Caution Advised by India’s Pilates Expert on Quick-Fix Weight Loss Drugs

In India, the trend of using weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro is on the rise, initially designed for diabetes treatment. Many are now resorting to these drugs for speedy weight loss, a concern highlighted by celebrity fitness trainer Yasmin Karachiwala.

With a staggering number of overweight adults in India, there’s a rush for quick fixes, leading to the popularity of these medications. Yasmin, drawing from her three-decade experience in fitness, warns that inappropriate usage of these drugs can result in severe side effects, primarily muscle loss.

She points out that even individuals wishing to shed just a few kilograms are opting for these injections, seeking swift results without altering their lifestyles. This approach, she asserts, can be unsafe as it risks muscle loss instead of fat loss. Muscle is essential for overall strength, balance, and bone health, and a decline in muscle mass can increase risks for conditions like osteoporosis in later life.

While acknowledging that these drugs can assist specific populations—like those with diabetes or individuals dramatically overweight who have exhausted other methods—Yasmin believes they should not be a go-to for mere aesthetic goals.

Yasmin advocates for the adoption of healthy habits in lieu of shortcut methods. She stresses the importance of weight training to bolster muscle, coupled with adequate protein intake and hydration. These practices enable the body to grow stronger and healthier over time.

She emphasizes that muscle development is a gradual process. While fat loss may come easier, losing muscle through weight-loss drugs poses future health threats.

This message was shared during the inauguration of her Yasmin Karachiwala Body Image studio in New Delhi. Renowned for training Bollywood icons such as Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, and Ananya Panday, her core belief remains: prioritizing health over immediate results.