Ozempic, dental slimming wires and crash diets: Inside Nairobi’s fastest weight-loss craze
By Ascah Mwango, August 2, 2025Forget treadmills, forget the early morning gym crew chanting “no pain, no gain.” Nairobi is now chasing a new kind of weight loss high, one that promises results without effort. It is fast, it is flashy and and it is borderline dangerous according to health experts. Ozempic injections, dental slimming wires, and extreme crash diets are now the hottest tickets to a smaller waist.
In a city where looking good has become part of the brand, more and more people are ditching dumbbells and morning runs for dramatic shortcuts. It is no longer about building strength or staying healthy. It is about shrinking quickly at any cost. Let us talk about the new face of weight loss in Nairobi.
Ozempic
Ozempic started as a Type 2 diabetes drug. Now it has become Nairobi’s popular secret for shrinking waistlines without cardio. Kenyan celebrities have openly joined the trend. Big names like Kelvin Kinuthia, Pritty Vishy, Lydia Wanjiru and Murugi Munyi are among the users who swear by its magic.
Kelvin Kinuthia went viral in May 2025 after sharing that he dropped 5 kg in just one week.
“Losing 5kgs in 7 days is such a big flex … I started at 148 kg, now at 143 kg … Bikinis, here I come,” he wrote on his Instagram.
Pritty Vishy lost a staggering 41 kg over months using Ozempic along with training.
“I tried working out in the gym, but I felt overwhelmed … So I opted for Ozempic … I eat too much … After Ozempic, my appetite reduced drastically,” she shared.
Lydia Wanjiru publicly shared how her first dose caused vomiting, dizziness and crushing fatigue, yet she persisted and saw results she never achieved after months in the gym.
“I saw changes I never got even after six months in the gym,” she joked in her reveal.
Murugi Munyi also uses Ozempic as part of her wellness routine, along with gym workouts, aesthetic treatments and transparency about the ups and downs of the journey.
Nimo Gachuiri joined the Ozempic circle in July 2025, announcing her journey publicly and calling it part of her wellness reboot.
Dental slimming wires
The jaws are locked literally. It is real. Dental slimming wires are back, and they are being glamorised. Social media influencers like Moniq Diary have boldly shared their journey, claiming a dramatic 7-kilogram weight loss after having her jaw wired shut. Her reels documenting the liquid diet, blender meals, and emotional highs and lows have made her one of the most talked-about names in the trend.
Another influencer, Redna Rey, has gone even further, turning her weird experience into a video diary that details every stage of the process. She called the decision bold but necessary.
The procedure itself limits how much your jaw can open, forcing people onto a purely liquid diet. Dentists perform it quietly, by referral, and mostly for those with the budget and the guts. It is marketed as non-surgical and reversible, which makes it appealing for anyone looking for quick weight loss without cutting procedures.
Still, health experts warn that it is not meant for cosmetic purposes. Side effects include speech problems, gum infections, and psychological strain.
Crash diets – OMAD
Influencer and model Lynne Njihia gave birth in August 2023. By late 2024, she revealed she lost 17 kg in eight months by eating only one meal a day and cutting out carbs completely.
“This is what eight months of consistency and discipline will get you: 17 KGS DOWN. I feel lighter, and I am healthier. It feels so nice to be a size Small. I AM PROUD OF MYSELF,” she wrote, sharing before and after photos, noting a weight drop from 71 kg to about 53.9 kg.
OMAD stands for “One Meal A Day.” It’s a type of intermittent fasting where you eat all your food for the day in one meal, usually within one hour. The rest of the time (about 23 hours), you do not eat; only water, black coffee, or tea is allowed.
Because you eat less often, your body uses stored fat for energy. This can help with weight loss, improve focus, and give your digestive system a break
Gym guru’s take
For those who live for deadlifts and meal prep, this feels like betrayal. Fitness coaches like Frankie JustGymIt are calling it cheating. He warned that many are embracing the drug as a shortcut instead of putting in the work to live healthier lives through proper diet and exercise.
“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.
“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. You know, people think working out makes you have a sexy body and abs, but no, it’s the mental state it builds,” he explained.
Health experts also worry that OMAD crash dieting and off‑label Ozempic use are dangerous.
Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 that helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels. By reducing hunger, the drug has led to substantial weight loss in many users.
Though not originally intended for this purpose, its off-label use for shedding weight has exploded globally and now, in Kenya.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board launched a probe into misuse of Ozempic, pointing out it is approved for diabetes, not for slimming use. Officials warned of side effects and supply shortages for patients who need it medically.