Appearing on the YouTube channel 'Shin Woman' on the 10th, Woo discussed the trending diet pills, stating, "Oral Wegovy was approved in the U.S. this January and is currently being sold, but it hasn't been approved for use in Korea yet." He warned, "Any product being sold as 'oral Wegovy' in the market is 100% a scam," adding that the ingredients in these products are nonsensical and should be avoided.
Woo emphasized that "Mounjaro and Wegovy are indeed effective," noting that they reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and overall mortality by about 20%. He explained that these medications prevent hundreds of thousands of obesity-related deaths. However, he stressed the importance of accompanying education and lifestyle intervention programs, as these drugs cause significant metabolic changes. "In the U.S., such education is mandatory after prescription, but this is not well implemented in Korea," he said. He also warned of potential side effects like excessive carbohydrate intake or not feeling thirsty, which could lead to severe conditions like dialysis or even blindness.
During the show, Woo offered health tips to hosts Lee Sun-min, Lee Kyung-sil, and Cho Hye-ryun. Lee Sun-min brought her body composition analysis for detailed advice. Woo pointed out, "Having a lot of muscle and body fat is fine, but having excessive visceral fat is problematic," warning that fat between organs can leak and cause inflammation.
For Lee Kyung-sil, who mentioned late-night snacking, Woo explained, "During menopause, cravings for sweet snacks increase, sleep quality deteriorates, and the brain craves sweet and fatty foods due to dopamine release from carbohydrates and salty, sweet foods." He advised reducing these cravings and suggested supplementing protein through shakes for those who avoid meat as they age.
Woo also offered advice for the upcoming Lunar New Year, a time prone to overeating. "Foods like rice cake soup typically lack protein. Rice cakes are absorbed as glucose, raising blood sugar levels, so I recommend going for a walk with family right after meals," he said, adding that "sitting down to play games like Go-Stop after meals is the worst."
Woo expressed particular concern for Lee Sun-min's health, humorously noting, "People with Lee Sun-min's physique and youthful appearance can suddenly face health issues due to metabolic disorders," and joked, "You're not a healthy pig, but a pig walking precariously on a wall," eliciting laughter.
Reported by Yoo Ye-ji, Ten Asia ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr