India's Weight-Loss Drug Trend: Promising Solutions or Risky Escapes?

Tue Nov 04 2025 17:13:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As India's burgeoning weight-loss drug market expands rapidly, experts voice concerns over misuse and the medical implications. A closer look at the landscape of weight-loss drugs in India reveals both opportunities and potential risks.

In India, the growing popularity of weight-loss drugs originally developed for diabetes is prompting a surge in demand among urban professionals. While these medications promise significant weight loss results, medical experts warn of potential misuse and the importance of a holistic approach to weight management. The market for these drugs has exploded, raising concerns over accessibility, side effects, and societal attitudes towards obesity. As generics enter the market, the discussion around obesity shifts from lifestyle choices to recognizing it as a chronic disease.

The calls come thick and fast to Mumbai-based diabetologist Rahul Baxi - but not just from patients struggling to control blood sugar.

Increasingly, it is young professionals asking the same thing: Doctor, can you start me on weight-loss drugs?

Recently, a 23-year-old man came in, worried about the 10kg he'd gained after starting a demanding corporate job. One of my gym friends is on [weight loss] jabs, he said.

Dr Baxi says he refused, asking him what he would do after losing 10kg on the drug.

Stop, and the weight comes back. Keep going, and without exercise you'll start losing muscle instead. These medicines aren't a substitute for a proper diet or lifestyle change, he told him.

Such conversations are becoming increasingly common as demand for weight-loss drugs explodes in urban India - a country with the world's second-largest number of overweight adults and more than 77 million people with Type 2 diabetes.

Originally developed to treat diabetes, these drugs are now being hailed as game changers for weight loss, offering results that few previous treatments could match. Yet their growing popularity has also raised difficult questions - about the need for medical supervision, the risks of misuse, and the blurred line between treatment and lifestyle enhancement.

Doctors warn that most users can regain weight within a year of stopping, as the body resists weight loss and old cravings return, while prolonged use without exercise can strip away muscle along with fat. The frenzy surrounding these drugs is evident, with stories emerging of patients acquiring them from non-medical sources and using them without proper medical guidance.

The market for anti-obesity drugs has surged from $16 million in 2021 to nearly $100 million today, indicating a significant shift in consumer behavior and health management in India. As new generics are anticipated, the affordability may lead to increased misuse, prompting concerns among healthcare providers.

Despite the allure of quick fixes, health professionals emphasize that true weight management requires a balanced approach involving nutrition, exercise, and sustainable lifestyle changes.

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