Warning for new year dieters over weight-loss drugs sold online

Experts are urging anyone looking to shed a few pounds in the New Year to think twice before buying dangerous weight-loss jabs from unregulated sellers. Criminals “go to great lengths” to make online stores look authentic but may be dishing out fake or toxic versions, according to the UK’s medicines regulator.

It warned that “powerful” drugs such as semaglutide should only be obtained with a prescription and used alongside the right support.

Andy Morling, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s deputy director of criminal enforcement, said: “At this time of year, with many of us thinking about shedding a little excess weight, we see people offering weight-loss medicines for sale as a quick fix, without a healthcare professional’s prescription, from beauty salons, websites and on social media.

“These are not cosmetic treatments; they are powerful medicines that can only be legally and safely dispensed against a prescription issued by a healthcare professional.

“Criminals go to great lengths to make their website storefronts look authentic and convincing, so before you buy any medicine online you should exercise caution.”

Jabs such as Wegovy are available through specialist NHS weight management services for people who are obese and meet certain criteria. But access is limited and waiting lists are growing. 

Under NHS plans, only 220,000 will benefit from one of the latest drugs – Mounjaro, dubbed the “King Kong of weight-loss jabs – in the first three years of its rollout. An estimated 3.4million people are eligible.

Hundreds of thousands of patients have turned to private pharmacies to get a prescription. Mr Morling suggested patients should check the authenticity of online chemists by finding out if they are registered on the General Pharmaceutical Council’s website.

He added: “Fake pharmacy websites and social media sellers illegally supply medicines that are not approved for use in the UK.

“These may contain toxins and other ingredients that could cause real harm, and you may even end up in hospital.”

England’s top doctor Professor Sir Stephen Powis told the Express that weight-loss drugs were “not a magic bullet and need to be prescribed alongside programmes that help people live healthier lives by making changes to their diet and physical activity.”

The NHS national medical director added: “The NHS provides a wide range of weight management support which is helping hundreds of thousands of people and we are committed to working with the Government, industry and experts to ensure that new treatments can be rolled out safely, effectively and affordably.

“Weight-loss drugs can have side effects and it is important that they are prescribed by an appropriately trained healthcare professional rather than being obtained online.”

The warning came as GP leaders said people may be taking matters into their own hands to obtain the drugs due to long waits for NHS clinics.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said some patients were putting themselves at risk by purchasing drugs online from unregulated retailers, as well as potentially missing out on wraparound support needed alongside the medication.

She said: “I think quite a lot of people are buying weight loss drugs privately. We do have some serious concerns about that, because you don’t always know the provenance of the drugs that you’re buying unless it’s coming from an accredited company that’s properly regulated, and some of these places are not fully regulated.

“So I think I would definitely be counselling the public not to do that privately, if they can possibly help it, and go to their GP.”

The latest Health Survey for England shows 64% of adults were overweight or obese in 2022. Prof Hawthorne said the population was “gradually getting bigger and bigger”, creating a greater burden of chronic illnesses.

She called on the Government to improve existing weight reduction services by ensuring they are properly resourced and have enough staff to meet demand.

The medic added: “The place where I’m working we are referring people to weight loss clinics, but there’s a very long wait. In the meantime, we’re talking about what else they can be doing to lose weight.”

Asked if the long wait for weight management services could be turning people to buying drugs online, she said: “Yes, I’m sure that they do.

“If you’re faced with a two-year waiting time and you want to lose weight now…you might well decide that you’re going to just sort it out yourself.

“I would definitely suggest that you come and talk to your doctor or practice nurse about what you’re intending to do and let them help you – they may know ways of helping you that you haven’t thought about.

A recent Obesity Health Alliance report found some patients were being asked to wait for up to five years for specialist weight management support.

Some overweight and obesity management services are so overstretched that they have closed their waiting lists entirely.

The alliance claimed the provision of services was “insufficient and unavailable to a significant number of people”.

Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: “Weight loss medications offer hope of tangible improvements in the lives of people with severe, chronic obesity.

“However, these drugs are only safe and effective for those for whom they are medically appropriate, as prescribed by a legitimate prescriber, and are not a long-term solution for the millions of people living with obesity.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Obesity can be debilitating, costing lives, the economy and the NHS.

“The introduction of the weight-loss drugs to the NHS will ensure that those with the most need will receive treatment first.

“Where appropriate, these obesity drugs can greatly benefit those in real need.

“However, we recognise these drugs are not a replacement for a good diet and exercise and as part of our 10-Year Health Plan we will shift the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention.”