Losing weight may be a common New Year's goal, but health experts warn against purchasing drugs for such goals from sellers on social media or other illicit channels.
Jabs like Vegovi and Mujaro became extremely popular for weight losswith research showing that the latter can help people lose an average of 20% of their body weight after 72 weeks of treatment.
However, due to high demand, limited access to the NHS, the need for a prescription and the high price, the black market for such drugs is thriving.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a new warning for those planning to use drugs for weight loss, highlighting the importance of buying them only from registered UK pharmacies or legitimate retailers.
“People are often looking for ways to maintain their health at this time of year, but buying medicines from illegal online sellers can put your health at real risk,” said Jenn Matthiessen from the MHRA's Safety and Surveillance Team. “Always make sure you're using approved products from legal sources, and ask your doctor for advice about safe, science-backed options.”
The black market for weight-loss drugs is big business: in October the MHRA said it had seized more than £250,000 worth of counterfeit weight-loss drugs from a Northampton factory, including injection pens for retatrutide, an experimental drug not licensed in the UK.
Subsequent Guardian Investigation discovered that Alluvi Healthcare Ltd, a company associated with these products, continued to advertise copies of retatrutide on several Telegram channels.
Banks have warned about fraud regarding weight loss drugs, noting that victims lose an average of £120.
The MHRA has previously issued warnings about beauty salons, fake pharmacy websites and social media posts selling prescription weight loss drugs without a prescription, which is an illegal practice. The agency notes that key signs to look out for include social media posts offering unusually low prices, “miracle results” or “quick fixes.”
Among other things, the MHRA states that products bought from such retailers may be counterfeit, contaminated or contain incorrect doses, and may contain unlisted ingredients that may pose a health risk.
Experts also warned that illicit sellers may not store weight-loss drugs properly, noting that the drugs' safety and effectiveness could be compromised if they are exposed to extremely cold temperatures or freezing.
Health Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said: “As a medical practitioner and Minister for Patient Safety, I want to be absolutely clear: please do not buy weight loss medications from unregulated sources. These products are not manufactured with safety and quality in mind and pose a serious risk to unsuspecting customers.”
“Don't line the pockets of criminals who don't care about your health. Safe, appropriate and licensed anti-obesity drugs can be of great benefit to those with a clinical need, but they must be purchased from a registered pharmacy with a valid prescription.”
