A new survey has prompted experts to warn against purchasing weight loss injections without a prescription, citing serious health risks. The research, conducted by Atomik Research among 2,000 UK adults, found that 41 per cent of those using weight loss jabs obtained them online without a prescription, while 35 per cent sourced them through family or friends.
Clinical pharmacist Kiran Jones of Oxford online pharmacy stressed that unlicensed medication could be fake or unapproved for human use, potentially containing harmful chemicals or incorrect dosages. “If a jab wasn’t prescribed to you by a licensed professional and dispensed by a qualified pharmacy, you’re putting your health and potentially your life at risk,” she said.
Roz Gittins, chief pharmacy officer at the General Pharmaceutical Council, echoed these concerns, noting that medicines from unregulated sources may be fake and cause life-threatening side effects. Professor Jane Ogden from the University of Surrey added that users without medical support may take incorrect dosages and lack guidance on how to safely come off the medication.
The survey also revealed that 43 per cent of people feel more pressure to lose weight than two years ago. Professor Naveed Sattar of the University of Glasgow warned that many individuals are accessing these drugs outside the NHS or reputable pharmacies, often because they are embarrassed or do not meet the weight threshold for a prescription.
