Japanese Obesity Society warns of side effects when overusing obesity and diabetes medications such as Maunjaro

(Tokyo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Cho Seong-mi = Local media reported on the 4th that the Japanese Obesity Society warned of the side effects of overusing obesity and diabetes treatments such as Maunjaro for excessive weight loss or dietary restrictions.

The Japanese Obesity Society issued a statement warning of the risk of health problems as the number of cases of using Maunjaro and Wigobi for dieting purposes increased.

The society pointed out that if you rapidly lose weight using drugs, ketone bodies produced when fat decomposition progresses can accumulate in the body, causing vomiting, abdominal pain, and fatigue.

There was concern about the risk of ketoacidosis, an emergency condition in which excessive accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood lowers blood acidity below the normal range.

The Japanese Obesity Society noted the possibility of overuse of obesity and diabetes medications, saying that cases of problems such as ketoacidosis have recently been reported even in people without obesity or diabetes.

The association urged people to stop using drugs and restrict their diet and visit a medical institution if they experience health problems due to an increase in ketone bodies while taking Maunjaro.

Recently, in Japan, there have been a series of reports of side effects due to use of Maunjaro, a treatment for obesity and diabetes, for purposes other than its intended purpose.

Of the 950 cases of side effects after using Maunzaro reported to the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) from 2023, when Maunzaro sales began in Japan, until the 22nd, there were 35 reports that side effects occurred after using Maunzaro for diet or beauty purposes other than its original purpose.

In principle, Maunjaro is a medicine that requires a doctor's prescription to treat obesity and diabetes, but in Japan, it can be purchased through 'free treatment' that is not covered by health insurance to lose weight for cosmetic purposes.

In Japan, drug prices for type 2 diabetes treatment are directly managed by the government and are known to be relatively cheap compared to countries such as Korea.

Accordingly, as the number of cases of purchasing maunjaro in Japan through purchasing agencies and other channels has increased, a new word, 'sushijaro' (sushi <sushi> + maunjaro), has emerged in Korea.