Tragedy at a pizzeria in Genoa: 35-year-old dies, investigation underway into a weight loss therapy

An apparently ordinary evening at a pizzeria on Via Libertà turned into a tragedy. A 35-year-old employee, dining with his girlfriend and some colleagues, suddenly collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest.

Despite the prompt arrival of emergency services and prolonged attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation, there was nothing that could be done for the young man: his death was confirmed on the spot.

Clinically, there is an element that will require thorough verification: the man had been under the care of an endocrinologist since December 2024 for weight issues and was undergoing a specific weight loss medication therapy.

At this time, the possible correlation between the malaise and the treatment is merely a hypothesis, which can only be confirmed or excluded through objective data.

The incident brings to the forefront two crucial public health issues.

The first concerns the management of out-of-hospital emergencies: the dynamics of the collapse underscore the urgency of disseminating automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public venues and training citizens in life-saving maneuvers.

In Liguria, institutions and professionals from the Policlinico San Martino have long emphasized the importance of the “chain of survival”, based on the rapid recognition of cardiac arrest and immediate intervention.

The second front concerns the growing use of weight loss medications, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide.

In Liguria and across the country, requests are sharply increasing, prompting the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) to intervene multiple times, highlighting shortages and recommending appropriate use.

The use of certain medications for weight control, such as Ozempic, is considered off-label.

Health authorities also warn of the serious risks associated with online purchases and the black market: recent investigations have documented cases of counterfeit products, such as in Padua, where a supposed weight loss pen bought online, which actually contained insulin, caused a woman to experience hypoglycemic coma.

It will now be up to the Prosecutor's Office and forensic investigations to fully clarify the causes of death of the 35-year-old.

Autopsy, targeted histological and toxicological examinations will need to determine whether the arrest was triggered by undiagnosed pre-existing conditions (heart diseases, arrhythmias), by an independent acute event, or if there is a causal link with the ongoing therapy.

Investigators will also acquire medical records and pharmaceutical documentation to verify prescriptions, dosages, and the regularity of the medications taken.