YouTuber Pungja opens up about side effects of weight loss drug Wegovy

YouTuber and TV personality Pungja revealed her experience with the anti-obesity drug Wegovy after recently announcing she had lost 14 kilograms.

In a video posted on Tuesday, Pungja said she had used both Saxenda and Wegovy — injectable medications approved for weight management — but highlighted the unexpected side effects she experienced with the latter.

Wegovy, an injectable medication developed specifically for obesity treatment, is prescribed only to individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher or 27 or higher with weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

"I don’t usually talk much about dieting, but yes, I’ve taken Saxenda and Wegovy," she said. “With Wegovy, I didn’t feel nauseous, and my appetite was still there — I just couldn’t eat much. I’d take a few bites and feel full.”

However, she said the drug caused sudden vomiting without any warning signs. “At first, I thought my stomach was just upset. But there were no signs like nausea — I just threw up out of nowhere.”

Despite enduring a week of side effects after a single injection, she said she initially lost only around 3 kilograms. “The hospital recommended increasing the dosage, and then other side effects appeared. I started having diarrhea,” she added.

Pungja eventually stopped using the drug, saying, “There are questions about whether the 14-kilogram weight loss was thanks to those, but I’m not using them right now — I can’t due to my current condition.”

As for her current weight loss routine, she shared, “I strictly observe a 16-hour fasting window. During that time, I only drank water, and for my one meal, I ate something I craved — not a large portion, just enough to be satisfied. I also walk about 3 to 5 kilometers a day.”

Other public figures, including comedian Kim Jun-ho and YouTuber Pani Bottle, have also spoken out about using Wegovy, with Pani Bottle noting that many people he knows have reported side effects such as lethargy, nausea and even depression.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.