Weight loss conversations today are increasingly shaped by shortcuts, injectables, and assumptions that drastic change must come from medical intervention. As drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro enter mainstream vocabulary, many people struggling with their bodies are left wondering whether long-term effort still holds value, or if transformation is now impossible without pharmaceutical help. This shift has also created a new kind of pressure, where visible weight loss is quickly met with suspicion rather than curiosity about lifestyle, illness, or years of consistency.
Bhumi Pednekar recently spoke about this mindset in a conversation with Soha Ali Khan on her podcast, addressing the assumptions she frequently encounters. She shared that people today believe weight loss is unattainable without injectables and admitted that this frustrates her. Recalling a physically difficult phase, she said, “So basically, for this other character, I lost a lot of weight. I was in hospital recovering from dengue. I lost 12 kg and half my hair. The pain you go through is unmatched. It was Diwali, and people were bursting crackers, while I had a splitting headache until I reached the hospital.”
She also highlighted that her long-term discipline is often overlooked. “People have even asked me if I’ve had a rib removed. What about the fact that I’ve put 10 years into working out and eating right?” she said, adding that the questions can be blunt and direct: “In Delhi, women straight up come to me and ask, ‘Aapne bhi Ozempic ya Mounjaro liya hai?’”
While she made it clear that she does not judge those who require medical help — “I know enough people who have taken Ozempic and genuinely needed that medical assistance, so I will never judge anyone for it” — she also stressed her own reality: “But the fact is, I lost 40 kg and more without injectables.”
Why has there been a growing belief that significant weight loss is impossible without injectables?
Dr Palleti Siva Karthik Reddy, MBBS, MD general medicine, FAIG, Consultant physician at Elite Care Clinic, tells indianexpress.com, “This belief has grown largely because weight loss today is being discussed through a lens of speed and visibility rather than health and sustainability. When rapid transformations are amplified on social media without adequate context, people begin to assume that large-scale weight loss must involve medical shortcuts.”
Lifestyle-driven weight loss, when done correctly, supports fat loss while preserving muscle mass, improving cardiovascular health, insulin sensitivity, and mental well-being. (Source: AI Generated)
He adds that this mindset can be “deeply discouraging” for individuals who are following structured nutrition, exercise, and behavioural changes, because natural weight loss tends to be gradual and less dramatic in the short term. It also shifts the focus away from long-term metabolic health and towards quick outcomes.
Illness-related weight loss, long-term lifestyle changes, and medical interventions
Weight loss due to illness is usually unintentional and often comes with muscle loss, Dr Reddy notes, nutritional deficiencies, and reduced immunity. It requires careful recovery and rehabilitation. Lifestyle-driven weight loss, when done correctly, supports fat loss while preserving muscle mass, improving cardiovascular health, insulin sensitivity, and mental well-being. Medical interventions such as injectables or surgery can be effective in specific clinical situations, particularly for individuals with obesity-related complications, but they also require long-term medical supervision.
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Dr Reddy says, “Each pathway affects the body very differently, and it is important not to view all weight loss as equal. The method matters as much as the number on the scale.”
How can individuals determine when medical assistance is appropriate?
According to Dr Reddy, medical assistance should be considered when there is a clear clinical indication, such as obesity with associated conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or metabolic syndrome, and only under medical supervision.
For most people, lifestyle-based approaches remain the most sustainable because they address the root causes of weight gain, including diet patterns, physical activity, sleep, and stress. Medications do not replace these fundamentals and, in many cases, weight regain can occur if lifestyle changes are not maintained. “The decision should always be guided by a qualified doctor who can assess medical history, metabolic health, and long-term risks rather than by trends or public narratives,” stresses Dr Reddy.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
