Ozempic demand rises in Spain amid reports of fraudulent weight-loss scams

The demand for GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic, is rising significantly. In the A Coruña health area of Spain, more than 35,000 patients have been prescribed these drugs through the Social Security system to manage type 2 diabetes. While these medications are primarily indicated for glucose control, their appetite-suppressing effects have led to increased use for weight management.

Public health authorities clarify that Social Security does not fund these treatments for aesthetic purposes; they are authorized only for patients with diabetes that cannot be controlled through diet and exercise alone.

Parallel to this rising demand, the consumer organization OCU has reported a fraudulent advertising campaign on Instagram. Scammers are using a product named ‘OzemPil’ that mimics the visual identity of Ozempic and falsely claims to be endorsed by the OCU. The organization has reported the matter to the National Police, warning that such unregulated products may contain undeclared or harmful substances.