Preparing for a traditional Indian usually involves months of planning, stunning jewelry and luxurious fabrics. However, a new, controversial trend is gaining ground: the “Mounjaro bridal package”. According to a report by , more and more brides-to-be (and grooms) in , are resorting to GLP-1 weight loss drugs, as a quick fix to look “perfect” on the most important day of their lives.
Prescription “makeover packages”… injections
Wellness clinics in India have included these drugs in packages that previously included only skin and hair treatments. Klarity Skin Clinic in New Delhi advertises open packages for “Mounjaro brides”, offering guided nutrition along with injections.
The numbers are impressive:
- More than 20% of inquiries about weight loss injections in large clinics now come from people who are going to get married soon.
- The anti-obesity drug market in India is expected to touch $860 million by 2030.
- Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro has become the most sought-after drug in the country, surpassing competitor Wegovy from Novo Nordisk.
REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas
Social pressure and weight stigma
In a country where marriages are often the result of consanguinity, outward appearance plays a decisive role. Aditi, a 26-year-old finance worker, lost 10 kg before her wedding in February. “If I’m not happy with my image, I don’t feel confident. I didn’t want to feel that way in my marriage,” she confesses.
Even tougher is the testimony of 27-year-old Priya, who resorted to medication to deal with body-shaming from prospective grooms and their families. “I was rejected because they told me I was fat,” she says.
“We understand the curiosity, but this cannot be a quick fix,” warns Dr. Swati Pradhan, founder of Clinical Metabolic Health.
The risks and concern of the authorities
Despite their success, the use of these drugs for purely aesthetic reasons raises serious questions. Indian regulators have raised concerns about abuse and unauthorized sales as local drugmakers have begun launching cheaper generic versions of semaglutide.
The market data:
Mounjaro: ~$140 (Rs. 13,125) per month
Wegovy: per month~$61 (5,660 rupees) |
The manufacturing companies, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, emphasize that the drugs are intended exclusively for patients with clinical obesity or accompanying diseases (diabetes, hypertension) and always under medical supervision. However, in the race for the “perfect” wedding dress, it seems that many are willing to bypass the guidelines, seeing their health through the lens of an Instagram photo.
