The Risks Behind Weight Loss Advertisements: The Spread of "Diabetes Medication Dieting" Among Women with Strong "Desire to Be Thin" Despite Being Underweight, and the Reality of Insufficient Information

The trend of using GLP-1 medications (and GIP/GLP-1 medications), originally intended for treating type 2 diabetes, for "weight loss purposes" has been spreading due to online advertising and social media posts related to aesthetic medicine. This has led to an increase in health issues and contractual disputes. The government and medical societies repeatedly warn that the effectiveness and safety of these drugs have not been confirmed for uses other than approved conditions like obesity. They also urge caution regarding side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, hypoglycemia, and acute pancreatitis. Underlying this issue is a Japan-specific body image preference, where about 20% of women in their 20s and 30s fall into the "underweight" category (BMI<18.5), with a significant number desiring to be thinner despite being underweight. Medical advertising regulations have been strengthened, and numerous violations have been identified through online monitoring. However, issues such as expensive contracts following free consultations and insufficient explanations of risks and side effects are still prevalent. This article will comprehensively explain what is dangerous and what to be cautious about, based on the latest public data and regulatory frameworks. It will also provide a practical checklist for pre-consultation and outline consultation and relief routes. The main sources of evidence include official documents from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Consumer Affairs Agency, and the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan.