Like many, at Bodyline our team have been shocked when reading the latest reports on the misuse of weight loss medications in the UK.
June 2024 the NHS medical director, Professor Stephen Powis gave a speech at the NHS Confederation conference and spoke of being alarmed at reports that weight loss injections like WeGovy and Mounjaro are being misused by people in the UK looking for a quick fix for weight loss.
The BBC reported that many online pharmacies are offering these injections to those willing to pay, with minimal checks on the medical history or eligibility of those willing to buy them. As a result, people who simply want to lose a few pounds are able to access prescription only medications approved only for the treatment of obesity under supervision.
What’s more, the online ‘black market’ of beauticians and salons offering weight loss jabs via social media has been readily reported as causing a number of serious health problems and adverse reactions, as the medications cannot be verified to contain the semaglutide they are advertised to be.
Bodyline’s team of practitioners and nurse prescribers are trained and experienced in providing bespoke medical wellness treatments, but we prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our patients above all else. Our status as Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated ensures the safe running of our services and offers security for all our patients when they are a part of our care.
This article aims to voice in-depth the dangers of unregulated online pharmacies and sellers when it comes to weight loss injections, with our experts at Bodyline explaining the health risks involved to patients when they are not using the medications as prescribed.
The physiological reactions to weight loss injections: semaglutide
To fully explore the dangers of improper use of weight loss injections such as WeGovy and Mounjaro, it’s important to explain how the medications work, and how they are intended to be prescribed.
WeGovy and Ozempic are both once-weekly injections produced by pharmaceutical and global healthcare company Novo Nordisk and contain the active ingredient semaglutide.
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists, mimicking a hormone produced in the gut following mealtimes, glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1).
GLP-1 is released by the intestines in response to food intake, particularly carbohydrates. It has many purposes in our body, the main functions are regulating blood sugar levels, controlling appetite, and aiding in insulin production. It is a natural hormone that helps to slow down digestion, increase satiety, and reduce food intake, but people with obesity can be resistant to it, or may not produce enough.
Therefore, when we administer semaglutide, the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, control appetite, slow digestion, and aid in insulin production is boosted, encouraging weight loss. That’s why semaglutide was approved by NICE to treat obesity in the UK for those with a BMI of above 35, or above 30 with weight health related problems.
As a result, users are able to lose up to 15% of their starting body weight when the medication is used alongside lifestyle changes such as reduced caloric intake and increased physical activity.
The difference between Ozempic and WeGovy lies in the dosage and intended use; Ozempic is approved for the treatment of type-2 diabetes and comes in lower dosages, while WeGovy is approved for the treatment of obesity and is produced in a series of higher dosages. Both are to be titrated from lower to higher across a period of time.
The physiological reactions to weight loss injections: tirzepatide
Mounjaro is one of the newest weight loss injectable therapies approved for the treatment of obesity and has been labelled the ‘King Kong’ of weight loss medications.
Its mechanism of action, tirzepatide, is dual-acting as it mimics two hormones therefore increasing the likelihood of weight loss. Alongside GLP-1, the once-weekly injection mimics gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), which is also known as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. By targeting two potential hormonal deficiencies or resistances, weight loss success has been unparalleled, and satiety, blood sugar levels, and reduction of food intake is really boosted.
Clinical trials reported participants saw an average 20% body weight reduction when paired with diet and exercise, and the medication was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) late 2023 for treating obesity in those with BMIs of above 35 or above 30 with weight health problems.
Again, the injection is to be titrated, so is produced in several dosages, and is designed to be used alongside a supported programme of diet and exercise.
Contact Bodyline today to find out more about our safe and effective weight loss programmes and range of treatment options.
Inappropriate use
Now we know how the injections work for weight loss, how they have been approved to be prescribed, and who is eligible for them, I’m sure it’s obvious we can work out who would be ineligible for these medications, and what use is inappropriate.
However, based on the worrying numbers of people misusing the medications and ending up in hospital, maybe it’s not as obvious as we think.
Ineligibility
One example of inappropriate use would be to be ineligible for WeGovy or Mounjaro and still gain a prescription and use them.
Those who are not eligible include people who do not have a BMI of obese, or do not suffer from weight related health problems such as high blood pressure.
Also, you would not be eligible if you have a contraindication in your medical history or are currently on medications that are not conducive with the injection. For instance, anyone who has suffered from an eating disorder in the past would be ineligible.
