Long waiting times for NHS services may lead some people to buy potentially dangerous weight-loss injections online, Britain’s top GP has warned.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said purchasing medication from unregulated online sources could pose significant health risks. She also highlighted the danger of cheaper alternatives to the pre-filled injection pens, which require patients to prepare part of the medication at home.
Her warning follows a statement from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which cautioned against buying illegal weight-loss drugs from beauty salons, fake pharmacies, or social media. The MHRA warned that these products might contain harmful toxins and other dangerous substances.
Andy Morling, the MHRA’s deputy director of criminal enforcement, urged caution, saying that criminals often create convincing websites to lure customers. “These are not cosmetic treatments; they are powerful medicines that can only be legally dispensed with a prescription from a healthcare professional,” he explained.
Hawthorne noted that the increasing weight of the population was contributing to a rise in chronic health problems. She expressed “serious concerns” about many people buying weight-loss drugs from unregulated sources, as these places may not be fully monitored for safety.
Speaking to PA Media, Hawthorne said the growing demand for weight-loss drugs was partly due to long waiting times for NHS weight-loss services. She called on the government to invest more in these services. “If you’re faced with a two-year wait and want to lose weight now, you might decide to sort it out yourself,” she said. “But please speak to your doctor or nurse before buying weight-loss injections. Don’t do it without professional guidance.”
The warning comes as a recent report from the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) revealed that some patients are waiting up to five years for specialist weight-loss support. Some services are so overwhelmed that they have closed their waiting lists entirely.
Katharine Jenner, director of the OHA, said while weight-loss medications offer hope to people with severe obesity, they are only safe and effective when prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional. “They are not a long-term solution for the millions of people living with obesity,” she added.
In a related development, the NHS plans to roll out the weight-loss drug Mounjaro, dubbed the “King Kong” of weight-loss injections, over the next 12 years. Although an estimated 220,000 people could benefit from the drug in the first three years, there are about 3.4 million people eligible, and those with the highest needs will be prioritised.
The latest Health Survey for England shows that 64% of adults were overweight or obese in 2022, underscoring the urgent need for effective and accessible weight-loss solutions.
