Popular fitness guru and influencer Frankie Just Gym It has raised concerns over the growing trend of using Ozempic for weight loss.
He warned that many are embracing the drug as a shortcut instead of putting in the work to live healthier lives through proper diet and exercise.
Speaking during an episode of the Glitch Africa Studio podcast on July 5, 2025, Frankie noted that the drug, originally developed for managing diabetes, is increasingly being used by people who have no medical need for it.
He pointed out that many of these individuals have the financial means and access to healthy food and fitness facilities, yet still opt for the shortcut of injections rather than adopting sustainable, natural methods of maintaining a healthy weight.
“So many people, men and women, are taking Ozempic. The normal person who does not suffer from any condition. Someone who has the ability and money to buy good food, good nutrition, and sign up for a good enough gym, why use a shortcut?” Frankie questioned.
Frankie emphasised that the issue lies not in the medication itself, but in the mentality that drives people to use it. He criticised the obsession with appearance over health, saying that many people are chasing a certain body image rather than prioritising how their bodies function or how they feel mentally and physically.
“The shortcuts do not show that you are a person who values his or her body. You are valuing a look. Because you are doing it to look a certain way, not to function a certain way. You know, people think working out makes you have a sexy body and abs, but no, it’s the mental state it builds,” he explained.
He shared his personal experience, revealing that he began working out at the age of 16, and while the physical transformation was initially exciting, it quickly became secondary to the mental strength and discipline the lifestyle instilled in him. Today, he says, the aesthetic gains are not his focus; rather, it is the mindset and clarity that fitness has helped him develop.
“I started working out when I was 16, and by 18, I was already bored with my abs. That isn’t my benefit anymore; my benefit is the mental state. Sometimes I even forget how I look,” he shared.
Ozempic craze
Frankie’s remarks come as several high-profile figures are turning to Ozempic and other medical interventions to achieve dramatic weight loss.
The trend has sparked widespread conversations on body image, health, and wellness.
Among those leading the trend are social media influencer Kevin Kinuthia, content creator Pritty Vishy, and actress Sandra Dacha. All have publicly embraced Ozempic, a drug originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but now widely used for weight loss.
Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 that helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels. By reducing hunger, the drug has led to substantial weight loss in many users.
Though not originally intended for this purpose, its off-label use for shedding weight has exploded globally and now, in Kenya.
