Licensed pharmacists across America are raising serious concerns about otherwise healthy individuals misusing diabetes and obesity medications for cosmetic weight loss, warning that patients using these drugs off-label often appear severely unhealthy.
Alarming Trend Among Healthy Weight Individuals
Dr. Carrie Leske, a licensed pharmacist in Minnesota, reports seeing thin people attempting to obtain prescriptions for drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. These medications belong to a class called Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1s, designed to treat diabetes and chronic obesity by mimicking natural hormones that lower blood sugar and reduce appetite. Leske told reporters that some patients using these medications inappropriately look so unhealthy they resemble chemotherapy patients.
Pharmacists sound alarm over popular drugs used for weight loss: Users ‘look like chemo patients’ https://t.co/hB3gjAwVlP
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The medications were never intended for weight loss in people already at healthy weights. Off-label use carries serious medical risks including severe dehydration, muscle loss, and pancreatitis. Pharmacists are supposed to exercise professional judgment and contact prescribing physicians when prescriptions seem questionable, since the drugs should only be used for obese patients.
Dramatic Increase in Usage
American usage of GLP-1 medications has skyrocketed from 3 percent in 2024 to 11 percent in 2026, representing an 8 percentage point jump in just two years. Roughly 15 percent of Americans now report having used these drugs for weight loss at some point, an increase of 9 percentage points. Celebrity endorsements from public figures including Oprah Winfrey, Rebel Wilson, and Whoopi Goldberg have brought these medications into mainstream attention.
Dr. Nairi Kasparian, a clinical pharmacist in Omaha, explains these medications are FDA-approved as chronic weight-management treatments meant for indefinite use, not temporary cosmetic solutions. The biggest problem occurs when people stop taking the drug. Current obesity-treatment guidance shows that stopping abruptly can result in patients regaining half to two-thirds of lost weight within a year, particularly without maintained dietary changes.
Celebrity Experiences Highlight Risks
TV personality Sharon Osbourne lost 42 pounds in four months using Ozempic but publicly stated she likely went too far. She reported being unable to gain weight afterward and expressed concern about what the medication did to her metabolism. Comedian Amy Schumer experienced severe side effects from Ozempic and Wegovy before switching to Mounjaro. She has advocated for transparency about non-traditional weight loss methods, criticizing celebrities who falsely claim smaller portions caused their dramatic transformations.
The increasing prevalence of these medications for off-label cosmetic use represents a growing public health concern as pharmacists work to balance patient demand against proper medical protocols and safety considerations.