# GLP-1受體激動劑目前每月有數十萬澳洲人使用。

*biotech · news · 2026-05-24 · PerthNow*

## Key points

- 非糖尿病患者使用semaglutide的處方比例從2020年的8%升至2023年的34%。
- 約有2萬名澳洲人在政府於2024年10月生效禁令前使用未受管制的複方semaglutide。
- 澳洲藥品管理局（TGA）已發布關於GLP-1藥物自殺意念、避孕失敗及手術風險的警示。
- 專家報告指出，使用GLP-1減重不僅是脂肪減少，還伴隨顯著的肌肉與骨質流失。
- 全國呼籲要求對GLP-1使用者強制提供運動與營養支持，並資助處方藥費用。

A wave of prescription weight-loss medications has swept across Australia, reshaping how doctors treat obesity and forcing regulators into a race to keep up with demand. What were once tightly controlled diabetes treatments, drugs such as Ozempic, have become a mainstream option for obesity management. GLP-1 receptor agonists are now being used by hundreds of thousands of Australians each month, sparking major questions about safety, access and long-term health impacts. Originally designed to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes, the medications are now widely used off-label for weight loss, with about 500,000 Australians estimated to be taking them. Research has shown a rapid shift in prescribing patterns, particularly among younger people, women and patients without diabetes. A NSW-based analysis of more than 5.5 million patients found semaglutide initiation rose sharply between 2020 and 2023, with non-diabetic patients increasing from eight per cent of new users in 2020 to 34 per cent by 2023. Women accounted for almost two-thirds of new prescriptions, while patients without diabetes were more likely to be younger and living in more advantaged areas. Much of the uptake has occurred outside subsidised access, with patients paying between $350 and $600 a month privately when they do not meet Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) criteria. Researchers estimate a substantial share of prescribing is occurring outside intended clinical guidelines. Shortages, counterfeits and safety concerns The surge in demand also fuelled shortages in 2022 and 2023, leading to the emergence of compounded “replica” versions of semaglutide. These unapproved products were not assessed for safety or quality by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). By mid-2024, about 20,000 Australians were believed to be using compounded versions before the Federal Government moved to ban the practice from October 2024. Regulators have also warned about counterfeit products being illegally imported. As use expands, so too has the list of clinical concerns. The TGA has received reports of suicidal ideation linked to the drug class, while also issuing warnings about potential contraceptive failure with tirzepatide and surgical risks linked to delayed gastric emptying. Anaesthetists have also raised concerns after cases of pulmonary aspiration during surgery in patients who had followed standard fasting guidelines but still had food in their stomachs. New guidance now recommends stricter pre-operative dietary preparation for patients on the medications. Experts have additionally warned about muscle and bone loss during rapid weight reduction, with a significant portion of weight lost potentially coming from lean tissue rather than fat. Health professionals are increasingly recommending resistance training and higher protein intake to counter the effects. Calls for “wraparound” support AUSactive chief executive Ken Griffin said the rapid rollout of GLP-1 medications had outpaced policy and called for a national framework requiring structured exercise, nutrition and multidisciplinary care alongside prescriptions. “If taxpayers are funding GLP-1s then exercise must be built into prescriptions,” Mr Griffin said. “To get the full value of these medications, funded wraparound support is needed to protect muscle and bone health from day one. All GLP-1 users should be working with an exercise professional. “Exercise isn’t optional. It’s the safety net that protects muscle, protects bones, supports metabolism and prevents future hospitalisations.” He warned critical safeguards risked being overlooked as use expands. Not a “magic fix” In Australia, Ozempic is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, although some doctors may prescribe it off-label in certain circumstances. Medicines specifically registered for chronic weight management include Wegovy and Mounjaro. Among those navigating the treatment is 46-year-old Melbourne account manager Samantha Wearing, who began taking Ozempic about 16 months ago while managing type 2 diabetes and bipolar disorder. Before starting treatment, she said her blood sugar levels remained high despite insulin and tablets, leaving her at risk of heart disease, blurred eyesight and poor sleep. “The main goal was to get my blood sugars down, as they were in the craziness of 20-plus range, even with insulin and tablets. They should be between six and 10,” Ms Wearing said. She said the medication, combined with regular exercise at The Bootcamp Co, helped her lose more than 30 kilograms, dropping from 125kg to 94kg and moving from a size 24 to a size 16. Ms Wearing now trains four to five times a week and said the changes had improved her mobility, energy and confidence. “Before Ozempic, the encouragement was there, but I was overweight and puffy, and I don’t really want to do things if I’m not going to succeed,” she said. “Once I started on it and exercising, I saw the results physically, mentally and my general health overall.” But she said the experience also highlighted some of the challenges surrounding the drugs, including side effects, ongoing costs and inconsistent medical support. Ms Wearing experienced nausea and exhaustion when she first started treatment, although her side effects were short-lived. However, she said she knew others who stopped taking GLP-1 medications because the effects became too difficult. She also warned the medication was not a “magic fix”, explaining exercise had been critical to maintaining muscle and preventing rapid weight regain. “Without exercise and strength training to build muscle, your body turns to jelly, and you need to maintain exercise to keep that muscle because otherwise it deteriorates,” she said. “If you stop exercising … it all comes back fast.” Long-term challenge Despite positive results, Ms Wearing said support around GLP-1 use remained inconsistent. “My endocrinologist appointments cost a few hundred dollars each time and I pay to go to The Bootcamp Co,” she said. She also said greater involvement from GPs was needed in managing treatment. “It should come from the GPs, they need more education around GLP-1s. Mine pretty much just rewrites my script.” Ms Wearing said long wait times for specialists and the cost of exercise and wraparound care could make long-term success difficult for many Australians. Her experience reflects a broader tension in Australia’s healthcare system between strong demand and rapid uptake, and evolving evidence, uneven access and limited long-term guidance. While studies continue to show the medications can be highly effective for weight loss and diabetes management, experts caution they are not a stand-alone solution, with weight regain common once treatment stops and sustained lifestyle changes critical.

**Companies:** The Bootcamp Co
**Countries:** Australia

[Read the full story on PerthNow](https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/glp-1-weight-loss-drug-use-surges-across-australia-amid-safety-warnings-and-supply-shortages-c-22328736)

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