Growing Demand for Weight-Loss Drugs in the UK Raises Safety and Accessibility Concerns

Over 500,000 Britons are buying weight-loss injections online, outpacing the NHS's limited rollout and prompting regulatory scrutiny.

More than 500,000 people in the UK are using weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro, with 95% purchasing them privately online due to limited NHS availability.
The NHS currently provides Wegovy to fewer than 35,000 patients through specialist clinics, with plans to expand access through GP surgeries starting next summer.
Regulators are investigating illegal online advertising and sales of prescription-only weight-loss drugs, warning of safety risks and potential pharmacy closures.
Patients report significant health improvements using these drugs, but critics argue the NHS's cautious rollout is inadequate given the scale of obesity-related health issues.
Social media platforms have become a hub for discount codes and informal resales of these medications, raising ethical and safety concerns.