[News Now] Obesity Treatment 'Wigobi' Arrives in Korea...Concerns over side effects and misuse ↑

■ Host: Anchor Jeong Ji-woong
■ Starring: Oh Sang-woo, professor of family medicine at Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information. Please specify [YTN NewsNOW] when quoting.

[Anchor]
It is an obesity treatment that reduces weight by suppressing appetite. It's been more than a week since Hugo Bee came into Korea. Hugo Bee, developed by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, received great attention when Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he helped lose 14 kilograms.

Since then, reviews from overseas stars such as Oprah Winfrey and Kim Kardashian have continued to gain fame. In Korea, it has been out of stock since the first day of its launch, and prescription inquiries have flooded hospitals and pharmacies. Although doctor's prescription is essential, it is easy to secure prescriptions through a non-face-to-face treatment platform, so some consumers are prescribed Hugo money for cosmetic purposes using tricks.

There is considerable concern that even adolescents who buy over money from used transactions or who are not allowed to be prescribed can purchase them illegally. Oh Sang-woo, a professor of family medicine at Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, will be connected to find out more. Professor, you're out, right?

[Oh Sang-woo]
Hello.

[Anchor]
How are you? First of all, what kind of medicine is Hugo Bee and how does this make you lose weight?

[Oh Sang-woo]
Hugo Bee is a medicine made by slightly modifying hormones from the intestines. The effect of this drug goes to the brain to suppress appetite and intestinal movement, so after taking it, you feel full quickly and go to the brain to suppress appetite.

[Anchor]
You need a doctor's diagnosis that you need obesity treatment to be prescribed, right?

[Oh Sang-woo]
Of course. You must get a doctor's prescription. And it's not good to just use it on someone with a normal weight. There is a body mass index called BMI, which should be prescribed to people with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease who are over 30 or over 27.

[Anchor]
Because you're actually in the field. Are there many patients who want a prescription for a weego fee in the field?

[Oh Sang-woo]
There are a lot. Since it's been dealt with on TV a lot these days, the number of people coming to get a prescription for Hugo Bee is increasing.

[Anchor]
What are some side effects that I should be careful about when I say I use Hugo Bee?

[Oh Sang-woo]
The side effects to be aware of are that this drug itself is very effective and safe, so it is generally okay, but if you need a little attention, you may have vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, or abdominal pain because you suppress intestinal movement after taking this drug. Sometimes you may have a headache and fatigue. Some people tend to have slight hair loss, so they need to be careful.

The problem these days is that this drug is so expensive that there are cases where people take it little by little, and in that case, if the drug itself exceeds 6 weeks, it will be deformed, so once you buy it and start using it, you shouldn't use it for more than 6 weeks, but it's happening these days, so you need to be careful.

[Anchor]
The diet craze is also very worrying about misuse, but what problems can happen if someone like that who is not subject to prescription uses it?

[Oh Sang-woo]
As I explained just before, this drug itself has the main effect of suppressing appetite and intestinal exercise, so most of the time, if you take only the medicine like this, you lose muscles rather than fat. However, after losing muscles, the risk of gaining weight again increases. That's called yo-yo phenomenon.Since it increases the phenomenon, you must not misuse the drug, and exercise and diet therapy should be combined while receiving this drug.

[Anchor]
For those who purchase illegally through overseas direct purchases or SNS without a doctor's prescription, it may be more dangerous because there is no accurate guidance from a doctor.

[Oh Sang-woo]
It's very dangerous. There are quite a few questions about whether the drug itself is really well managed or whether it is really real Hugo Bee. If the previous drugs are coming through overseas direct purchases, it's not clear whether these drugs are really genuine or not.

Also, even if there are side effects, there is no way to be compensated, so I think very much attention is needed.

[Anchor]
I think the fact that you are interested in Hugo Bee means that you pay attention to weight management. What healthy weight management methods do you recommend?

[Oh Sang-woo]
People use the expression "drug of dreams" a lot, but if we say it's a dream drug, shouldn't it be a drug that can be solved with an injection? But those drugs have not been developed yet. So, you have to exercise and eat together, but you can get a great effect if you take this medicine together by repeatedly exercising lightly, reducing fatty foods and changing carbohydrates into a good form.

[Anchor]
Think of it as an adjuvant rather than an obesity treatment, and it would be better to refer to the combination of exercise and diet therapy that Professor Oh Sang-woo said now for healthy weight management. We've dealt with the "We Go Bee" craze. I was with Oh Sang-woo, a family medicine professor at Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital. Thank you, professor.

[Oh Sang-woo]
Thank you.