Losing weight for a cause: A threat to women’s lives

In today’s world, the desire to lose excess weight has reached such extremes that many people are risking their lives by undergoing invasive surgeries. As a result, numerous individuals have lost their health—and in some cases, their lives. A glance at social networks is enough to witness this growing trend.

The medical and financial risks of procedures such as abdominal surgeries, liposuction, and gastric bypass are well-known. However, another alarming aspect is often overlooked: the legal consequences tied to weight-loss methods that many—including you—might be using without realizing the risks.

One of the main concerns involves the widespread use of bioactive supplements and slimming coffees, particularly among Uzbek women. These products often contain sibutramine, a substance strictly regulated in Uzbekistan and banned in many countries due to its severe side effects. Despite this, the global circulation of such substances continues to rise.

Currently, 28 percent of Uzbekistan’s population is considered overweight, with more than 31 percent of them being women, making the country a regional leader in this regard. In pursuit of cheap and effortless solutions, many citizens unknowingly engage in the illegal circulation of banned substances and face criminal liability. But as the saying goes, ignorance of the law does not exempt one from responsibility. Unfortunately, the dangers of these supplements go beyond legal consequences—they can leave lasting damage on one’s health.

So, what are the laws and regulations that restrict the use of sibutramine?

Between 2018 and 2019, the illegal, non-medical use of potent substances rose sharply in Uzbekistan, prompting concerns in both the law enforcement and healthcare sectors. In response, Presidential Decree PQ-4434 was adopted on September 6, 2019, titled “On Strengthening Measures to Prevent the Illicit Circulation of Medicines.”

The decree mandated stricter control over potent substances, including their sale and documentation in pharmacies. It also required prescriptions for psychotropic drugs to be retained for one year. Following this, the Cabinet of Ministers issued Resolution No. 818 on September 27, 2019, establishing a list of potent substances under regulation.

Later, in October 2024, the need to regulate the handling of these substances in medical practice led to the adoption of Resolution No. 632 by the Cabinet of Ministers. This resolution defined procedures for use, storage, prevention of illicit circulation, and disposal. It also created a separate list of six substances to be treated like psychotropic drugs—sibutramine among them.

What Is Sibutramine?

Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant that was once prescribed along with diet and exercise to treat obesity. However, due to its link to cardiovascular diseases and stroke, it was withdrawn from the market in many countries starting in 2010.

Reported side effects of sibutramine include dry mouth, an unusual increase in appetite, nausea, altered taste sensations, abdominal pain, constipation, insomnia, dizziness, headaches, flushing, and muscle pain.

Rare but serious side effects include irregular heartbeats, anxiety, confusion, depression, suicidal thoughts, seizures, unexplained bruising or bleeding, vomiting blood, jaundice, fever, muscle weakness on one side of the body, blurred vision, shortness of breath, and swelling—any of which require immediate medical attention.

Alarmingly, many weight-loss supplements popular among women do not indicate on their packaging that they contain sibutramine, posing a hidden danger to consumers.

How Do Prohibited Slimming Products Enter Uzbekistan?

Despite regulations, slimming products containing sibutramine continue to enter and circulate in Uzbekistan. According to the State Customs Committee, 650,000 units of psychotropic and potent substances were seized in 2023, followed by 577,000 units in 2024.

In the first four months of 2025 alone, 79 kilograms of such substances were intercepted—an increase of 46 percent compared to the same period last year.

The Customs Committee informed QALAMPIR.UZ that 554,063 units of powders, tablets, or capsules containing sibutramine were seized in 2024. In the early months of 2025, a further 9,442 units were confiscated.

These are the identified cases—but what about the undetected ones?! The rising numbers point to one thing: growing demand.

A new scourge has emerged through social media, and those who fail to understand its influence are the most vulnerable. Many people have forgotten how to be content with their lives, marriages, families, and even their appearances.

As a result, the number of weight-loss surgeries is on the rise. According to the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), more than half a million bariatric surgeries—operations related to obesity—are performed globally every year.

Uzbekistan is also witnessing a surge in weight-loss surgeries and the number of clinics offering them. In 2023, over 700 obesity-related surgeries were performed in the country. By 2024, this figure had already exceeded one thousand.

Weight-loss surgeries

These surgeries are typically aimed at either reducing the size of the stomach or rerouting a portion of it to the intestines without cutting it entirely. As expected, the majority of patients undergoing these procedures are women.

As if hours spent on social media weren’t enough to encourage inactivity, many people are not investing time in themselves, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, or engaging in physical activity. As a result, they often turn to surgery or rely on health-damaging slimming products to lose weight.

Research shows that weight gain stems from a range of factors—some biological, others psychological or social. One of the most common causes is simple: when the body consumes more calories than it expends, fat accumulates. When intake outweighs output, weight gain is inevitable.

Certain supplements used for weight loss can also lead to unexpected and serious complications.

Although losing weight is significantly more challenging than gaining it, it is crucial to choose the healthiest path. After all, prevention is always better than a cure. Do not ignore your health—or your legal responsibilities. Stay informed. Stay safe. Stay with QALAMPIR.UZ.