People adopt many methods to reduce obesity; in the last few years, the demand for obesity reducing medicines has also increased. People believe that medicines are more beneficial than exercise or diet, but do experts also believe this? What is the best way to reduce obesity?

Good food or medicine, which is best for fat loss: The Association of Physicians of India (API) has conducted a study in many cities, including Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. It has revealed shocking facts. 55% of people suffering from obesity believe that exercise, yoga, and walking are not effective in reducing weight, and it is just a waste of time. They say that the easiest and best way to reduce obesity is by taking medicine.

This conclusion reflects the reality of the current times. People want quick solutions instead of working hard for a long time. This is the reason why the consumption of obesity-reducing drugs has increased rapidly in India in the last 5 years. Meanwhile, new anti-obesity drugs are constantly coming into the market. According to a Reuters report, the sales of Mounjaro (tirzepatide), one of the leading weight loss drugs in India, is increasing every year. Talking about Mounjaro (tirzepatide) alone, its sales were around Rs 13 crore in May 2025, which increased to Rs 26 crore in June and Rs 30 crore in July. This trend clearly shows that people are trusting medicines more.

The question is, is taking medicines a safe and sustainable option?

Dr. Ajit Kumar, Associate Professor, Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, Delhi, explains that weight loss drugs reduce appetite, which leads to rapid weight loss. These drugs prove effective for a short period of time and sometimes also reduce health risks associated with obesity (such as diabetes, high blood pressure). But its disadvantages are also not less. These drugs can often cause nausea, diarrhea, gastrointestinal problems, and eye problems. Apart from this, the biggest risk is rebound weight gain, that is, the weight can come back rapidly as soon as the medicine is stopped. In such a situation, losing weight by relying only on medicine is not a profitable deal.\

Dr. Kumar says that the best way to control obesity is a balanced diet and regular physical activity. Although it takes more time, it does not have any major side effects. A report from Harvard Medical School also states that people who take a good diet and exercise regularly, their weight loss effect may be slow, but it lasts for a long time. This also reduces obesity.

What should those people do who want to take medicines?

Regarding this question, Professor Dr. Subhash Giri, Director of Medicine Department at RML Hospital, says that people who want to lose weight only through medicines also need to change their lifestyle. This can give better results. It is more beneficial to lose weight by taking both medicine and lifestyle together.

Research has also been done on this. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has shown that by taking Semaglutide (2.4 mg, once-weekly) and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, an average of 14.9% weight can be reduced in 68 weeks, although it has also been said that exercise and diet also play an important role in reducing weight.

Dr. Subhash says that losing weight is not magic. For this, continuous hard work and attention to diet is required.

What do the statistics say about obesity?

• According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), about 24% of women and 21% of men above 15 years of age are overweight or obese
• According to The Lancet, by 2050, around 450 million i.e. 45 crore people above the age of 25 years in India may become victims of obesity.