Be cautious with weight loss injection pens.

Weight loss pens cost millions of VND.

On websites specializing in imported Japanese goods, the Specell GLP-1 Semaglutide pen is widely advertised. Sellers promote it as an injectable medication that can aid weight loss in obese individuals; treat type 2 diabetes; and reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack thanks to its ability to "increase satiety, increase insulin production, and reduce atherosclerosis."

The image shows a livestream advertisement for Japanese weight-loss injections.

For example, on the Facebook page "BNCC," a Japanese weight-loss pen was advertised as the most effective and gentle weight-loss drug, "with just one injection per week for six weeks for noticeable weight loss results, without the need for exercise. Order now and use it to get a beautiful figure." The livestream received attention from hundreds of customers.

The price of this type of pen on the market ranges from 3.8 to 4.3 million VND per pen.

Ms. Nguyen Trang Phuong ( Hanoi ) said: "Seeing how good the product was advertised, claiming effective and gentle weight loss with just a tiny injection in the abdominal area, I wanted to try it."

However, I am concerned about whether this weight loss method is sustainable; this type of injection pen is used for diabetic patients, so will using it for weight loss have any negative effects on health? Does it require a doctor's prescription, or are there any contraindications for certain individuals or medical conditions?"

Not yet licensed in Vietnam

Dr. Lam Van Hoang, Head of the Endocrinology - Diabetes Department at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, said that Specell GLP-1 is a diabetes medication that has been studied in people with diabetes and has shown effectiveness in lowering blood sugar. At the same time, it has been shown to be effective for weight loss, a fact that has been studied in a non-diabetic population and has demonstrated positive weight loss results.

Advertisements for weight-loss injections are frequently found on websites selling imported Japanese goods.

Therefore, the drug has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and obesity organizations worldwide as a weight-loss treatment. However, it is not yet permitted for use in Vietnam, so people should exercise caution.

Currently, several countries such as Canada, Australia, and some Asian countries have issued warnings about the quality of counterfeit drugs on the market.

According to a health expert, in 2021, the FDA approved the use of injectable Semaglutide for treating overweight individuals, adding another effective treatment option for overweight patients with a BMI over 27. This drug treats diabetes by increasing insulin levels in the body after each meal.

GLP-1 remains in the body for a relatively short time, only a few minutes, before being neutralized by other enzymes. Modified GLP-1 drugs are designed to resist these enzymes, allowing them to last longer, for several hours, stimulating the body to produce more insulin to lower blood sugar levels.

Do not attempt to treat obesity on your own.

The expert added that GLP1's weight loss mechanism doesn't rely solely on treating diabetes, but primarily on the drug's effect on the brain. Receptors in the brain that sense satiety receive signals from the drug. Therefore, users feel full, experience reduced appetite, and ultimately lose their desire to eat.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hoang emphasized that not everyone can lose weight in the same way, simply because each person's body absorbs food and metabolizes nutrients differently depending on gender, age, and genetics. Some people eat 100 grams of fat and absorb 50 grams, while others eat the same 100 grams of fat and only absorb 10 grams.

Because absorption rates vary, the risk of weight gain also varies. Some people take only one day for food to be eliminated from the body, while others take two days. Therefore, the length of time food remains in the digestive system differs, leading to different absorption rates.

"Underlying medical conditions will also affect nutrient absorption differently. For example, diabetes increases the risk of being overweight and makes it easier for fat to be absorbed into the bloodstream… Therefore, all medications for obesity must be prescribed by a doctor, because obesity is caused by many factors," said Dr. Hoang.

Warning about side effects

According to doctors, common side effects of GLP1 include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, stomach pain, hypoglycemia, gastritis, or enteritis. The most dangerous side effects are an increased risk of developing C-cell thyroid cancer (although very low) and acute pancreatitis.

(Pancreatitis). Therefore, this medication should not be used in patients with a history of thyroid cancer or MEN2 endocrine cancer.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/can-trong-voi-but-tiem-giam-can-192241017221718914.htm