Weight loss at a cost? Growing warnings over Ozempic use as Kenyan celebrities join trend

In recent months, the buzz around semaglutide-based drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy has been growing louder in Kenya, all thanks to social media, fueling the narrative of a magic shot that changes your weight-loss journey in just a few sessions.

Also, thanks in part to public figures like content creator Murugi Munyi and internet personality Pritty Vishy, who have both publicly shared their weight loss journeys using the controversial injectable, which was originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes.

Semaglutide has found a new fan base: those seeking dramatic weight loss.

However, a growing chorus of medical professionals and former users is raising red flags over the long-term safety and sustainability of this so-called miracle drug.

From hope to hospital

In Australia, Jamie Lee, a mother of three, is speaking out after suffering three separate bowel obstructions, which she believes are linked to her 18-month use of Ozempic.

“Give me my 30 kilos back,” she told The Project, an Australian TV programme. “I’ll take that over going through this pain again.”

Jamie initially saw rapid weight loss after starting Ozempic, losing more than 30 kg in under two years.

But in early 2024, she began experiencing unexplained gastrointestinal emergencies, including severe abdominal pain that led to repeated hospitalisations. Though scans found no physical obstructions, doctors attributed her symptoms to the drug’s side effects and advised her to stop the medication.

According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia, over 698 adverse reports related to semaglutide have been logged, with 578 involving gastrointestinal issues, including 12 reported obstructions.

Lawsuits and mounting concerns

Across the Pacific, lawsuits are mounting in the US as thousands of users claim they were not warned of risks such as gastroparesis, paralysis of the stomach. Semaglutide has been linked to this condition, which can cause chronic nausea, vomiting, and difficulty digesting food.

Dr Vanita Rahman, an internal medicine specialist with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, recently warned that despite its widespread use, semaglutide is not the silver bullet it is made out to be.

“While millions qualify to use semaglutide for weight loss, research shows most users remain overweight or obese, even after years of treatment,” she wrote in a letter published in JAMA Cardiology on May 14, 2025.

Indeed, the SELECT trial, a four-year study on semaglutide, found that only 12 per cent of participants achieved a healthy body weight. And in the STEP-1 extension study, those who stopped the drug rapidly regained the lost weight.

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So, does that mean you lose weight consistently if you are on the drug, but when you stop, you regain the weight?

Back home: the Kenyan experience

Closer to home, the rise of Ozempic is not just a whisper, it is a public conversation.

Influencer and mother Murugi Munyi openly documented her semaglutide journey, crediting the shots for helping her shed excess weight and feel more in control of her appetite. However, she has since discontinued use following the sudden closure of Body by Design, the aesthetic and wellness clinic where she received her weekly injections.

The clinic, which had positioned itself as a one-stop destination for weight loss and cosmetic treatments, shut down operations abruptly in early 2025.

Multiple clients were left confused and frustrated, with reports surfacing online of prepaid packages, unanswered calls, and locked doors, but after a big case that hit the business, it had to be closed indefinitely.

Meanwhile, public figure and content creator Pritty Vishy has taken a more integrated route, documenting her weight loss journey on Ozempic while combining it with consistent gym workouts and a good diet.

Her posts reflect a mix of gym footage, progress updates, and candid reflections, offering a more holistic approach to weight management.

Some local nutritionists say her case may reflect a better long-term strategy, as physical activity can help preserve muscle mass and reduce the risk of regaining weight after discontinuation.

“Just because a celeb is on it doesn’t mean it’s for you,” warned one Nairobi-based nutritionist. “Semaglutide is not a shortcut. It comes with serious implications that need close medical supervision.”

Risks vs results

Semaglutide works by mimicking a gut hormone called GLP-1, which curbs appetite and slows digestion. While this suppresses hunger and leads to weight loss, it also introduces risks, ranging from minor side effects like nausea and constipation to more serious issues like kidney damage, pancreatitis, and bowel obstruction.

Even more concerning is the lack of long-term safety data.

“We don’t have more than four years of real-world data on this drug,” said Dr Christopher Rudge, a medico-legal expert to the Project. “That’s a very short time to understand lifelong impact.”

Some medical professionals are advocating for plant-based nutrition as a safer, longer-term solution.

New solution

As the saying goes, you are what you eat. A recent study published in The American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine found that people who ate a low-fat, plant-based diet, which includes foods like brown rice, oats, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains, lost an average of 12.1 kg in six months, compared to only 1.6 kg in people who followed regular diet advice.

They also saw big improvements in their cholesterol levels and blood sugar control. Despite these findings, only 1 in 5 primary care doctors regularly discuss plant-based diets with patients, according to a Morning Consult survey.

Back in Australia, Jamie Lee is exploring legal options to sue the makers of Ozempic.

But legal experts caution that proving a direct link between the drug and personal injury is difficult.

“You must show that the manufacturer failed to warn you, and that this failure caused your harm,” Dr Rudge explains.

"At the end of the day, no one was forced to take it, it was a personal choice."

With many Kenyans jumping on the semaglutide bandwagon, the conversation must go beyond results and delve into responsibility, on the part of doctors, influencers, and pharmaceutical companies alike.