Experts warn against unsafe weight-loss treatments, urge proper medical care

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The Philippine Star

September 22, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Injectable weight-loss treatments are becoming increasingly popular in the Philippines but health experts are warning Filipinos against self-medication and purchasing unregistered or compounded products online.

They said growing demand for obesity treatment must be matched by greater attention to patient safety.

The call was made during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum marking World Patient Safety Day and Obesity Prevention Awareness Week, where doctors, patient advocates and health care stakeholders stressed that treating obesity safely begins with recognizing it as a chronic disease requiring proper diagnosis, appropriate treatment and continued medical supervision.

The warning comes as the Philippines faces a significant obesity burden.

The latest data from the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) show that that the prevalence of obesity among Filipino adults aged 20 to 59 years old rose to 44.5 percent in 2025 from 39.8 percent in 2023.

Nemencio Nicodemus Jr., an endocrinologist from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, said the growing prevalence is particularly concerning because obesity is associated with four of the five leading causes of death among Filipinos: ischemic heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.

Safe obesity care

Wei Sun, general manager of Novo Nordisk Philippines, stressed that the availability of medical treatments for obesity should not encourage self-medication.

“Prescription medicines for weight management should be prescribed by a qualified health care professional and obtained through legitimate channels, with treatment based on an individual patient’s condition and medical needs,” said Sun.

One of the weight-management medicines recently launched in the Philippines is semaglutide (Wegovy®), a Philippine FDA-approved prescription medicine for appropriate patients living with obesity or overweight. While it offers another treatment option for weight management, Wegovy® should be used only under the guidance and supervision of a qualified health care professional.

The media forum also emphasized that medicines are only one component of obesity management. Nicodemus stressed that, similar to hypertension and diabetes, obesity requires long-term management rather than a “magic pill” or quick solution.

Appropriate care may involve medical treatment alongside balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate sleep and continued guidance from health care professionals.

Providing the patient perspective, Karen Villanueva of the Obesity Philippines Association – a newly formed group representing and advocating for people living with obesity – shared some of the everyday challenges faced by people living with obesity, including “food noise,” or persistent thoughts and urges related to food that may be influenced by biological and hormonal factors.

She urged health care workers and the public to move away from stigma and body shaming, which can discourage people living with obesity from consulting health care professionals and getting appropriate care.

With patient safety in focus, experts urged Filipinos to consult qualified health care professionals before using any weight-management medicine, obtain prescription treatments only through legitimate channels and avoid products from unauthorized online sellers.

Suspected unregistered, counterfeit or illegally sold medicines may also be reported to the Philippine Food and Drug Administration.