Weight‑loss injections cause severe side effects as Taiwan promotes needle‑knife therapy

A 52‑year‑old woman in Japan sought rapid weight loss with a popular injection drug. While she briefly lost weight, she suffered severe hair loss, emotional distress, electrolyte imbalance and, after stopping the drug, rapid regain of the lost weight. Dr Yeh Xin‑fu of Asia University Hospital warned that weight‑loss should be managed with comprehensive medical assessment and individualized treatment, not relying on a single pharmacological method.

In Taiwan, doctors are promoting a different minimally invasive approach – the “small‑needle knife” – to treat obesity and metabolic syndrome. Dr Huang Tsung‑jung described how the technique mechanically disrupts fat cells, boosts local blood flow and loosens fascia, leading to modest weight loss (4–5 kg) and significant waist‑reduction when combined with diet and lifestyle changes. Both reports stress the need for professional oversight when using invasive weight‑loss interventions.