"Weight Dropped Rapidly... Anyone Can Get It Easily": Why a Woman in Her 20s Quit Mountzaro After Losing 6kg in a Month

Concerns Growing over Use for Cosmetic Purposes in Japan

Expert Warns, "Misuse Should Be Avoided"

In Japan, as the use of the obesity treatment drug Mountzaro for cosmetic or weight loss purposes increases, concerns are growing over side effects and misuse.

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"Anyone Can Get It If They Want"... Experience of a Woman in Her 20s

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun on September 15, two consultations related to Mountzaro were recently filed at the Kumamoto Prefecture Consumer Life Center, illustrating the growing problem of people using the drug for cosmetic or weight loss purposes. All those who sought consultation were women in their 20s, who had purchased the product through online consultations or cosmetic surgery clinics and contacted the center over issues with canceling their recurring purchases.

Ms. A, a woman in her 20s living in Kumamoto City, explained in an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun last July how she came to buy Mountzaro, saying, "Anyone can get it if they want."

Ms. A started searching for information online after seeing an acquaintance lose weight using Mountzaro. She then found a hospital selling the drug and, around mid-May, sent her name and address via the messaging app LINE. After a brief phone consultation, she purchased a one-month supply for about 17,000 yen (approximately 150,000 won).

After starting the medication, her appetite decreased significantly. She felt that eating just one meal a day was enough and there were even days when she ate nothing at all. However, on the day after taking the drug, she felt lethargic and began receiving comments from people around her saying she "didn't look well." She lost about 6 kilograms in roughly one month.

Ms. A became anxious about losing weight too quickly and ultimately stopped using the drug. She said, "I have no intention of using it again in the future."

Image extracted by AI showing a person facing the mount.

Rise in Cosmetic Prescriptions for Mountzaro

Mountzaro is a medication approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Recently, however, more people have been using it for cosmetic or weight loss purposes.

However, using Mountzaro for purposes other than its intended medical indication can pose health risks. Even if used as directed, serious side effects such as hypoglycemia or acute pancreatitis may occur. Dr. Gen Doi of Doi Internal Medicine Clinic in Minami Ward, Kumamoto City, told the Yomiuri Shimbun, "Using the drug for purposes other than its intended use can lead to health damage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.