Travel YouTuber Pani Bottle’s Wegovy Weight Loss Journey and Concerns

Pani Bottle, a popular travel YouTuber with 2.41 million subscribers, has sparked significant interest after revealing Wegovy as his 10kg weight loss secret. However, he clarified that he has no affiliation with Wegovy and has not promoted it.

On his social media, Pani Bottle addressed the concerns, stating, “I’m cautiously writing this because it seems I’ve unintentionally become a Wegovy ambassador. I have no connection to Wegovy and have never promoted it.” He emphasized the seriousness of medical advertising laws, expressing his worry about potential issues.

He added, “Recently, many of my acquaintances have been experiencing side effects from Wegovy, including lethargy, nausea, and depression. I’m also experiencing constant nausea.” He advised, “Consult with a doctor for detailed advice before taking any medication.”

Wegovy, developed by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, is an obesity treatment derived from the ‘Semaglutide’ ingredient, originally created for diabetes treatment. It has been proven effective in weight loss by suppressing appetite and increasing satiety, aiding in weight reduction.

According to AP 통신 (AP 통sin – AP 通信 is Korean way to pronounce AP 통신, means AP 통sin = Associated Press Communication, a Korean News agency.), clinical trials showed that many obese patients treated with Wegovy experienced a 15-22% weight loss. Launched in Korea in October of last year, Wegovy is prescribed to obese patients with a BMI of 30 or higher or overweight patients with a BMI of 27-30 who have weight-related comorbidities such as abnormal blood sugar or high blood pressure. Approximately 10-15% of patients were classified as ‘nonresponders’ because they experienced less than 5% weight loss in clinical trials.

However, as Wegovy gains the reputation of a ‘miracle diet pill,’ concerns are growing about some medical institutions indiscriminately prescribing it to people with normal or low weight through 비대면진료 (bidaemyeon jinlyo – 非對面診療 means telemedicine, non-face-to-face treatment).

While there are increasing reports of weight loss success stories like Pani Bottle’s, many also report side effects such as abdominal pain, nausea, indigestion, and lethargy. Concerns about the risks of long-term use continue to be raised.