The alarming trend of Ozempic use at local gyms is sparking serious concern, with medical experts issuing strong warnings about the risks involved. Weight loss injections have seen a massive surge in demand recently, attracting not only those struggling with their weight but surprisingly also very fit individuals trying to enhance their physiques. But here’s where it gets controversial — many gym enthusiasts are turning to NHS-prescribed medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy, hoping to safely accelerate fat loss and muscle definition.
It might seem odd that physically active people, often much leaner than the typical patient these drugs are meant for, are now embracing a potent medication originally aimed at obesity and diabetes patients. But these fitness fans tell Sun Health that these injections help them reach a lean, sculpted body with less dietary struggle. What most people don’t realize is that losing fat is crucial not only for health but also for bodybuilders during the “cutting” phase, where trimming down to a low body fat percentage is key to show muscle definition.
The UK's official drug regulator, the MHRA, has explicitly cautioned against using these weight loss drugs for purely cosmetic reasons. Experts strongly advise against slim individuals using these injections because the potential side effects are not well-studied in people with already low fat levels—and could actually be more dangerous.
Dr Amos Ogunkoya, a GP and sports medicine specialist, tells Sun Health: "Using weight loss injections while already having low body fat is a risky choice. These medications are designed for people with obesity or diabetes, functioning by slowing digestion and cutting appetite. If your energy stores are low, you quickly risk dehydration, fatigue, or even muscle loss. Side effects like nausea and diarrhea become particularly dangerous when combined with regular exercise."
He also warns that insufficient calorie intake or fat reserves can disrupt hormones in both men and women, and even affect mental health by triggering anxiety and depression. "In short, these drugs are not shortcuts—they come with significant risks," Dr Ogunkoya concludes.
Meanwhile, the increasing enthusiasm for weight loss injections alarms eating disorder specialists, who highlight that people already sensitive about food may be harmed further by such drugs. Dr Donald Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, notes that some bodybuilders are mixing GLP-1 agonists with performance-enhancing drugs and extremely strict diets, which could amplify dangers.
"It’s critical to stress these meds were never intended for lean athletes," Dr Grant says. "We simply don’t know the full risk profile for people with a low body fat percentage."
For example, Wegovy, Ozempic’s cousin, and Mounjaro belong to a category called GLP-1 receptor agonists. Initially developed for diabetes patients, they encourage insulin release and reduce blood sugar but also trick the brain into feeling full longer by mimicking a natural hormone. This helps users eat less and lose weight.
For gym lovers chasing that chiseled look, these drugs seem like a godsend to achieve low fat without extreme dieting. Dr Michael Israetel, a competitive bodybuilder and sport scientist with a PhD, tells Sun Health he wouldn’t consider dieting without Ozempic. "As long as you get enough protein and maintain muscle-friendly calories, taking it makes cutting much easier with less hunger and better sleep — which is often disrupted by dieting."
His experience illustrates how the drug dulls appetite so much that eating normal meals felt like a huge challenge. "I remember eating sushi and struggling to finish even half because I felt so full. It allowed me to stop eating once satisfied, with no food cravings—a real game-changer."
However, bodybuilding’s darker side cannot be ignored. Despite bans, performance-enhancing drugs remain widely used. In 2023, bodybuilder Neil Currey tragically died at 34, with an inquest revealing steroid abuse and mental health issues. Another athlete, Zak Wilkinson, suffered severe health emergencies after years of steroid use and hefty spending.
While anabolic steroids have been accessible to some for years, the question arises: how are relatively healthy gym goers getting these tightly controlled weight loss drugs? NHS prescriptions require a BMI of 30+ with at least four related health conditions, but private prescriptions only require BMI over 30 and one health problem. Critics say clinics exploit loopholes, making it too easy to acquire these injections.
Dr Donald Grant warns that many obtain these drugs through unregulated channels like black markets or social media, bypassing medical supervision—which poses grave dangers. Moreover, BMI alone is an imperfect measure; it can’t differentiate between muscle and fat, so muscular individuals may qualify despite not being overweight.
Interestingly, some medical clinics, like Leicester’s Headland Clinic run by Dr Omar Babar, prescribe GLP-1 medications off-label to a wider range of patients, including fitness enthusiasts. They often practice “microdosing,” giving much smaller doses than standard obesity treatments, reducing typical side effects and controlling appetite without drastic impacts.
Dr Babar says, "Microdosing helps reduce food noise for gymgoers and appears safer with fewer side effects."
Dr Michael Israetel reveals he started at a low dose and gradually increased it, noting early mild nausea and heartburn, which improved by spreading meals and limiting fats.
The MHRA strongly discourages using these drugs without a doctor’s prescription, especially from unauthorized sources like social media or beauty salons.
Why do these jabs pose such risks for slim users?
Muscle Loss: Ozempic-like drugs burn fat rapidly but can also break down muscle. Muscle is essential not only for aesthetics but also for a healthy metabolism that burns calories efficiently. For lean gym users with minimal fat to shed, the body risks eating muscle instead, which deteriorates strength and function. Dr Amos explains this can lead to a condition called relative energy deficiency (RED), common in athletes, causing severe hormonal imbalance, bone weaknesses, menstrual disruptions, and reduced libido.
Digestive Troubles: Vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation are common and can interfere badly with fitness routines. In extreme cases, serious complications like gastroparesis—where stomach muscles fail to move food properly—can develop.
Dizziness and Fainting: Weight loss jabs can induce low blood sugar. Endurance athletes, in particular, risk hypoglycemia if they don’t maintain adequate carbohydrate intake, which could lead to dizziness, seizures, or even unconsciousness.
Serious Health Threats: These include gallbladder problems, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas causing severe abdominal pain), and kidney injury mostly due to dehydration from side effects like nausea and vomiting. Dr Tom Curtis highlights how fluid loss hampers kidney function, which can lead to acute injury.
In all cases, the importance of proper diet, hydration, and medical supervision cannot be overstated—especially for those with a lower BMI or high activity levels.
And this is the part most people miss: despite their popularity, the long-term safety of these drugs in slim, athletic individuals remains unproven and potentially risky.
Fat loss injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro are revolutionizing weight loss by suppressing appetite and improving insulin response—but these benefits come with trade-offs. NHS availability is tightly regulated, requiring obesity-related criteria, while private clinics have more flexible standards, sometimes raising ethical and safety questions.
Common side effects mainly affect the digestive system and can be severe in rare cases. Though evidence on mental health repercussions is inconclusive, reports of patient deaths linked to these drugs in the UK have raised alarms.
So, what do you think? Is it acceptable for fit individuals to use these medications for cosmetic or athletic enhancement despite the risks? Should stricter regulations be enforced, or is this simply the next frontier in fitness optimization? Share your thoughts and join the debate below!
