Experts caution against weight-loss injections

For those looking to erase the excesses of the Spring Festival holiday feast, weight-loss injections may seem like an easy answer. Medical experts, however, warn that they are not a magic cure.

Zhou Qunyan, head of the clinical nutrition department at Wuxi People's Hospital in Jiangsu province, said that annual visits to the department have risen significantly in recent years, with more than half of patients now seeking weight-loss guidance.

"Visits typically peak ahead of warmer weather, when people begin preparing to wear lighter clothing," she said.

"Around Spring Festival and other major holidays, we sometimes see patients who finally have time to schedule a hospital appointment, as well as those concerned about holiday weight gain," Zhou added.

Local media in Hubei province also reported that obesity or endocrinology clinics at two major hospitals recorded a surge in visits around the end of this year's Spring Festival holiday on Feb 23, with many patients specifically asking about weight-loss injections.

These slimming injections, developed to treat diabetes and obesity, have gained popularity worldwide, and a variety of foreign and domestic products have gradually become available on the Chinese market since at least 2023.

"Weight-loss injections work primarily by curbing appetite and reducing cravings. They must be administered in proper cycles under a doctor's professional guidance," Zhou said.

She added that patients should first undergo a comprehensive physical assessment to determine whether they are suitable candidates for such therapy. Those with thyroid disorders or other preexisting conditions are advised against taking them.

Potential side effects of the medication include vomiting, complete loss of appetite and even more severe conditions such as acute pancreatitis.

"Patients in need of shedding weight are increasingly open to trying injections. But it is important to stress that weight-loss shots are only a tool to assist weight loss, not a solution on their own," she said.

Zhou said the treatment is potentially most suitable for those who are severely obese, experience high uric acid, gout or other obesity-related complications, and who really struggle with dietary control.

"But the only long-term and sustainable approach to losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight is to adopt healthy lifestyles and break unhealthy habits such as staying up late, eating junk or highly processed foods, and lack of exercise," she said.

Yang Aiming, chief physician at the gastroenterology department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that healthy weight management is a long-term process, with dietary balance and moderation at its core.

"A diverse diet, eaten in appropriate portions and at regular times, combined with regular physical activity and consistent weight monitoring, is key," Yang said.

"Ultimately, cultivating healthy lifestyle habits is the most reliable approach to weight management," he added.

China aims to ensure that all tertiary-level public general hospitals become capable of providing weight management clinic services by the end of this year, in an effort to tackle the growing waistlines of its people, according to the National Health Commission.