Diabetes drug is becoming scarce: weight loss hype drives demand upwards. The hype causes a shortage of the active ingredient.
Doctors report increased demand from patients for the remedy. The German Society of Endocrinology warned of risks and side effects and "uncontrolled use not approved by the regulatory authorities" as early as the end of 2022. The drug has been hyped on social networks in recent months, partly because some celebrities are said to have lost weight. It is intended for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, i.e. obesity.