Gen Z Trends Drinking Diabetes To Lose Weight, Is It Safe?

Heavy Weight Loss Diet (Freepik/coconie_studio)

JAKARTA - Generation Z is now increasingly known for its practical and efficient lifestyle choices. They also leave the gym sport and choose to take medicine. One of the newest trends to steal attention is the use of diabetes drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

This is considered a weight loss aid. This phenomenon illustrates the shift in preferences from traditional methods such as sports and diets to more instant pharmaceutical solutions.

Reported by VOI from the NY Post page on Friday, January 3, 2025, according to a recent survey conducted by digital health platform Tebra, more than 25% Americans are considering using GLP-1 drugs to help lose weight.

Among them, Generation Z is the most prominent group with 37% saying it will switch from gym to pharmacy in an effort to reach their ideal body in the coming year.

This trend also shows significant gender differences. Women are more likely to use this drug than men, with 30% of women and 20% of men express interest. In addition, women's weight loss targets are also higher, an average of 23 pounds compared to 19 pounds in men. This reflects greater social pressure on women to have an ideal body.

This inequality is certainly not surprising. According to Gallup data, considering that since 1999, women have more often declared themselves overweight than men. Women also face more frequent assessments of their bodies than men.

Although interest in this drug is increasing, many Americans feel that high costs make it difficult to reach. In fact, 64% of those interested mention costs as a major concern, followed by concerns about side effects with a 59% percentage.

This weight loss drug, which was originally intended to treat type 2 diabetes, could cost thousands of dollars and has a long list of potential dangerous side effects, even the risk of death. However, the majority of 86% believe that the benefits are worth the risk.

This is why 66% of Americans now believe these drugs are more effective than traditional methods such as diet and exercise. Although Generation Z is most interested in trying this drug, the older generation believes in its effectiveness more.

Baby boomer, which is the generation that is currently 56-74 years old (born 1946-1964). The average baby boomer group as much as 72% believes that this drug is more effective than traditional methods.

Generation X follows at 70%, while millennials and Generation Z are more doubtful. There is also a significant gender gap, with 75% of women believing in the effectiveness of this drug compared to 53% of men.

As interest in GLP-1 drugs increases, some people start taking risks by buying counterfeit drugs or using them without medical guidance. Concerns about addiction and lack of medical scrutiny have side effects.

The popularity of these drugs may be related to the frustration of many people who have failed to achieve their weight loss goals despite trying various ways. Nearly half of Americans surrendered to their New Year's resolutions in the past, some even stopped dieting in February.

Despite the potential health benefits and relentless praise on social media, all GLP-1 drugs can only be used by individuals who receive recipes from professional medical personnel.