The weight loss market is chaotic.

Exploiting the reluctance of overweight and obese individuals to exercise and adjust their diets, a plethora of advertisements promising rapid weight loss have emerged, such as "lose 10kg in a week," "lose weight without dieting or exercising," and "lose weight while you sleep"...

A series of advertisements promoting rapid weight loss have emerged, posing potential health risks - Photo: Screenshot

Promises of "miracle" weight loss sound idealistic, but they often come with numerous health risks. Many people seeking rapid weight loss have resorted to using unregulated weight loss products, ultimately suffering both financial loss and health problems.

The advertisement taps into the desire for 'rapid weight loss'.

On social media, websites advertising weight loss methods are everywhere, with attractive promises like "rapid weight loss," "lose 10kg in 7 days without dieting or exercising," etc.

In online groups dedicated to rapid weight loss, it's not uncommon to find posts advertising weight loss pills, herbal teas, coffees, fat-burning creams, and other products with "miraculous" effects.

Furthermore, many products even impersonate doctors, nutritionists, or use images of celebrities to increase credibility, or forge certificates from the Ministry of Health to deceive consumers.

A common tactic used by these people is to employ "before-and-after" images to create a deceptive effect. Many online stores use photos of people who have successfully lost weight to demonstrate their effectiveness.

Or post an emotional story about someone who had failed at weight loss but "succeeded thanks to this product".

The articles mainly target the desire of overweight and obese people to lose weight quickly, along with promotional offers such as "recruiting weight loss models"; "the first 5 customers receive a 50% discount"...

TikTok account B. advertised a type of "weight-loss pineapple candy" that claimed to cause "miraculous" weight loss in a short period of time.

According to the advertisement, simply chewing a bag of colorful, flavored candies without dieting or exercising can help you lose 16kg.

To persuade buyers, the advertisement features before-and-after photos of a woman who lost weight from 62kg after giving birth to 46kg by chewing pineapple candy. A bag of candy is advertised for sale at 200,000-300,000 VND.

"I only tried eating 7 pills and lost 3kg of fat. Besides weight loss, this product doesn't cause fatigue, doesn't require dieting, and doesn't cause diarrhea," this account advertised.

Liver and kidney failure require hospitalization due to weight loss.

Many patients have been hospitalized with liver and kidney failure due to taking weight-loss drugs. Bach Mai Hospital previously admitted a patient from Quang Ninh who had to have their esophagus and stomach removed due to taking weight-loss medication.

This patient was recommended a very effective weight-loss drug by a friend. However, after using the fourth packet, the patient experienced shortness of breath, chills, thirst, and a sudden drop in body temperature. The patient was admitted to the emergency room in a coma, and a CT scan revealed brain damage.

According to the forensic examination results, the weight-loss product used by the patient contained Sibutramine, a toxic substance banned by the Ministry of Health for use in pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements due to its dangerous effects on users' health.

Sibutramine was once widely used to treat obesity but has been banned in the US, Europe, and Vietnam due to the risks outweighing the benefits. Large studies have shown that this drug increases the risk of stroke and serious cardiovascular complications.

In Vietnam, since 2010, the Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) has stopped granting import licenses for Sibutramine, suspended its circulation, and recalled all products containing this substance.

In another case, Ms. LN, experiencing persistent insomnia, visited the Weight Loss Center at Tam Anh Hospital for examination.

According to Ms. N., after participating in online weight loss groups and seeing many people praising pineapple candy for rapid weight loss with a guarantee of losing 2-3kg in 7 days without causing fatigue or dehydration, she decided to buy a pack to try it out for over 200,000 VND.

"The seller told me to eat and drink normally, that these candies would help reduce my appetite, promote gradual weight loss, and not cause fatigue. I ate a whole pack, but instead of losing weight, I gained 3kg. Not only that, I also suffered from insomnia," Ms. N. said.

Ms. N's friend, who also uses this pineapple candy, always feels thirsty, even after drinking plenty of water. Along with that, she feels tired, lethargic, and weak, and has no appetite for rice.

Is it possible to lose weight without dieting or exercising?

According to Dr. Le Ba Ngoc, deputy director of the Weight Loss Center at Tam Anh Hospital, obesity is a disease that requires long-term management and treatment, similar to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic illnesses.

Therefore, the information being widely advertised on social media about "weight loss candies, pills, and coffees that help you lose weight quickly" is false.

Products and dietary supplements that are not tested and approved by health authorities can pose many health risks.

In fact, the Food Safety Department of the Ministry of Health has previously reported the discovery of many products advertised as weight-loss aids containing dangerous banned substances, notably Sibutramine and Phenolphthalein.

