Beyond The Hype — What India Must Know About Weight-Loss Drugs
Weight-loss injections like semaglutide are trending in India, but are they safe? Know the science, risks, and why expert guidance is essential.
{By: Dr. Anju Ghei}
The conversation around weight loss is changing fast especially in India. With the entry of injectable drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide, people are asking if the era of restrictive dieting and exhausting workouts is finally over. These drugs originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes have become viral for another reason: significant, often rapid, weight loss.
But as the buzz around these medications grows louder, it’s important to pause and ask: Is this truly a sustainable solution or are we skipping crucial steps?
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How Do These Drugs Work?
Both semaglutide and tirzepatide belong to a class of drugs that act like the gut hormones GLP-1 or a combination of GLP-1 and GIP. These hormones regulate appetite and blood sugar. By mimicking them, the drugs help slow down digestion, reduce hunger, and promote satiety leading to a natural reduction in food intake. Over time, many users lose up to 15–20% of body weight. For people with obesity-related health risks such as PCOS, hypertension, or sleep apnoea, this can be a life-altering intervention. But that’s only one side of the story.
Not A Shortcut, Not For Everyone
Despite their popularity, these injectables are not a one-size-fits-all fix. They’re not cosmetic weight-loss tools they are prescription medications that must be medically indicated.
Clinical studies and patient experience show that weight loss from these drugs often plateaus and rebounds once the medication is stopped. That’s particularly true in cases where there is no lifestyle correction or aftercare to support the transformation.
In addition, side effects are common and can include nausea, bloating, digestive issues, and loss of muscle mass. Rapid fat loss without parallel support can also result in sagging skin, hormonal fluctuations and nutrient depletion.
The Hidden Cost Of Speed
Rapid transformation may look appealing—but it doesn’t always mean better health. When weight loss is not backed by clinical diagnostics, nutritional support, muscle preservation, or mental health balance, the result can be an unstable system, not a healthy body.
For example, patients may experience fatigue, mood swings, or worsening of pre-existing gut or hormonal imbalances. That’s why medical supervision and proper eligibility screening are non-negotiable.
A Amarter Approach: Integrating Wellness With Medical Tools
There is no denying the effectiveness of GLP-1 drugs for the right individual, especially those with chronic metabolic conditions. But to ensure long-term benefit, these medications must be used as part of a broader clinical wellness plan.
This means combining them with:
- Whole-food-based nutritional planning
- Customised fitness programs that preserve lean mass
- Therapies to support skin tightening and metabolic recovery
- Mental wellness tools to address emotional triggers
- Ongoing diagnostics to track health markers
It’s only when these pieces come together that the transformation becomes not just visible, but sustainable.
GLP-1 and GIP-based injectables should be seen as a starting point, not a solution in themselves and that too only under expert supervision and in the right context. Long-term weight loss is not just about medication it’s about building a foundation of health that lasts beyond any injection. So, before you follow a trend, talk to your doctor, understand your risks, and ask what kind of transformation is truly right for you.
The author, Dr. Anju Ghei, is MBBS, PGCRT, Head, at Preventive Health & Weight Loss Expert, VLCC, Delhi.
[Disclaimer: The information provided in the article, including treatment suggestions shared by doctors, is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]
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