The UK Government has issued an urgent public health warning about the severe dangers of buying counterfeit weight loss injections from unregulated online sellers. Health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed has explicitly stated that these illicit products can be contaminated and potentially fatal.
Minister's Stark Warning on Counterfeit Medications
In a direct appeal to the public, Health Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed, a transplant surgeon, has highlighted the critical risks associated with so-called 'fat jabs' purchased from rogue online retailers. Writing in early January 2026, Dr Ahmed cautioned that a predicted surge in demand for appetite-suppressing injections at the start of the new year is being exploited by criminals.
"If it sounds too good to be true it probably is and what’s more it could be life threatening," Dr Ahmed warned. He described the sellers as "chancers and criminals" who often have no knowledge of what they are selling and show no concern for the health consequences for buyers.
The minister detailed that fake weight loss products risk being contaminated, incorrectly dosed, or containing powerful, unlisted ingredients. He confirmed there have been "countless examples" of people suffering from serious heart problems, psychological effects, and dangerously low blood sugar, with some requiring intensive hospital treatment.
Scale of Demand and the Black Market Threat
Public demand for these medications is soaring. An estimated over three million people are likely to take appetite-suppressing drugs in the new year, a significant increase from the current 1-1.5 million users. Notably, one in ten people aged 25 to 49 are expected to seek them out.
However, the high cost of licensed treatments – with a four-week supply of drugs like Mounjaro costing between £92 and £122 – is driving people towards cheaper, dangerous alternatives. A recent Ipsos poll revealed alarming trends: one in 10 Brits said they would buy these injections from platforms like Facebook and TikTok if unable to get a prescription, while 5% admitted they would purchase them from an unregistered online retailer.
Further analysis by the NPA, based on a YouGov survey, suggests that 6% of UK adults (equivalent to 3.3 million people) are likely to use weight-loss jabs in the new year.
Official Guidance and Safe Access
The government and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have issued clear guidance: these injections are prescription-only medicines for a reason. They are powerful drugs that require proper clinical oversight.
"Real weight loss injections are prescription-only for good reason," Dr Ahmed emphasised. "They're powerful drugs that need proper clinical oversight and supervision. If someone offers you these medicines without a prescription or at suspiciously low prices, walk away."
The public is urged to speak to their GP or pharmacist if considering weight-loss treatment. The NHS is rolling out licensed drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy, but due to capacity constraints, they are currently prioritised for the most dangerously obese patients with related health conditions. The health service expects to provide the jabs to 240,000 people over three years.
Dr Ahmed concluded with a clear message: "Your health is too important to take a chance on a fake product from an anonymous seller." The government's goal is to support people in making safe, healthy choices and to keep them out of the clutches of rogue online criminals profiting from the new year's resolution rush.