Sibutramine reduces appetite and creates a feeling of fullness, thus supporting weight loss. Phenolphthalein stimulates the intestinal mucosa, increases intestinal motility, and promotes bowel movements, leading to dehydration and weight loss.

However, these two drugs are not licensed for circulation by the Ministry of Health due to numerous undesirable side effects, such as Sibutramine increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (stroke, myocardial infarction, hypertension, arrhythmias), and Phenolphthalein potentially causing cancer.

Currently, the Ministry of Health has approved two medications for weight loss treatment in obese individuals: Orlistat and Liraglutide 3.0 mg. However, these are prescription medications.

Medication is only effective when used appropriately after considering its indications and contraindications; patients should not self-medicate without consulting a doctor.

According to Doctor Le Ba Ngoc, it is impossible to lose weight or reduce body fat without adopting a healthy and scientific lifestyle.

Relying solely on weight-loss medications and foods will not yield results. More importantly, the causes of obesity are often complex and involve many different medical specialties.

"Many factors contributing to uncontrolled eating and lack of exercise need to be identified, such as anxiety and depression, the impact of living and working environments, and certain medical conditions that reduce physical activity..."

Therefore, to diagnose and treat obesity according to medical standards, a multidisciplinary approach is needed (endocrinology, nutrition, sports medicine, psychology - psychiatry, etc.). "The collaboration of a multidisciplinary team in a weight loss treatment center can help patients achieve effective and sustainable weight loss," Dr. Ngoc affirmed.

According to Associate Professor Nguyen Anh Tuan, head of the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at Military Central Hospital 108, the principle of weight loss is to reduce calorie intake and increase physical activity to eliminate excess body fat.

In addition, it is necessary to adhere to a suitable diet and a scientific weight loss plan. At the same time, to ensure safe weight loss, without affecting health and maintaining long-term weight stability, weight loss should be less than 1kg per week.

"There is no way to lose weight without adjusting your diet and exercising," Associate Professor Tuan affirmed.

Regarding the use of weight-loss drugs, Associate Professor Tuan clarified that, based on their mechanism of action, weight-loss drugs are divided into four groups: drugs that affect the absorption of fat in the digestive tract, GLP-1 receptor agonists, combination drugs (multiple active ingredients), and sympathomimetic drugs.

"Although effective in weight loss, these drugs also have side effects such as digestive disorders, impaired absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, kidney damage, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, renal failure, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure..."

These weight-loss medications must be prescribed by a doctor and accompanied by lifestyle changes.

In particular, nowadays, with the proliferation of weight-loss supplements online, many products of unknown origin are very likely to contain banned substances that can harm health.

Therefore, overweight and obese individuals should consult with a specialist doctor before using weight-loss medications or supplements to avoid adverse health effects," Associate Professor Tuan advised.

The Ministry of Health warns that a number of weight-loss products contain banned substances.

In recent years, the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) has repeatedly issued warnings about lozenges, pills, and weight-loss supplements containing banned substances.

Accordingly, most weight-loss products currently advertised are in the form of dietary supplements or nutritional supplements.

These products are self-declared products. Authorities discover substandard product quality through post-inspection or when patients experience problems after using the product.

In 2024, the Poison Control Center at Bach Mai Hospital received a case of a patient who had used an Apple Detox weight loss product purchased online through social media.

According to the analysis results of the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the aforementioned product contains Sibutramine, a substance prohibited for use in health supplements. The Ministry of Health has also not yet issued a product registration certificate for this product.

Previously, the Food Safety Administration also issued a warning about the health supplement Feo Pineapple and the herbal supplement Moc Slim containing the banned substances Sibutramine and Phenolphthalein. These are two products advertised to aid weight loss.

Do not use medication without a doctor's prescription.

In 2022, the Ministry of Health issued the professional document "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity," according to which the general principle of treatment is that lifestyle intervention is the foundation for ensuring sustainable and safe weight loss, including nutritional interventions, physical exercise, behavioral changes, psychological support, medication, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Furthermore, in the field of traditional medicine, the Ministry of Health has authorized the implementation of a list of techniques to support weight loss, alongside exercise, dietary restrictions, and proper nutrition throughout the treatment process. In some cases, surgical methods are applied for weight loss.

Regarding weight loss medication, according to the Ministry of Health, if weight loss goals are not achieved through lifestyle interventions in patients with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, drug treatment should be considered.

Two medications approved for the treatment of obesity include Orlistat and Liraglutide 3.0 mg. Weight-loss medications should only be used under the guidance of a qualified physician.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bat-nhao-thi-truong-giam-can-20250305143408818.htm