The U.K. government and its drug regulator have issued a new warning aimed at the misuse of GLP-1 therapies by those who don’t qualify for the meds but are instead using them for quick-fix weight loss.
Social media have been awash with posts about the use of Ozempic and Wegovy, the diabetes and obesity therapies from Novo Nordisk, and more recently Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound for the same indications, to help people lose weight.
Each drug, however, has specific parameters for how they should be used: Ozempic and Mounjaro are for certain Type 2 diabetes patients only, while Wegovy and Zepbound are only for those deemed medically obese. Each of the drugs should only be prescribed by a healthcare professional.
These meds have become a social and celebrity phenomenon, with Elon Musk and many other online influencers touting the benefits of the class of drugs.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), concerned about a rise in misuse of the drugs, has issued a joint statement with the British government warning that people risk potential side effects from using the drugs when not needed, with GI issues, plus more serious problems like pancreatitis and hypoglycaemia, representing some of the risks.
There are also warnings about private prescriptions of the drug. The National Health Service is the typical prescriber of most medicines in the U.K. through its taxpayer-funded system, but people are increasingly seeking private prescriptions from a range of places, some of which may be counterfeit or contain the incorrect dosage.
The U.K. government, in an unusual move, has warned about the cultural aspect of these meds, saying that they are not for cosmetic use, but for those genuinely in need.
“Weight-loss drugs have enormous potential. When taken alongside healthy diet and exercise, they can be game changers in tackling obesity and getting people back to good health,” said Wes Streeting, secretary of state for health and social care, in a statement.
“But these are not cosmetic drugs that should be taken to help get a body beautiful picture for Instagram. These are serious medicines and should only be used responsibly and under medical supervision. They’re not a quick fix to lose a few pounds and buying them online without appropriate assessment can put people’s health at risk.”