Unsupervised medication use, stigma and misinformation continue to shape obesity care in India, even as demand for GLP-1 based treatments surges. With monthly costs exceeding ₹15,000 and rising interest in quick-fix solutions, unregulated providers have been distributing GLP-1s without diagnostics or medical oversight.

This pattern emerged during the early spread of drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro in India. Before mainstream approvals, many people obtained GLP-1 injections through informal imports or e-commerce sellers. Though originally created for diabetes, these medications are now approved in India and globally for weight loss, heart health, sleep apnea, and fatty liver. Their early use, however, lacked medical supervision.