The Weight Loss Revolution: Nairobi’s Dangerous Dance with Quick Fixes

How celebrities, influencers, and ordinary Nairobians are embracing extreme measures for rapid weight loss—and why health experts are sounding the alarm

The morning gym crowds at Nairobi’s upscale fitness centers are thinning, but it’s not because the city has lost its appetite for weight loss.

Instead, Kenyans are turning to a new arsenal of rapid-fire solutions that promise dramatic results without the sweat: diabetes drugs repurposed for slimming, medieval-like jaw wiring procedures, and extreme fasting regimens that would make nutritionists shudder.

Welcome to Nairobi’s weight loss revolution; a high-stakes game where looking good fast has become more important than being healthy, and where social media influence often trumps medical advice.

The Ozempic Phenomenon

At the center of this transformation is Ozempic, a diabetes medication that has become the city’s worst-kept secret for effortless weight loss.

Originally designed to help manage Type 2 diabetes, the injectable drug works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar levels. The result? Dramatic weight reduction that has captured the attention of Kenya’s celebrity elite.

Content creator Kelvin Kinuthia made headlines in May when he announced losing 5 kilograms in just seven days.

“Losing 5kgs in 7 days is such a big flex,” he wrote to his thousands of Instagram followers, documenting his journey from 148kg to 143kg with the enthusiasm of someone who had discovered the holy grail of weight management.

The trend has swept through Kenya’s entertainment industry like wildfire.

Pritty Vishy lost an astounding 41 kilograms over several months using Ozempic combined with training, while radio personality Lydia Wanjiru openly shared how the drug helped her achieve changes she “never got even after six months in the gym”—despite experiencing severe side effects including vomiting, dizziness, and crushing fatigue.

Beauty influencer Murugi Munyi has incorporated Ozempic into her wellness routine, and most recently, content creator Nimo Gachuiri joined the trend in July, publicly announcing it as part of her “wellness reboot.”

But behind the glamorous before-and-after photos lies a more complex reality.

The black market for Ozempic injections is thriving, thanks to the growing demand for the drug. Kenya’s Ministry of Health and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board have launched investigations into the misuse of Ozempic, emphasizing that it’s approved for diabetes treatment, not cosmetic weight loss.

The Return of Jaw Wiring

Perhaps even more dramatic than the Ozempic trend is the resurgence of dental slimming wires—a procedure that literally wires the jaw shut to force users onto a liquid-only diet.

This isn’t a metaphor; it’s a medical reality that’s being glamorized across social media platforms.

Influencer Moniq Diary has become one of the most visible proponents of the procedure, documenting her 7-kilogram weight loss journey through jaw wiring with a mixture of triumph and transparency about the challenges.

Her content, featuring blended meals and liquid diets, has garnered thousands of views and inspired others to follow suit.

Another influencer, Redna Rey, has taken the documentation even further, creating a detailed video diary of every stage of the process, calling her decision “bold but necessary.”

The weight-loss trend of slimming wires involves temporarily wiring the jaw shut to limit food intake. While some users report success, medical professionals warn of potential risks like malnutrition, jaw pain, and even choking.

The procedure, performed quietly by dentists mostly through referrals, is marketed as non-surgical and reversible. But health experts are raising serious concerns.

The restriction imposed by jaw wiring not only alters eating habits but may also contribute to mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.

Additionally, having your jaw wired shut is basically making a massive breeding ground for bacteria and the onset of decay due to increased salivation and inability to properly clean between teeth.

The OMAD Obsession

Completing the trinity of extreme weight loss measures is OMAD (One Meal A Day), a form of intermittent fasting that restricts all daily food intake to a single hour.

Model and influencer Lynne Njihia became a poster child for this approach after losing 17 kilograms in eight months following childbirth, dropping from 71kg to 53.9kg while completely eliminating carbohydrates.

“This is what eight months of consistency and discipline will get you: 17 KGS DOWN. I feel lighter, and I am healthier,” she shared with her followers, proudly announcing her return to size Small clothing.

While OMAD has legitimate applications in supervised medical settings, its popularization through social media has many nutritionists concerned about the message it sends about sustainable, healthy eating habits.

The Professional Pushback

The fitness community is pushing back against what many see as a cultural shift away from health-focused wellness toward appearance-obsessed quick fixes.

Fitness coach Frankie JustGymIt has been particularly vocal about what he calls “cheating” the process of health improvement.

“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 in a recent social media post.

His concern goes beyond just the physical implications: “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.”

Kenyan health authorities are taking notice of these trends with growing alarm. A 2025 report by the Reuters Institute shows that in Kenya, online influencers are the main source of false or misleading information.

The concern is especially high in African countries like Nigeria (58 percent) and Kenya (59 percent). Most of these campaigns target women.

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has warned about counterfeit Ozempic products flooding the market, while medical professionals stress that these interventions should only be undertaken under strict medical supervision for appropriate candidates.

The Cost of Quick Results

What’s driving this dramatic shift in how Nairobi approaches weight loss? Cultural observers point to several factors: the influence of social media, the desire for instant results in an increasingly fast-paced society, and the pressure to maintain a certain aesthetic standard in Kenya’s image-conscious social circles.

But the real cost may be measured not just in shillings spent on procedures and medications, but in the long-term relationship Kenyans develop with their bodies, food, and health.

Medical experts warn that without addressing underlying lifestyle factors, dramatic weight loss through these methods often proves temporary. Weight regain was common after the removal of the wires, as individuals returned to their previous eating habits.

Moreover, the psychological impact of these extreme interventions is still being understood. The message that bodies need to be dramatically altered through medical intervention to be acceptable may be creating a generation of Kenyans who view their natural selves as inherently flawed.

As Nairobi’s weight loss revolution continues to evolve, the question remains whether the city can find a balance between the desire for effective solutions and the need for safe, sustainable approaches to health and wellness.

While Ozempic, jaw wiring, and extreme fasting may offer dramatic short-term results, health experts continue to emphasize that lasting wellness comes from understanding and addressing the root causes of weight concerns through comprehensive lifestyle changes, proper nutrition, regular physical activity, and mental health support.

The challenge for Kenya’s health system, influencers, and individuals will be navigating this new landscape while prioritizing long-term wellbeing over short-term aesthetic gains. As this trend continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the conversation about weight, health, and body image in Kenya has been forever changed.

For those considering any form of medical intervention for weight loss, health professionals recommend consulting with qualified medical practitioners who can provide personalized guidance based on individual health needs and circumstances.