To land a good job, senior college student Xiao Zheng sought to lose weight. He purchased an herbal weight-loss product online. After taking it for over two months, he did lose weight, but his liver suffered severe drug-induced damage. Yesterday morning, the 22-year-old stood at the outpatient clinic of Hangzhou Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, clutching his medical report, feeling utterly helpless.
Weight Loss Pills Ruined His Liver and Job Prospects
Xiao Zheng, a senior marketing major at a Hangzhou university, stood at 6 feet tall but weighed nearly 200 pounds, appearing both tall and overweight. As his peers began securing jobs after graduation, Xiao Zheng struggled to find a suitable position."Back then, I often had nightmares where recruiters told me, 'You're too fat, we won't hire you,' or mocked me outright, 'Get lost, you big fatso.'" Zheng began searching for ways to lose weight.
Two months ago, he ran into his cousin and noticed the once-chubby girl had slimmed down significantly. Upon asking, he learned she'd been taking a Chinese herbal weight-loss product that helped her shed 10-12 pounds in just two weeks.
Xiao Zheng's eyes lit up. "I looked it up online. That weight-loss pill has good sales and positive reviews from buyers. Though some said it caused nausea, dizziness, and insomnia, the results seemed pretty significant." Deciding to give it a try, Xiao Zheng ordered two bottles online."Not long after starting it, my appetite dropped significantly." Xiao Zheng also noticed he often felt lethargic, had stomach discomfort, and experienced dizziness. Still, he persisted for two months. What satisfied him was that the weight loss effects were indeed remarkable—over two months, he shed more than twenty pounds.
A few days ago, Xiao Zheng applied for a position at a foreign trade company. The employer was satisfied with his resume and appearance, quickly arranging a physical examination. Passing the check would secure his contract and employment. But the results delivered a crushing blow: all his liver function indicators were abnormal, with transaminase levels many times higher than normal. The doctor advised immediate hospitalization for further examination and treatment.
Exercise Caution When Using Weight-Loss Medications
Xiao Zheng is now hospitalized at Hangzhou Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Chief Physician Cong Chuan from the Department of Internal Medicine analyzed his condition, explaining that Xiao Zheng was already obese and had fatty liver disease, meaning his liver function was compromised to begin with. Weight-loss medications often contain ingredients that interfere with fat metabolism, and the drugs themselves or their metabolites can directly cause liver toxicity, leading to drug-induced liver injury."Without timely treatment, this could progress to more dangerous conditions like acute liver failure."
As early as March 2005 (Volume 10, Issue 1) of the journal Liver,an article titled "Analysis of 20 Cases of Liver Damage Caused by Chinese Herbal Weight Loss Agents." It highlighted that the common belief that Chinese herbs or herbal health supplements are non-toxic is incorrect. When different herbs or plants are combined, the risk of toxicity increases. Since the use of herbal remedies often goes undetected, it can lead to delayed diagnosis and worsening liver damage.
We also learned that among this year's outpatient cases at the Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, patients like Xiao Zheng who suffered liver damage due to weight-loss drug abuse are not uncommon. Some individuals blindly pursue "rapid weight loss" through unscientific methods like so-called "starvation diets" and "diarrhea-inducing weight loss," causing rapid short-term weight loss but damaging the liver."When the body cannot promptly absorb nutrients, it is forced to burn stored fat for energy, compelling the liver to accumulate fat. This exacerbates existing fatty liver conditions," Dr. Cong Chuan cautioned those seeking weight loss. He recommended a gradual approach combining moderate exercise with controlled calorie restriction, limiting weekly weight loss to 0.5–1 kilogram.