Losing weight may be a common new year resolution but health experts have warned against buying medications for such purposes from social media sellers or other illegitimate channels.
Jabs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have become hugely popular for weight loss, with trials suggesting the latter can help people lose an average of 20% of their body weight after 72 weeks of treatment.
However, with demand high, access on the NHS limited, a prescription required and a hefty price tag attached, the black market for such medications is booming.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a fresh warning to those planning to use weight-loss medications, stressing the importance of only buying them from registered UK pharmacies or legitimate retailers.
“People often look for ways to support their health at this time of year but buying medicines from illegal online sellers can put your health at real risk,” said Jenn Matthissen, of the MHRA’s safety and surveillance team. “Always make sure you are using authorised products from legitimate sources and speak to a healthcare professional for advice on safe, evidence-based options.”
The black market for weight-loss medications is big business: in October the MHRA revealed it had seized more than £250,000 worth of counterfeit weight-loss jab products from a factory in Northampton, including injection pens for retatrutide, an experimental drug that is not licensed in the UK.
A subsequent Guardian investigation found that the company linked to the products, Alluvi Healthcare Ltd, had continued to advertise replicas of retatrutide on multiple Telegram channels.
Banks have warned of scams relating to weight-loss medications, noting that victims lose £120 on average.
The MHRA has previously issued warnings about beauty salons, fake pharmacy websites and social media posts selling prescription weight-loss medications without a prescription – an illegal practice. Key signs to watch out for, the agency notes, are social media posts offering unusually low prices, “miracle results” or “quick fixes”.
Among other concerns, the MHRA says products bought from such sellers could be counterfeit, contaminated or contain the wrong doses, while they may also contain unlisted ingredients that could pose a danger to health.
Experts have also warned that illicit sellers may not store weight-loss medications correctly, noting that the safety and effectiveness of the drugs could be impaired should they be subjected to extremely cold temperatures or freeze.
The health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said: “As a practising doctor and patient safety minister, I want to be absolutely clear: please do not buy weight loss medications from unregulated sources. These products are made with no regard for safety or quality and pose a major risk to unwitting customers.
“Don’t line the pockets of criminals who don’t care about your health. Safe, appropriate, licensed obesity drugs can greatly benefit those with a clinical need but should be obtained from a registered pharmacy against a valid prescription.”