In 2018, V G, a 51-year-old man from Mumbai, was rushed to the hospital with accelerated hypertension and required aggressive medical intervention. With a historical past of pre-diabetes, excessive ldl cholesterol, and a longstanding smoking behavior, he was at important cardiometabolic danger. On the time, he weighed 116 kg, with a BMI of 36.6 and an alarming waist circumference of 112 cm.
Earlier this yr, below medical supervision, V G started taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide) at a 5 mg dose. Inside a number of months, he misplaced 8 kg and diminished his waist circumference by 6 cm — a sign of great visceral fats loss. His blood sugar ranges additionally returned to the conventional vary, reversing his pre-diabetes.
V G’s journey exhibits that Injectable weight-loss medicine like Mounjaro and Wegovy are quickly reshaping how India tackles weight problems and associated well being points. Whereas Mounjaro has been out there in India since March 2025, Wegovy – a model identify for high-dose semaglutide – was solely launched in June.
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“Sure, lots of people are opening as much as the usage of anti-obesity drugs. These medicine, each Wegovy and Mounjaro, are authorised for continual weight administration and diabetes,” stated Dr Rajiv Kovil, head of diabetology, Zandra Healthcare, and co-founder, Rang De Neela Initiative.
Calling these medicine a “sport changer globally” and now in India, Varun Rattan, founder, Evolve Health, attributed the demand to “rising weight problems and intense cultural pressures“. Dr Prashant Hansraj Salvi, advisor, minimal invasive, bariatric and metabolic Surgical procedure, Jupiter Hospital, Thane, stated international curiosity in these medicine is being mirrored in India. “Whereas detailed native knowledge is proscribed, the worldwide pattern clearly exhibits rising acceptance,” Dr Salvi stated.
A shift pushed by science and social media
Dr Vyankatesh Shivane, advisor diabetologist and metabolic doctor, division of endocrinology, Jaslok Hospital and Analysis Centre, Mumbai, informed indianexpress.com that younger Indians of their 30s and 40s are inquiring about these medicine. “Social media has performed a key function in spreading consciousness about Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic. Whereas Ozempic was initially used to deal with kind 2 diabetes, Mounjaro and Wegovy are actually thought of anti-obesity brokers,” he stated.
Dr Shivane famous that in line with Indian BMI pointers, anybody with a BMI over 25 – or with related danger components like hypertension, ldl cholesterol, diabetes or PCOD – could also be eligible for these therapies.
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A 31-year-old girl, weighing 104.3 kg, started taking Mounjaro at 2.5 mg per week in April 2025. After finishing the preliminary four-week course, the dosage was elevated to five mg. “It helped with urge for food management and diminished cravings, particularly for sugar and junk meals,” she stated. At her final session in Could, she had misplaced nearly 6 kgs.
What are these weight reduction medicine all about?
Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy belong to a category of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, initially developed to deal with diabetes and weight reduction. They mimic a pure intestine hormone (GLP-1) that stimulates insulin manufacturing and lowers blood sugar.
“Ozempic is the injectable semaglutide model authorised for diabetes, whereas Wegovy is the model authorised for weight problems. Each have the identical molecules, however dosing is barely totally different. The dosing for Wegovy is greater as a result of these medicine work at a decrease dose as an anti-diabetic drugs and at the next dose as an anti-obesity drug,” stated Dr Kovil.
Dr Shivane identified that the effectiveness of GLP-1 receptor agonists has turn out to be clear over the previous 15 years. “The primary such drug marketed in India was liraglutide (Victoza), which induced round 8–10 per cent weight reduction over six to eight months. Now we’ve newer, stronger variations like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro,” Dr Shivane stated.
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Dr Kovil stated weight problems contributes to circumstances like diabetes, excessive ldl cholesterol, blood strain, sleep apnea, fatty liver, arthritis, and even 14 sorts of most cancers. “Medication like Wegovy and Mounjaro may also help folks with weight problems (with out diabetes) lose 15–20 per cent of their weight, resulting in remission of a number of associated well being points and enhancing general perform,” stated Dr Kovil.
Nonetheless, Dr Salvi careworn these are long-term therapies for medical weight problems, not fast fixes or beauty options, and have to be used below medical supervision.
What units Mounjaro aside?
Ozempic is injectable semaglutide, however it isn’t out there in India.
Wegovy, now out there in India, is semaglutide at the next dose. “Each Ozempic and Wegovy have been proven to trigger 16–18 per cent weight reduction in 52 weeks,” stated Dr Shivane.
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Mounjaro incorporates tirzepatide, a twin receptor agonist (GLP-1 and GIP), and differs from semaglutide. “This ‘twincretin’ impact has proven 22–25 per cent weight reduction in scientific research, greater than both semaglutide-based drug,” stated Dr Shivane.
“The twin motion improves weight reduction and blood sugar management,” stated Dr Kovil. These medicine are usually injected as soon as every week subcutaneously, like insulin. An oral model of semaglutide (Rybelsus) can also be out there however is much less efficient than the injectable kind, stated Dr Shivane.
