Amid the craze for obesity drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, a so-called "natural Wegovy" diet of boiled eggs with olive oil is drawing attention. Interest is mounting because the regimen can boost satiety without the burden of medication costs that run into hundreds of thousands of won, but experts caution that its effects may be exaggerated.
One in three Korean adults (34.4%) is obese, up about 30.8% from 26.3% a decade ago, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's "2025 Community Health Survey." The obesity rate among men stands at 41.4%, 1.8 times the 23.0% rate among women.
As the obese population grows, demand for GLP-1 class obesity drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro is also surging. Mounjaro surpassed 100,000 cumulative prescriptions just four months after its domestic launch. However, with monthly costs ranging from 210,000 to 600,000 won and gastrointestinal side effects weighing on patients, demand for similar effects without medication is flowing toward "natural Wegovy."
The diet method is simple. Drizzle olive oil over two boiled eggs and add Greek yogurt and pepper. The principle lies in GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), an appetite-suppressing hormone. GLP-1 is secreted in the small intestine when food is consumed, sending satiety signals to the brain and slowing the rate of gastric emptying.
The logic is that as the high protein in eggs and the monounsaturated fatty acids in olive oil are digested together, they stimulate the secretion of this hormone, maintaining a feeling of fullness for longer. Starting the morning with a high-protein, high-fat combination can also yield a secondary dietary effect, moderating the blood sugar response to subsequent meals.
Among those who have actually followed the diet, reviews report that hunger arrives later than after a bread or cereal breakfast, and that they lost significant weight. Testimonials have also emerged from cases where people combined the diet out of concern over the yo-yo effect after stopping obesity drugs, saying they maintained their weight loss.
However, experts point out that the term "natural Wegovy" is an exaggeration. GLP-1 is secreted no matter what food is eaten, and because the hormone produced through food disappears quickly, it is difficult to expect the same effect as medication.
Eating excessive amounts of high-calorie olive oil can actually become a cause of obesity, and extremely cutting carbohydrates and dietary fiber can lead to a decline in basal metabolic rate and reduced brain function. Consuming complex carbohydrates such as multigrain rice or whole wheat bread to maintain nutritional balance is a way to reduce side effects.
