📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Vice President's Secretariat
Health
India’s booming wellness market rides on bariatric surgery, Ozempic and celebrity weight‑loss trends
✍️ ET Now
🗓 23 Aug 2026, 07:40 PM
👁 3
The surge in bariatric procedures and demand for weight‑loss drugs like Ozempic, amplified by celebrity transformations, is spawning a fast‑growing wellness economy in India.
Major hospitals and specialised clinics in metros such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru are reporting a noticeable rise in appointments for bariatric surgery, as more people seek permanent solutions to obesity. The procedures, once considered niche, are now being marketed alongside lifestyle packages that promise rapid, visible results.
At the same time, pharmaceutical sales of GLP‑1 agonists, particularly Ozempic, have climbed sharply after the drug gained popularity for its weight‑loss benefits. Pharmacies in urban centres note that inquiries about the medication have outpaced those for its original diabetes indication.
Social media platforms amplify the trend, with Indian celebrities openly sharing before‑and‑after photos of dramatic transformations. Their endorsements have turned weight‑loss journeys into aspirational content, prompting followers to explore similar medical or drug‑based options.
The combined effect is giving rise to a new wellness economy: startups offering post‑surgery care, nutrition‑tech apps, and boutique clinics are emerging to cater to a market eager for quick, dramatic change. Analysts observe that this sector is attracting significant investment, reshaping India’s health‑service landscape.
Health experts caution that while the demand reflects growing awareness of obesity risks, the rush for quick fixes may overlook long‑term lifestyle changes required for sustainable health.
At the same time, pharmaceutical sales of GLP‑1 agonists, particularly Ozempic, have climbed sharply after the drug gained popularity for its weight‑loss benefits. Pharmacies in urban centres note that inquiries about the medication have outpaced those for its original diabetes indication.
Social media platforms amplify the trend, with Indian celebrities openly sharing before‑and‑after photos of dramatic transformations. Their endorsements have turned weight‑loss journeys into aspirational content, prompting followers to explore similar medical or drug‑based options.
The combined effect is giving rise to a new wellness economy: startups offering post‑surgery care, nutrition‑tech apps, and boutique clinics are emerging to cater to a market eager for quick, dramatic change. Analysts observe that this sector is attracting significant investment, reshaping India’s health‑service landscape.
Health experts caution that while the demand reflects growing awareness of obesity risks, the rush for quick fixes may overlook long‑term lifestyle changes required for sustainable health.