medeor Hospital, the pressure of social media and the quest for the “perfect” body has led to a surge in people attempting this weight loss hack without proper medical supervision.
“People go for these drugs desiring effortless immediate relief,” Thomas told Arabian Business. “They are in constant search of “effective methods” to reduce weight and get easily influenced by the publicity of its benefits through social media.”
The rise in body image issues due to social media over the years has created fertile ground for pharma companies to capitalise on this and promote the use of these drugs for weight loss, which will, in turn, help boost peoples’ self-esteem.
Many have flocked to these injectables to manage their weight rather than adopting a healthier behavioural approach to weight loss.
Thomas said that this is an unhealthy mindset to adopt, especially when it comes to those who have historically suffered from eating disorders.
“Emotional or binge eating is evident even amongst these people who go for quick remedies just like the ones that go for Bariatric surgery,” said Thomas.
“To complicate further, their self-esteem issues, body image disturbances and emotional issues remain unsorted. They continue bingeing patterns and adopt unhealthy coping measures.”
To solve these issues from an early age, she suggested that children be taught about resilience, coping skills, self-esteem, and social responsibility.
Parents, teachers, and friends play a crucial role in helping vulnerable children feel loved and worthy, she explained, which can help them to defocus from their negative body image and faulty perceptions.
“I would not advise injectables or quick fixes but rather educate them about the condition and convince them to seek help. Above all, parents or immediate family members and friends need to have the insight to identify the symptoms at an early stage,” Thomas said.
“Instead of giving ultimatums and threatening the consequences, they can be more supportive and loving to them. They can make them feel understood and refer to the healthcare providers or mental health professionals. They need to align with each other to give proper education to the clients, help balance the nutrients and address the biopsychosocial factors contributing to it.”
Medications and psychotherapies can be effective in helping emotional eating and related disorders such as body dysmorphia, and children need to be taught healthier ways to deal with emotional pain, she said.
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