Dr Kovil concurred: “When the 2 hormones are mixed, it helps in higher weight reduction and higher blood sugar management.”
How are these medicine administered?
Administered as soon as every week by way of subcutaneous injection, just like insulin –– each Sunday, for instance, and the affected person can self-administer the injection –– these medicine are extremely efficient in aiding weight reduction.
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Semaglutide can also be out there as an oral pill known as Rybelsus, stated Dr Shivane. “Whereas it’s extra reasonably priced and extensively accepted, its weight reduction efficacy is decrease than injectable semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy), presumably as a result of absorption or dosing components,” he stated.
Are weight reduction medicine a foolproof answer? (Photograph: Unsplash)
How do these medicine assist with weight reduction?
These medicine scale back abdomen emptying and suppress urge for food. “Additionally they goal mind centres that regulate cravings,” stated Dr Kovil. Usually, when a individual eats much less, the physique reduces its basal metabolic charge (BMR), making it tougher to drop some weight. “However these medicine stop that drop in BMR, serving to sufferers proceed to burn energy effectively,” he stated.
Who ought to keep away from them, and what are the unintended effects?
Widespread unintended effects – with Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic – embody nausea, vomiting, acidity, burping, hiccups, diarrhoea, belly ache, and urge for food loss. “Rarer problems embody pancreatitis, retinal adjustments (necessitating eye exams), and elevated danger of medullary thyroid carcinoma, particularly for these with a household historical past,” Dr Shivane stated, including that earlier than prescribing these drugs, it’s necessary to take a whole household historical past examine.
The 31-year-old affected person reported delicate weak point close to the tip of the week earlier than her subsequent dose, occasional dehydration, and a disrupted menstrual cycle, which lasted just one.5 days.
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Sufferers with present gastrointestinal points or gallstones want additional warning. “These medicine usually are not for everybody. An intensive medical and household historical past is important,” stated Dr Kovil.
The upside is that these medicine have additionally undergone giant cardiovascular end result trials. “They’ve proven important reductions in all-cause mortality in high-risk sufferers with diabetes or coronary heart/kidney points. Therefore, the US FDA has beneficial their use in such high-risk sufferers,” stated Dr Shivane.
Weight-loss medicine vs bariatric surgical procedure
Based on Dr Kovil, injectable therapies provide scalability and a non-invasive possibility in comparison with bariatric surgical procedure, which is restricted to a smaller affected person inhabitants.
Nonetheless, he warned that stopping these medicine usually leads to weight regain, usually 10–12 per cent, inside a yr. “These drugs are only when taken long-term and paired with life-style adjustments,” Dr Kovil stated.
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Way of life remains to be key
For V G, the advantages prolonged properly past glycemic management. “His want for blood strain drugs diminished from three to 2, and he minimize his smoking behavior in half, displaying higher general well being consciousness,” stated Dr Kovil.
Specialists reiterated that these drugs usually are not magic bullets. “They’re not substitutes for wholesome habits. Eating regimen and train stay the cornerstone of any weight reduction journey,” stated Dr Kovil.
The feminine affected person admitted that she has not been capable of observe exercises “diligently as a result of my work and life-style,” however manages a minimum of 25 minutes a day with Zumba, weights, pickleball/badminton. “Beforehand, the exercise was zero,” she stated.
Specialists beneficial a weight loss program that’s low in carbohydrates and fats, and excessive in fibre and protein. As for train, they beneficial a minimum of 45–60 minutes every day, together with muscle-strengthening or cardio workouts like biking, swimming, jogging, skipping, brisk strolling, or stair climbing.
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Train is vital (Photograph: Getty Photographs/Thinkstock)
It’s additionally necessary to notice that muscle loss is frequent if these drugs usually are not paired with a balanced weight loss program and professional steering, making skilled supervision key, stated Dr Salvi.
Rattan asserted that whereas these medicine take the sting off fixed starvation, they enhance the necessity for professional steering. “Nutritionists and trainers aren’t being changed, however their roles are evolving. They’re your important companions, guaranteeing this highly effective device interprets into protected, wholesome, and lasting outcomes. The fats loss journey nonetheless wants them, simply otherwise,” stated Rattan.
In scientific apply, Dr Shivane first recommends a three-month trial of weight loss program and train. “Provided that the affected person is compliant however doesn’t drop some weight, do I prescribe Mounjaro or Wegovy,” he stated. Price stays a big barrier – month-to-month bills can vary from Rs 25,000 to Rs 40,000, and insurance coverage doesn’t cowl it.
“None of those drugs work in isolation. The most effective outcomes are seen after they’re mixed with strict weight loss program and common train,” Dr Shivane stated.
DISCLAIMER: This text is predicated on info from the general public area and/or the specialists we spoke to. At all times seek the advice of your well being practitioner earlier than beginning any routine.
