Obesity Medication Costs Half as Much as a Month of PT
Cost-Effectiveness and Efficiency Attract Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Every year, many people set dieting as their New Year's resolution. While most dieters traditionally rely on meal plans and exercise, this year, "injections" have been added to the list. This is because Wegovy and Mounjaro, often called "dream obesity treatments," have become mainstream.
On December 21, Yonhap News reported on the current state of gyms, where the landscape has shifted due to the emergence of obesity treatments. According to the report, an increasing number of people now believe that receiving obesity treatment injections such as Wegovy is more efficient than spending money on personal training (PT) sessions at the gym.
The main reason consumers are turning to medication instead of exercise is cost-effectiveness and efficiency. According to the gym industry, the price for ten personal training sessions (over five weeks) in the Gangnam area ranges from 600,000 to 800,000 won. If you combine this with a month of diet and exercise, you can typically lose 2 to 3 kilograms. In contrast, a month's supply of obesity medication costs between 300,000 and 400,000 won. The price is about half, yet there are many testimonials claiming a loss of 4 to 6 kilograms in just one month. As word of its effectiveness spreads, interest is growing not only among young people but also among middle-aged and older adults.
Lee, a 28-year-old broadcaster who lost 9 kilograms over six months with Wegovy, registered at a gym but never went. Lee said, "When I get the injection, my appetite decreases, and exercising in that state makes me feel dizzy and weak. My doctor even told me not to exercise because it could actually increase my appetite." A similar case is seen with another Lee, age 58, who has been using Wegovy and Mounjaro for three months. "In the past, even if I starved myself and exercised for two hours a day, I would barely lose 1 to 2 kilograms in three months. But with the injection, I lost 1 to 2 kilograms in a single day," Lee said. "Now I don't go to the gym at all. When I was younger, I could lose weight through physical effort, but I no longer see the need."
Gyms that have primarily targeted dieting clients are expected to be hit the hardest. Kim, an employee at a women-only gym, said, "We are worried that there will be fewer new sign-ups in the New Year because some clients are leaving due to medication." An employee at a fitness center in Jamsil-dong also shared, "There was a member who said she would go to a family medicine clinic for a prescription instead of coming to the gym."
Experts: "Effective, but risk of muscle loss and other side effects... Exercise is essential"
Experts acknowledge the effectiveness of obesity medications but warn that losing weight without exercise is dangerous. Suppressing appetite with medication to lose weight can result in not only fat loss but also a rapid decrease in muscle mass, which is a serious side effect.
Kang Jaeheon, a professor of family medicine at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, said, "Because obesity medications are so powerful, people may neglect important aspects of obesity management such as healthy eating and exercise. You need to be careful about the possibility of muscle loss or nutritional deficiencies due to reduced food intake." He emphasized, "Exercise is the most important factor for healthy weight loss while preserving muscle. Even if you use medication, you must combine it with exercise for a healthy diet."
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