A citizen works out at a fitness center (gym). (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — As weight-loss drugs gain popularity in South Korea, gyms that once thrived on New Year’s diet resolutions are beginning to feel the strain.
Fitness centers across Seoul report a noticeable shift in consumer behavior as more people turn to prescription obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro instead of exercise and personal training.
Once the busiest season for gym sign-ups, late December and early January are proving quieter than usual, fitness workers say, as consumers increasingly opt for what they see as a faster and cheaper medical solution.
The appeal is largely economic. Personal training sessions in affluent districts like Gangnam typically cost between 600,000 and 800,000 won for a five-week package, with trainers estimating a weight loss of two to three kilograms over a month.
Wegovy, a drug for obese patients sold in pharmacies (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
By contrast, obesity drugs cost roughly half as much — about 300,000 to 400,000 won per month — and online testimonials frequently tout losses of four to six kilograms in the same period.
That perceived efficiency is drawing users across age groups. Some gym members report abandoning exercise altogether after starting medication, citing fatigue and dizziness when trying to work out while eating less.
Gym owners, particularly those catering to women and weight-loss clients, say they are increasingly worried that drug-based dieting could erode their core customer base.
Others in the fitness industry are more cautious, arguing that the trend may be overstated or driven by broader economic pressures.
Facilities focused on strength training rather than weight loss say they have seen little change, and some operators attribute slower sign-ups to a weak consumer economy rather than pharmaceuticals.
Gym workout (Image courtesy of Rawpixel/CCL)
Medical experts, while acknowledging the effectiveness of the drugs, warn against viewing them as substitutes for exercise. Doctors caution that rapid weight loss driven by appetite suppression can lead to muscle loss and nutritional deficiencies if not accompanied by proper diet and physical activity.
“Obesity drugs are powerful, but they can’t replace exercise,” said Kang Jae-heon, a family medicine specialist at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. “Without physical activity, patients risk losing muscle as well as fat. Even when medication is used, exercise remains essential for healthy and sustainable weight loss.”
As South Korea grapples with rising obesity treatment demand and changing lifestyle habits, the growing reliance on medical solutions is reshaping not only how people lose weight, but also the businesses built around helping them do so.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
