Ozempic, a drug designed to treat diabetes, has become a massive weight loss trend. From social media to the informal market, its use is growing rapidly, often without medical supervision, in beauty salons, at abusive prices and for use outside of recommendations.
Doctors warn of a paradox: Those who need the medicine most often refuse it, while those who don't find it necessary insist on it, often for aesthetic reasons.
Citizens.al collected various experiences from doctors, patients, and people who have used this medication to convey the reality of this trend in Albania.
Initially, an open discussion took place “focus group” with experts, connoisseurs of the field, and people who had used the drug or were interested in it.
An online survey was then opened where many people could share their experiences through a questionnaire. Then the authorities and people who told the main stories in this article were contacted.
From diabetes drug to global weight loss trend
Ozempic is a weekly injection, originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes. But it quickly became known for its effect on weight loss.
The essence of this drug lies in mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1. This hormone is released after eating and helps regulate blood sugar by stimulating the release of insulin, reducing appetite and slowing stomach emptying.
Active ingredient semaglutide – a substance that has been experimentally tested for its effects since 2010 – comes as a modified version of this hormone that lasts longer in the body. Therefore, the medication is used once a week to help control type 2 diabetes and manage weight.
Following approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2021 for use against obesity, demand for this drug exploded worldwide, becoming a social media phenomenon.
Studies show that use for about a year results in an average loss of 10-15% of body weight. Meanwhile, Mounjaro, “a more powerful version,” has yielded results of up to 25%. The latter is not yet legally marketed in Albania.
Usage dilemma: When should it be taken and when should it not be taken?
Klajdi Pirja, 21, told Citizens.al about his brief experience with Ozempic treatment. His doctor had recommended it to him due to his overweight condition, which had caused him health concerns.
But, at least until May 2025 when he was interested, Ozempic was not marketed in Albania. The medication began to be legally marketed in our country only after November.
Klajdi said he was able to obtain the medication through some family members living in Greece. It cost him about 400 euros for four vials, which make up a full syringe/pen.
"I used it for four months, but I didn't see any results," he said.
Endocrinologist Mirejta Guni explained that the results do not always appear immediately, but in most cases the drug is effective. Another endocrinologist, Florian Toti, said that the drug is often abused by taking it without proper monitoring, as “dietary assessment, follow-up by a nutritionist” because in addition to losing fat mass, the body also loses muscle mass.
"There are cases when more muscle mass is lost than fat and a large deficit is created," Toti analyzed, taking as examples the cases of famous characters from the show who appear disfigured or aged due to misuse.
According to doctors, it is precisely advertising by celebrities and the world of television that has caused the demand for medications like Ozempik and Mounjaro to be so great that it has created a situation where diabetic patients who need them can no longer easily find them.
When asked whether it is worth taking these medications to lose 5-6 kilograms, doctor Florian Toti categorically states against it. He emphasizes that the tendency of young people, who do not even have health complications, towards this form of losing weight is wrong.
His colleague, Mierjeta Guni, says that in most cases when treatments or medications are recommended in medicine, the principle is followed. "the benefit should be greater than the risk".
“It's a drug and you can't just start by saying, 'My neighbor or friend gave it to me!' The doctor should explain whether the person is a candidate for it, the benefits or risks, and the follow-up for the dose,” she summed up.
Risks and possible side effects
Side effects from using medications like Ozempic or Mounjaro remain controversial. Users mainly report stomach pain, nausea, and abdominal discomfort.
Doctors add that depending on the doses and health situations, liver and kidney damage or acute pancreatitis may also occur. However, the main problem remains the lack of monitoring, as there is no accurate data on the number of people who use it, their history and the concerns they show.
Citizens.al offered the opportunity to collect some perceptual data online through a survey. “Have you ever taken Ozempik/Mounjaro?” where many were invited to share their personal experiences, even anonymously.
Of the dozens of people who filled out the form, about 28% said they were currently using one of the medications, and 14% planned to start soon.
"I had moderate side effects, stomach pain, nausea during the four months I used it," EK, who was contacted through the questionnaire, indicated.
Endocrinologist Mierjeta Guni said that it is currently not possible to clearly state what the possible side effects of these medications are, as there is no accurate data on the number of users. She added that another possible side effect could be an allergic reaction, but stressed that it can be rare.
About 46% of respondents who admitted to taking the medication said in the survey that they had obtained it from abroad, 30% said they had obtained it on the black market and 24% from pharmacies. Most of those interviewed claimed to have learned about the medication from social media.
EK indicated that he had paid around 20 thousand lek (210 euros) for "a pen with four usage units".
"Officially, in November 2025, the licensing [of Ozempic's marketing] was done. It was previously in Albania, in the form of semaglutide tablets, and no one bought it, until it was sold as Ozempic, the semaglutide tablet expired, no one bought it," Doctor Toti told Citizens about the effect the online trend has had.
Recognize obesity as a chronic disease
Experts point out that many countries are trying to recognize obesity as a chronic disease. Currently, if a person does not have concomitant diagnoses such as hypertension or diabetes, it is often considered "healthily obese".
But this does not mean that problems will not arise later. For this very reason, many individuals are excluded from receiving treatment, as they are not classified as patients with other diseases.
"When obesity is not recognized as a disease, you can't go to your family doctor to get a recommendation or examinations, because you're not considered sick. What would you go for?" explains endocrinologist Florian Toti.
Another concern raised by doctors during the discussion in “focus group” is the fact that Ozempic in Albania is available without reimbursement.
The situation is different in North Macedonia, where this medication is covered by the state. Reimbursement, according to experts, would help not only increase the number of patients treated, but also monitor side effects.
"In Albania we work with international protocols, because we do not have local specifications. But the criteria for receiving these medications have been greatly reduced," emphasizes endocrinologist Mirejta Guni.
During the discussion, the fact that Ozempic was traded illegally in aesthetic centers that are not specialized in health services was raised with concern before it was legally introduced to the market.
However, the State Police denied that there were any cases in its actions where such quantities or cases were seized. In a communication with Citizens.al, the General Directorate said that “During inspections in aesthetic centers in the years 2023-2025, no cases of trading Ozempic (active substance semaglutide-GLP-1), which is used to treat obesity in patients with diabetes, were identified..
He completed his master's studies in the department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the University of Tirana. She has been reporting for more than four years in Citizens.al on issues of culture, urban development, feminism, etc. She is also a contributor to other local and foreign online media, and has worked in the editing of various materials. She is the author of the podcast "Pezull" on Citizens.al and is engaged as a coordinator of projects related to the empowerment of young journalists and migration issues.
