It only took me a few minutes to secure a prescription for weight loss injections.
Yes, those controversial drugs with a long list of side effects, some of which we don’t even know about yet.
Doctors warn that these medications are often a lifelong commitment, or else the weight might come back with a vengeance.
So, how did I get a script, you ask? Well, I just answered a few questions online about my height, weight, and medical history—most of which I made up—and the friendly AI system instantly told me I needed to lose 12 kilograms.
Before I knew it, a tailored weight loss plan featuring drugs like Wegovy or Mounjaro popped up on my screen, claiming I could shed 12kg in four months.
The price? A hefty $449 per month, though I assume that’s just the cost for the medication itself.
At that price, you’d probably lose weight because you can’t afford food anymore! And just to sweeten the deal, they offered me $150 off my first order.
The catch? I had to enter my payment details upfront, and only after that would a ‘practitioner’ call me to confirm everything I had told them.
A Growing Concern
I can’t help but feel disgusted by the ease with which these online “telehealth services” are handing out potentially dangerous drugs to people who may not even need them.
I’m not going to name the website I used because I don’t want anyone to buy these drugs without the proper medical supervision.
Misuse of medications like Ozempic can exacerbate drug shortages and even lead to life-threatening consequences.
But the reality is, some people just don’t care about the known risks, like seizures, blindness, or even death.
The most troubling part? Many are using these medications without any real need, and the results can be devastating.
Friends at Risk
It pains me to say this, but some of my closest friends are using these weight loss jabs despite not needing them. Take my friend Michelle, for example.
We were catching up at a café by Bondi Beach when she opened up about her terrifying experience with Ozempic.
Michelle is a stunning 41-year-old real estate agent with three kids and a successful husband. She has a toned body and doesn’t have much weight to lose.
But still, she was using Ozempic to shed a few extra kilos.
Michelle explained that after just a week of using the drug, she felt incredibly sick—nausea, stomach pain, blurry vision, and worst of all, dark thoughts that had never crossed her mind before. She told me she started having suicidal thoughts, something she’d never experienced in her life.
The shocking part? She lost 7kg in just seven days, but she wasn’t even overweight to begin with.
She had gotten Ozempic from someone at the gym, who was passing it around like candy.
Michelle was embarrassed to admit she had used it because she wanted to look good in a bikini for her upcoming vacation to France.
But the side effects were so severe that she stopped after a week.
She said, “I didn’t even need it. I was just being vain.” Unfortunately, she’s not the only one.
A Dangerous Trend
I know of other friends who are seeking out Ozempic from questionable sources—whether it’s from gym acquaintances or sketchy websites—just because they want to lose a few kilos quickly.
They’re turning to something that could have serious consequences for their health.
I’m no saint myself, having been in recovery from substance abuse. But the desperation I see in some of my friends reminds me of the same kind of behaviors I saw when I was using.
I’ve watched people compromise their values and their health for a fleeting high or a quick fix, and that’s exactly what I see happening with these weight loss drugs.
Using Ozempic from dubious sources is no different from taking any other illicit substance without knowing exactly what’s in it. It’s risky, and it’s selfish.
People are so focused on the desire to lose weight that they ignore the very real risks involved.
And the side effects are severe: some of my friends are losing their hair, their faces are becoming gaunt, and I’ve read disturbing reports about the drug’s potential to cause cancers and conditions like stomach paralysis.
The Cost of Thinness
While these friends of mine may have slimmer bodies, they’ve aged so quickly, and it’s heartbreaking to see.
Some of them look worse than drug addicts who’ve been using for years.
It’s a stark reminder of how far some people will go to achieve a body ideal that’s not even necessary for their health.
How much longer can this go on? What are we willing to sacrifice to be thin?
As women, we’re allowed to take up space. Our bodies are not meant to be objects to be constantly shaped and reshaped.
We should be allowed to have a little extra weight, to embrace our natural selves, with all our so-called imperfections.
Self-love and body acceptance are important, yet how many of us actually believe in them?
I came across a quote recently: “Stop trying to fix your body; it was never broken.”
I wish more women could truly believe that.
So instead of reaching for a needle, maybe we should grab an apple. Our bodies will thank us for it.