Celebrity endorsements of weight-loss injections and obesity treatments are attracting massive attention on YouTube and social media. However, they are also raising alarm about potential misuse and the spread of misleading health messages, especially among young people.
Many stars say they have seen dramatic results and openly discuss side effects. Still, even simply mentioning these treatments can act as indirect promotion. This has fueled growing concerns about how such stories are interpreted and shared.
For celebrities, whose careers often depend on their appearance, losing weight is a common goal. This may be for a role, a new image, or health reasons. Their weight-loss journeys receive wide attention and often admiration from fans.
Recently, testimonials about obesity drugs and weight-loss injections have increased. But most of the focus is on success stories, while the risks are often overlooked.
One drug, Wegovy, works by suppressing appetite. It is approved only for people with a body mass index (BMI) above 30, or over 27 if they have health issues like hypertension or diabetes.
Wegovy’s popularity grew worldwide after U.S. celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Kim Kardashian shared their experiences. Since its launch in Korea, the drug has attracted strong interest.
YouTubers and entertainers like Pungja, Pani Bottle, and comedian Kim Jun-ho have recently talked about using weight-loss injections and credited them for significant changes.
Pungja said she lost 14 kilograms after using both Saxenda and Wegovy. She explained, “Wegovy didn’t make me feel nauseous, but my appetite stayed. I didn’t eat much, but I wasn’t sure if I was losing fat or just water weight. I’m not using it anymore.”
Pani Bottle said he dropped from over 70 kilograms to 64 after using Wegovy. In a YouTube video with fellow creator Kwak Tube, he joked, “Some people accused me of doing secret ads just because I lost weight with the shot.”
Comedian Kim Jun-ho, who is getting married in July, used Wegovy to reduce his weight from 83 to 77 kilograms. His fiancée, comedian Kim Ji-min, said, “He has become more irritable since the diet. He used to be positive, but now he is more negative.”
Experts Warn of Growing Misconceptions
Health experts warn against the misconception that these drugs are for general or cosmetic use. They are strictly prescribed by doctors, and media focus on beauty uses may mislead young audiences.
Even when side effects are mentioned, the stories often glamorize the results. This can encourage casual and unsafe use.
A youth counselor said, “Many teenage girls are already taking diet pills. Compared to adults, teens who grow up online find it harder to judge what health information is true. Media often skips the risks and promotes the idea that these drugs can create the ‘ideal’ body.”
She added, “Teens trust celebrities and influencers a lot. Adults tend to research risks, but teens usually just believe what their favorite star says without looking deeper.”
The counselor also warned about unregulated and cheaper alternatives to expensive drugs like Wegovy.
“If cheaper substitutes appear with similar claims, teens might use them without knowing the risks. We have seen before how media exposure to drugs led to more youth drug crimes,” she said.
As weight-loss injections become a trend among celebrities, experts call for clearer rules on how these treatments are talked about in public. They also urge greater efforts to protect young people from risky shortcuts in the pursuit of beauty.
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