Professor Jang Hyung-woo Criticizes Celebrities Who Suddenly Become Extremely Thin: "If They Couldn’t Lose Weight Before, Then Suddenly Did? It Was Ultimately a Weight-Loss Injection"

[Sportschosun reporter Jo Yoon-sun] Professor Jang Hyung-woo recently commented on the "skeletal-thin" trend spreading through the entertainment industry, arguing that sudden weight loss is often linked to obesity medications.

A video titled "I feel empty because the weight came off so easily. A 1 year and 6 month review of obesity injections" was recently uploaded to the YouTube channel Dr. Dingyo.

The video featured Professor Jang Hyung-woo, a cardiothoracic surgeon. During the discussion of obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, Professor Jang said, "There is a strange phenomenon in the entertainment world these days. People who could never lose weight suddenly appear saying, 'I lost weight in a healthy way' or 'I lost weight through exercise and diet.'"

He added, "They were already slim, but then they show up looking skeletal-thin. It is obvious. Why would someone who could not lose weight for 30 years suddenly lose weight now? In the end, it means they lost it by getting injections."

Professor Jang, who once weighed 118 kilograms and successfully lost 38 kilograms, said he had previously tried various diets and even undergone gastric reduction surgery, only to regain weight later.

He said that for patients with severe obesity, receiving medical help such as Wegovy or Mounjaro for survival and health is an effective treatment. He also voiced opposition to the social view that treats severe obesity as nothing more than a lack of willpower.

He also explained who should never use obesity medications. Professor Jang said, "Those with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, those with a history of chronic pancreatitis, those planning to become pregnant within the next two to three months, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding are absolutely contraindicated. It is closely related to medullary thyroid carcinoma, and patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) are also listed as contraindicated."

He added, "It is not that it has been confirmed to cause serious problems, but rather that problems could occur, and because it has not been verified, the recommendation is to avoid it."

He also expressed concern about cases of misuse for cosmetic purposes. Regarding normal-weight people taking obesity medication, he said, "I think that is a self-inflicted situation."

He went on to say, "I do not think it is right to blame the drug itself while complaining about side effects. If someone got the injection and saw results, we can simply say, 'Congratulations.'"