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You can't lose weight: doctors are sounding the alarm over the rise in sales of weight loss drugs
Sales of weight loss drugs based on semaglutide and tirzepatide in Russia increased sixfold in the first quarter of 2025, according to the data from the Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies (CRPT). Experts warn that these products are intended only for people with diabetes or obesity. According to experts, many people prescribe medications to themselves, and then face side effects or stop eating altogether. About what side effects weight loss products have, when they help, and whether they can solve the problem of obesity — in the Izvestia article.
Sales of fat burning drugs: statistics
Sales of weight loss products with active ingredients semaglutide and tirzepatide have increased in Russia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), medicines based on these components are mainly prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
In the first quarter of 2025, six times more such drugs were sold in Russia than in the same period of 2024. In monetary terms, there is a 5.5—fold increase - up to 5 billion rubles, the Central Bank said in a statement.
Why do People buy Weight Loss Drugs
Weight loss drugs are popular among the population. They are especially actively bought in the spring, when people begin to prepare for the summer season.
Sales of weight loss products have been growing for several years, but in 2024, the figures dropped. Nikolay Bespalov, Director of Development at RNC Pharma, explained the decline by saying that anti—obesity drugs sold in pharmacies were medicines of previous generations, which were decreasing in interest against the background of modern drugs.
Increased interest in medicines based on semaglutide and tirzepatide is a global trend, WHO notes an increase in demand for them since the end of 2022. This happened, among other things, due to the registration of new drugs.
And in Russia, according to the CRPT, the increase in sales is accompanied by an increase in domestic supply. In the first three months of this year, companies released 2.4 million packages of drugs based on semaglutide and tirzepatide, which is 10 times more than in the first quarter of 2024.
Experts believe that the popularity of drugs is associated with both the growing number of obese people and the increased availability of medicines.
People are learning more and more about obesity. This is not just an aesthetic problem, but a serious illness, Elena Ignatikova, a nutritionist at the National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the Russian Ministry of Health, explained to Izvestia.
— Obesity is accompanied by the development of complications. These are, for example, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, oncological diseases, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the gastrointestinal tract. All this pushes for the search for effective methods of treating obesity," the specialist comments.
According to the Ministry of Health, about a quarter of Russians are obese. The number of people with this disease has increased by 10% in five years.
One in five adults worldwide will be obese, predicts endocrinologist Oleg Tlostunokov. According to him, the situation with excess weight in Russia is difficult — up to 70% of the population suffers from it.
The relevance of the drugs is also linked to their active promotion on social media by show business stars and media coverage, doctors say.
How safe are weight loss medications?
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are synthetic analogues of intestinal hormones. The substances mimic the action of the hormone by stimulating the synthesis of insulin. Due to this, appetite is suppressed and the person feels full. In addition, according to research, drugs based on semaglutide and tirzepatide reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients, says endocrinologist, Candidate of Medical Sciences Nikolay Likhonosov.
However, doctors warn that self-administration of drugs can lead to negative consequences. The drugs are officially registered as prescription drugs. However, according to Oleg Tlostunokov, many pharmacists dispense them without a prescription. In addition, funds can be purchased on marketplaces without a doctor's appointment.
Experts recommend contacting doctors to minimize the risks. Common side effects of medications include:
— nausea;
— vomiting;
— constipation;
— diarrhea.
30-50% of patients experience such effects of the gastrointestinal tract, explains Nikolay Likhonosov. These side effects mostly occur at the beginning of therapy.
But there are also less common undesirable consequences. These are, for example, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, depression, and the risk of developing thyroid cancer, says nutritionist Anastasia Tarasco.
— The most dangerous complication, which does sometimes happen, has been in my practice, is acute pancreatitis or exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, which requires close attention. If a patient has a history of pancreatitis, treatment is highly likely to lead to its exacerbation," endocrinologist Oleg Sikorsky tells Izvestia.
According to Nikolai Likhonosov, pancreatitis occurs in 1-2% of patients.
Oleg Tlostunokov also mentions gallstone disease, exacerbation of gastritis and visual impairment in diabetics among the side effects.
— It is necessary to consult with a doctor, only he can assess the risk and benefit in a particular case, choose the optimal dosage of the drug for the patient and monitor his health throughout the entire time. Self—medication is definitely unacceptable," concludes Elena Ignatikova.
Those who take the drug eat less than usual. But some patients completely forget about food, and only drink water. This is a big mistake, Oleg Tlostunokov explains.
Who can benefit from weight loss medications
Initially, drugs based on semaglutide and tirzepatide were created for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. But later it turned out that these products reduce weight. Now drugs are prescribed to combat obesity.
