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A Year of Weight-Loss Drugs Raises Questions About Brides

Some people in India are using medicines that can help with weight loss.

Some clinics offer these medicines to brides who want to lose weight before their weddings.

Doctors say these medicines are meant to treat obesity, not to be a quick beauty fix.

One bride lost weight very quickly after taking the medicine without proper checks.

She became unwell and later needed medical care.

Another woman took medicine with a doctor’s help but still had difficult side effects.

When people stop these medicines, their appetite and weight may go up again.

Doctors say patients need ongoing care, healthy food and exercise.

Key facts

Drugs discussed: Semaglutide, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro.
Example clinic package: One Lajpat Nagar clinic offered three months of Mounjaro-assisted weight reduction for Rs 30,000.
Reported bride case: A 23-year-old from Ludhiana reportedly lost around 20 kg in 40 days after unsupervised treatment.
Reported complications: Her doctor described nausea, exhaustion, hair loss, menstrual changes, mood shifts and substantial muscle loss.
Akanksha Chauhan: She said she experienced nausea and appetite loss while taking Ozempic, and severe vomiting and dehydration after restarting medication without medical advice.
Doctors' guidance: Endocrinologists described obesity as a chronic disease and advised medical monitoring and an individual long-term treatment plan.
Potential concerns: Doctors cited weight regain, muscle loss and nutritional deficiencies among concerns; they said early bone-outcome data need confirmation.

indianexpress.com · 1 hr ago