About 60% of those taking medication to suppress appetite are reported to not be obese. They are abusing the medication for simple weight loss, which poses significant risks of side effects and weight regain.
The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs released a report on the 16th titled ‘Public Awareness and Policy Issues on Drug Abuse’. This report surveyed 257 adults aged 19 to 64 who have experience taking oral appetite suppressants from 2022 to 2025 regarding their drug use experiences.
As a result, 59.5% of respondents reported that they took appetite suppressants to lose weight even though they had not been diagnosed with obesity. In contrast, 34.6% reported that they took the medication for treatment after being diagnosed with obesity by a doctor.
Oral appetite suppressants, commonly known as ‘diet pills’, act on the brain's appetite center to reduce feelings of hunger or increase feelings of fullness. Because of this, they are criticized for their potential for dependence and addiction, and are classified as prescription medications that are managed as controlled substances, prescribed based on a doctor's diagnosis.
The medical community also holds the position that oral appetite suppressants should be used cautiously for patients diagnosed with obesity. The Korean Society for the Study of Obesity's clinical guidelines state that ‘oral appetite suppressants should be used for a short period in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or 30 or higher’.
This is because excessive use of these medications can lead to side effects. These medications are commonly known to cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation, nausea, and vomiting, as well as side effects like insomnia, headaches, dizziness, and palpitations. Therefore, it is advised not to take more than one type of appetite suppressant together, and the maximum duration of use should not exceed three months.
In this survey, 73.5% of respondents reported experiencing side effects while taking appetite suppressants. The most common side effects included dry mouth (72%), palpitations (68.8%), insomnia (66.7%), depression (25.4%), personality changes (23.8%), and anxiety (22.8%).
23.3% of those who stopped taking the medication did so due to side effects. In contrast, 54% of respondents reported that they resumed taking the medication after a certain period despite experiencing side effects, and 53.4% reported experiencing weight regain after stopping the medication.
The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs stated in the report, “The societal atmosphere that emphasizes and commodifies appearance, along with individuals' efforts to conform, is leading to the misuse of medications,” and emphasized the need to pay attention to the impact of diet pills on mental health, advising that the possibility of side effects should be thoroughly explained to patients when prescribing and that symptoms should be monitored.
