Nairobi’s Obsession with Luxury Weight-Loss Drugs

Injectable weight-loss drugs are seeing rising use in Nairobi’s wealthier areas, with pharmacies reporting increased demand for brands such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, despite concerns about long-term effectiveness and health risks.

The medications, which are taken weekly, are promoted for rapid weight reduction and have become widely used among affluent residents. Monthly costs range from Sh5,000 to Sh45,000, placing them largely out of reach for most Kenyans. Their popularity reflects both a desire for quick results and their growing status as lifestyle products rather than strictly medical treatments.

Scientific evidence, however, suggests that the benefits may not last once treatment stops. A large study published in the BMJ, analysing data from more than 9,000 participants across 37 clinical trials, found that patients lost an average of 8.3 kilogrammes over 39 weeks of treatment. 

Most regained the weight within 21 months of stopping the medication. Gains in cholesterol levels and blood pressure control disappeared even sooner, typically within 18 months. Researchers say the findings underline the chronic nature of obesity. Professor Susan Jebb, a nutrition scientist involved in the study, said weight regain after stopping medication was “both common and rapid”, and that continued treatment or long-term support was necessary to maintain results. 

The issue is particularly relevant in Kenya, where obesity rates are increasing. The 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey reported that 38 percent of women and 22 per cent of men aged 15 to 49 were overweight or obese. In Nairobi, the proportion rises to 45 per cent of adults.

Further concerns relate to the type of weight lost. A separate review published in Obesity Reviews found that up to 40 per cent of weight reduction from these drugs may come from lean tissue, including muscle. Loss of muscle mass can weaken physical strength and negatively affect metabolic health. 

Marie Spreckley, a researcher at the University of Cambridge, warned that without proper diet and exercise support, patients risk nutritional deficiencies and avoidable muscle loss. Kenya’s healthcare system faces additional strain. The country has about two doctors per 10,000 people, well below World Health Organization recommendations. 

Limited access to nutritional counselling, exercise guidance and long-term follow-up means many patients may use the drugs without the broader care needed to manage weight safely over time. As use of injectable weight-loss drugs continues to grow, health experts advise careful monitoring.