At the very least, the demand for weight loss drugs has tripled by the summer
Russians are buying drugs for weight loss: this year, 236 million rubles have already been spent on Ozempika analogues, which is 200% more than last year. The total cost of weight loss products exceeded 4.3 billion rubles. At the same time, many people independently "prescribe" prescription medications based on semaglutide, originally intended for the treatment of diabetes, without thinking about the possible consequences, the doctors said. What can happen if such funds are taken without control is described in the Izvestia article.
Growing demand for weight loss medications
Since the beginning of 2026, Russians have purchased 2.6 times more syringe pens with semaglutide-based drugs than in the same period of 2025, the analytical company First Data told Izvestia. Against the background of growing interest in medical weight loss, the cost of such drugs has reached 236 million rubles.
— The sharp increase in sales of weight loss products online suggests that people have become more aware of them. A couple of years ago, these positions were practically not reflected in the data, but now they are showing the fastest growth," Alexander Starostin, the head of the company, told Izvestia.
The market has grown significantly by the beginning of the summer season, analysts said. From January to the end of May 2026, more than 6.9 million weight loss products worth a total of 4.3 billion rubles were purchased on marketplaces. A year earlier, during the same period, sales totaled 4 million units worth 3.5 billion rubles.
In the first five months of the year, Russians bought more than 3 million packages of semaglutide—based drugs, including Ozempik and its analogues, which is 78% more than in the same period last year, Nikolai Bespalov, Director of Development at RNC Pharma, told Izvestia. And sales doubled to 14.6 billion rubles.
— The demand for weight loss products has a pronounced seasonal character, — said Nikolay Bespalov. — This is due to the fact that people tend to get in shape by the summer. The rise begins in March and remains at a high level until April-May, and then begins to decline.
All weight loss medications are prescription drugs, but they are not always purchased as prescribed by a doctor, the expert added. According to his estimate, 60-80% of such funds are freely available.
Sales of semaglutide-based medicines continue to increase against the background of growing interest in the medical correction of excess weight. In 2025, pharmacies sold more than 5 million packages, which is three times higher than in 2024. At that time, about 1.7 million positions worth 9.7 billion rubles were acquired. Compared to 2023, sales of Ozempika's analogues increased more than tenfold in physical terms, and fivefold in monetary terms.
According to the Headway Company, by the end of January – May 2026, the volume of government purchases of medicines for the treatment of obesity reached its maximum values for the entire observation period. In the first five months of the year, the state purchased drugs worth about 1.9 billion rubles, which is 84% higher than in the same period of 2025.
— The growth is associated with an increase in the availability of modern obesity therapy and the expansion of preferential drug provision programs. In 2023-2025, domestic medicines based on semaglutide appeared on the Russian market, which significantly expanded government procurement. In particular, the development of clinical approaches to the treatment of obesity had an additional impact, the analysts noted.
How can uncontrolled reception turn out?
Gastroenterologist Andrey Simakov told Izvestia that the drugs, which include semaglutide, increase insulin sensitivity and are primarily used to treat diabetes. He noted that after the active substance enters the body, the stomach decreases and a feeling of satiety occurs faster.
To reduce weight, semaglutide preparations are prescribed only to people with diagnosed obesity or in the presence of complications such as diabetes or hypertension, said Natalia Tananakina, Candidate of Medical Sciences, endocrinologist at JSC "Medicine".
— The decision on the appointment of such medicines should be made by a doctor after examining the patient and assessing possible risks, — the expert noted. — Although safety data has already been collected for Ozempik and its analogues in the treatment of diabetes, we are talking about a relatively new group of drugs, the long-term effects of which are still being studied.
However, people often take weight loss products without medical indications at all in order to lose a couple of extra pounds. This can lead to very serious consequences, up to and including death, doctors warn.
— Patients with eating disorders buy such drugs to suppress their appetite, — said Andrey Simakov. — They suffer from compulsive overeating or are unhappy with the way their body looks. If they want to lose even more weight, they inject themselves with these drugs, which quite often ends in tragedy.
Many people have been in the cycle of "diet — breakdown — a new attempt to lose weight" for years and are experiencing emotional exhaustion, said Elena Shcherbina, a psychologist at Alter.
"In such a situation, the drug begins to be perceived as a way to get results quickly without another exhausting struggle," she said. — Social influence plays an additional role: people trust the recommendations of friends and bloggers without thinking about the risks.
Natalia Tananakina, a doctor, noted that semaglutide-based drugs have serious side effects: nausea, dehydration, the risk of pancreatitis, and the formation of eating disorders.
—The uncontrolled use and selection of doses "according to advice from the Internet" greatly increases the risk of complications," she stressed. — In addition, weight loss products do not eliminate the causes of excess weight — unhealthy eating habits and psychological problems. Therefore, after the drug is discontinued, many people face the so-called rebound effect, when the lost pounds quickly return.
According to data for 2026, about a third of Russians are overweight or obese, and the number of such patients is growing, Andrei Simakov noted. According to doctors, it's all the fault of a sedentary lifestyle, as well as a diet with an excess of simple carbohydrates and saturated fats, chronic stress and lack of sleep.
Izvestia asked the Ministry of Health and Roszdravnadzor for data on the number of obese patients identified in 2026, as well as information on the prevalence of self-medication for weight loss without a doctor's appointment.
Are dietary supplements dangerous for weight loss
According to First Data, among the leaders among weight loss products, in addition to Ozempika analogues, there are home exercise machines and dietary supplements for weight loss.
Dietary supplements are perceived by many as a safe alternative to medications and are used without medical supervision. At the same time, demand is shifting towards budgetary funds. In January – May 2026, the average price of purchased dietary supplements decreased by 9%, and specialty drinks - by 32% compared to the same period last year. Doctors warn that such savings can lead to health problems, especially when it comes to inexpensive supplements with questionable composition and effectiveness.
— The segment of cheap dietary supplements is considered particularly problematic: price reduction is often achieved by saving on the quality of raw materials, production control and product purity control, — said Natalia Tananakina, a doctor. — Undeclared pharmacologically active substances are more often found in such supplements, including those that are prohibited or have already been withdrawn from legal circulation, as well as inconsistencies with the stated dosages.
In addition, dietary supplements often contain laxatives, diuretics, and hormone-like components that are not listed on the package. This can lead to tachycardia, anxiety, insomnia, dehydration and cardiovascular complications, the doctor warned.
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