The increasing popularity of weight-loss medications has sparked a debate about their safety and long-term effects. While some experts acknowledge their potential benefits for obesity and metabolic disorders, concerns are growing about their use for cosmetic weight loss.

Kimberley Gammage, Professor of Kinesiology, who researches positive body image and physical activity across diverse populations, notes the shift in societal views on weight loss.”I do believe the ‘eat less, move more’ beliefs of weight loss is dated, since we know much more now around how genetics and biology play a very large role in weight,” she says.

However, Gammage also points out that the long-term consequences of using these drugs solely for appearance betterment remain unclear, as most are not specifically approved for weight loss alone.

Potential Health risks

William Gittings, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, who studies musculoskeletal physiology, explains that weight-loss drugs work by increasing energy expenditure and suppressing appetite. He cautions that if individuals taking these medications do not consume enough essential nutrients or engage in sufficient physical activity to stimulate muscle and bone growth, they could face serious health issues later in life.

“A short-term medical intervention to target weight loss should not come at the cost of critical bone and muscle tissues…”

“A short-term medical intervention to target weight loss should not come at the cost of critical bone and muscle tissues, as this may translate into greater risk of sarcopenia, osteoporosis and frailty in late adulthood,” says Gittings.

Nota Klentrou, Professor of Kinesiology and exercise physiologist, emphasizes the importance of establishing healthy habits early in life. “drugs should never be the first step to weight loss, which needs a long-lasting strategy instead of rapid, Band-Aid solutions,” says Klentrou, who studies how exercise and diet affect bone development and lifelong bone health. She also calls for more research on age-appropriate dosages and long-term effects before widespread use.

Psychological Considerations

Danielle Sirianni Molnar, Associate Professor of Child and Youth Studies, the Canada Research Chair in Adjustment and Well-Being in Children and Youth, highlights the connection between perfectionism and disordered eating. She explains that perfectionists, who are highly sensitive to criticism, may see these medications as a way to achieve a “flawless” solution to meet their own high standards.

“The medication’s promise of rapid, visible results can feel like a controlled, ‘flawless’ solution or in other words, a direct route to meeting the excessively high demands for success and approval that perfectionists impose on themselves,” she says.