— The drug is registered to combat excess weight, but for people with severe obesity or with obesity and complications. That is, either it is severe morbid obesity that cannot be treated, or obesity with concomitant complications," Anastasia Tarasco notes in a conversation with Izvestia.
Oleg Sikorsky claims that patients with severe forms of the disease cannot adhere to a diet on their own. And drugs based on semaglutide and tirzepatide, according to research, reduce body weight by 10-21% in 52-72 weeks (that is, in 1-1.5 years).
If a person is not obese, but believes that he needs to lose weight and lose a few pounds, then drugs based on these components are only a temporary solution, explains Anastasia Tarasco. According to her, studies show that after six months a person gains weight again.
Five kilograms is not the weight that is reduced by these drugs, says Oleg Tlostunokov. He says that with these drugs, people only feel side effects, and a person will not reach the therapeutic dose, since it increases every four weeks. In almost the same period, about 5 kg can be lost with active exercise and proper nutrition.
In addition, by shedding a few kilograms with the help of medications, you can lose muscles, comments Nikolai Likhonosov. If you just lose weight, don't get the right amount of protein, and don't exercise, you can develop skinny-fat syndrome, meaning you look thin and have a normal body mass index, but have a high percentage of fat and low muscle mass. In this condition, many different abnormalities in glucose, cholesterol, insulin, and testosterone levels develop.
— Due to the obvious shortage of calories and protein, one can encounter the phenomenon of ozempic-face — this is a decrease in subcutaneous fat of the face, which gives the face a thinner, angular expression, accentuates wrinkles and wrinkles, makes it visually older, says Nikolai Likhonosov.
According to the expert, due to the inadequately low calorie content, one may encounter a violation of the production of sex hormones. In men, testosterone production decreases, which leads to decreased libido, weakness, drowsiness, and apathy. The menstrual cycle is disrupted in women," says the endocrinologist.
Will drugs help solve the problem of obesity
Almost 44% of the Russian population is at the stage of obesity, according to Rosstat data for 2023. This is the largest category. The norm is 36% of Russians.
Experts believe that weight loss drugs will help some people lose weight, but in general they will not solve the problem of obesity.
— Drugs are not a panacea for obesity. They are useful for individuals, but they are unlikely to be able to solve the problem on a national scale. Other mechanisms are needed to ensure that the population has a healthy body weight. These include education, educating people about healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle, introducing affordable healthy food and, conversely, reducing the availability of harmful products, such as deep and ultra-deep processing, creating conditions for an active lifestyle, such as landscaping yards and bike paths, sports grounds. In general, this is a change in the culture of nutrition, the availability of medicine with qualified medical professionals," says Elena Ignatikova.
How to lose weight properly
Experts emphasize that the drugs will help only in combination with physical activity and dietary changes. Otherwise, after the end of drug therapy, a person will return to the eating habits and exercise that he had before, and gain weight again, says Anastasia Tarasco.
— Drugs are not a magic pill. Their effectiveness depends on following the doctor's recommendations on nutrition and physical activity. All drugs work only in combination with a healthy lifestyle, and not as a substitute for it.
Before prescribing the funds, experts evaluate the body mass index and family history. After that, the required dosage is determined.
— An ideal story if a person goes through a checkup before losing weight. Then he will evaluate his diet on his own or with a specialist. To do this, you need to keep a food diary, record what and how much you eat per day," says Anastasia Tarasco.
According to her, many people think that to lose weight you need to starve or go on strict diets. But in fact, more often than not, food groups need to be added to the diet — for example, more vegetables, protein, and unrefined vegetable oils. And first you need to add products so that the body gets everything it needs, and only then remove excess, for example, sugars, fat, fast food, refined products.
— And it is necessary, along with dietary changes, to engage in lifestyle changes, that is, to add physical activity. And not on a temporary basis, even if the activity is added gradually, but it will stay with you forever," Anastasia Tarasco clarifies.
She also notes the importance of sleep. If a person does not get enough sleep, his cortisol increases, which provokes overeating and excessive consumption of carbohydrates.
Elena Ignatikova recommends dealing with stress, as it can cause people to overeat and "jam". To combat anxiety, you can try meditation, yoga, outdoor walks, and hobbies.
— The basic principle is a balanced diet, which determines the norm of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and daily caloric intake. An important principle is moderation in portions. It is necessary to observe a sufficient drinking regime and adhere to physical activity. A healthy rate of weight loss is on average about 1.5 kg per week," the expert summarizes.
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