World Patient Safety Day highlights need for safe, supervised obesity treatment
As injectable weight-loss treatments become increasingly popular, health experts are warning Filipinos against self-medication and purchasing unregistered or compounded products online, saying the growing demand for obesity treatment must be matched by greater attention to patient safety.
The call was made during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum marking World Patient Safety Day and Obesity Prevention Awareness Week, where doctors, patient advocates, and healthcare stakeholders stressed that treating obesity safely begins with recognizing it as a chronic disease requiring proper diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and continued medical supervision.
The warning comes as the Philippines faces a significant obesity burden. The latest data from the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) show that that the prevalence of obesity among Filipino adults aged 20 to 59 years old rose from 39.8% in 2023 to 44.5% in 2025.
Dr. Nemencio “Nemie” Nicodemus Jr., an endocrinologist from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), said the growing prevalence is particularly concerning because obesity is associated with four of the five leading causes of death among Filipinos: ischemic heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
Yet as more people seek ways to lose weight, Nicodemus cautioned that easy access to products promoted through social media and other unauthorized online channels could expose patients to another health risk.
“Lahat ng nabibili online ngayon, hindi legit. Walang garantiya kung may active ingredient ba ’yan, kontaminado, o baka tubig lang ang laman. Pwede itong magdulot ng matinding pinsala sa katawan,” Nicodemus warned.
Experts particularly cautioned against compounded or unregistered injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists obtained from unauthorized sources. Without proper safeguards, patients may have no assurance about a product’s ingredients, quality, sterility, authenticity, or handling.
World Patient Safety Day, observed globally every September 17, calls attention to preventing and reducing risks, errors, and avoidable harm in healthcare.
Safe obesity care
Wei Sun, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Philippines, stressed that the availability of medical treatments for obesity should not encourage self-medication.
“Prescription medicines for weight management should be prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional and obtained through legitimate channels, with treatment based on an individual patient’s condition and medical needs,” said Sun.
One of the weight-management medicines recently launched in the Philippines is semaglutide (Wegovy®), a Philippine FDA-approved prescription medicine for appropriate patients living with obesity or overweight. While it offers another treatment option for weight management, Wegovy® should be used only under the guidance and supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
The media forum also emphasized that medicines are only one component of obesity management. Nicodemus stressed that, similar to hypertension and diabetes, obesity requires long-term management rather than a “magic pill” or quick solution. Appropriate care may involve medical treatment alongside balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and continued guidance from healthcare professionals.
Addressing stigma
Patient safety, however, goes beyond ensuring the quality and appropriate use of medicines. Experts stressed that reducing stigma and creating a supportive environment where people living with obesity feel safe seeking professional care are also important to better health outcomes.
Providing the patient perspective, Karen Villanueva of the Obesity Philippines Association (OPA)— a newly formed group representing and advocating for people living with obesity—shared some of the everyday challenges faced by people living with obesity, including “food noise,” or persistent thoughts and urges related to food that may be influenced by biological and hormonal factors.
She urged healthcare workers and the public to move away from stigma and body shaming, which can discourage people living with obesity from consulting healthcare professionals and getting appropriate care.
OPA recognizes obesity as a chronic, progressive and multifactorial disease influenced by social, environmental, economic, cultural and health-system factors in addition to individual behaviors.
“Addressing obesity requires all of us to work together, from patients and healthcare professionals to government, industry, and communities. As more Filipinos seek solutions for weight management, we also need to make sure they are getting the right care in the right way. World Patient Safety Day reminds us that how obesity is treated matters just as much as taking that first step to seek treatment,” Villanueva said.
With patient safety in focus, experts urged Filipinos to consult qualified healthcare professionals before using any weight-management medicine, obtain prescription treatments only through legitimate channels, and avoid products from unauthorized online sellers.
Suspected unregistered, counterfeit or illegally sold medicines may also be reported to the Philippine Food and Drug Administration.
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