Using faceless online pharmacies with simple tick boxes and forms can leave ineligible patients open to a number of dangers and risks.
Lack of supervision
Speaking to medical professionals who can provide accurate advice and guidance on eligibility before offering a prescription is absolutely vital for patient safety, however continued supervision and monitoring of the medication’s effects is just as important.
At Bodyline, we only provide medications to those who are eligible when they sign up to a fully supported medical weight loss programme that includes regular check ups, weigh ins, and support calls.
It is incredibly alarming to us that individuals can access a month’s worth of medication with absolutely no supervision or monitoring of the progress and impact that the drugs have on the patient. Without supervision, patients may experience severe side effects and be unsure whether that is wrong or expected and may not alter their dosage or stop taking the medication.
It essentially opens both the individuals and the seller up to a world of ethical problems.
Dosage
Another example of inappropriate usage is using the wrong dose. Titration is vital in the prescription of all weight loss injections, as it reduces the risk and severity of adverse effects and reactions.
For example, gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and diarrhoea will be less severe and easier to get over when a patient begins on a lower dose and increases gradually over time. Side effects must be monitored regularly to ensure the patient is not in danger.
Self-administering Incorrectly
Support from medical professionals face-to-face (or at least over video-call) is also vital for the administration guidance. Injections are no laughing matter, they must be used and disposed of correctly to ensure absolute safety.
There are risks of using too much, using too little, or incorrect disposal, all of which pose real threats to patients and in the latter case, their families.
Safe prescribing practises at Bodyline
Bodyline’s clinical lead and registered nurse manager Bernie Murphy explains the safe prescribing practises that govern the way we deal with patients seeking medical weight loss treatment from us:
“First and foremost, we’re talking about our clinical team here. It is made up of doctors and highly experienced nurses who have their whole professional credentials on this so at the bottom of all our prescribing is about making sure that we are treating our clients with the utmost safety.
“There are strict comorbidities and contraindications that would rule many people out of using this medication, and they are put into place by the manufacturers, the MHRA that govern the licensing, and NICE which is the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. All these government bodies and corporations are a part of the licensing of the drug.
“If we as individual prescribers were to prescribe outside of those boundaries, we’d be putting the patient at risk. That means our clinical assessment of each individual is the basis of whether we will go ahead and prescribe. That can be quite a laborious process, involving contacting their GP and confirming their medical history, but it is all paramount for the individual’s safety and the clinical reputation our staff.”
Real life dangers of online pharmacies and medical weight loss
Faceless online pharmacies prescribe these medications based on a form that can be filled in with false information by anyone without being verified.
This means that controlled prescription only medication can be given to those who are ineligible, with no supervision or monitoring to ensure that there are no adverse reactions.
One terrifying instance of this is the case of a young girl being treated in an Accident and Emergency room, presenting with life-threatening symptoms after being prescribed and using WeGovy despite not being eligible.
An anonymous doctor spoke of treating this patient to The Chemist and Druggist, an online publication reporting on medication news, and said the young girl was not at all overweight but had gone online and paid £150 for a month’s worth of injections. She had bought from a major British retailer who said they had relevant checks in place.
A quote from the article:
‘[The doctor] claimed that the incident is part of a growing pattern, adding that “in the last month or two, every time [they had] done a shift pretty much [they] had some patient who, to a lesser or greater degree, is having a complication from getting these weight loss drugs” – in many cases from an online pharmacy or private beauty clinic.
“Without fail, none of them would fit the criteria at all,” they claimed, adding that another patient had “ended up going to intensive care” after obtaining weight loss drugs and presenting with pancreatitis.’
Intensive care. Pancreatitis. Complications. All real-life consequences of the alarmingly growing trend of weight loss drug misuse.
The risk for those with eating disorders
Another severe real-life consequence of minimal checks and balances on online pharmacies and beauty providers is the alarming availability of these weight loss drugs for those who suffer with eating disorders.
Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes, and all BMIs, so even if a individual fits all other eligibility checks, any evidence of eating disorders should rule them out immediately. Unfortunately, for those in the throes of it who are looking for a quick fix to weight loss, they may lie in order to obtain these drugs or go down unofficial routes like beauty clinics.
According to BEAT, the UK’s leading eating disorder charity, medications like semaglutide can be extremely dangerous as they can ‘worsen harmful thoughts and behaviours for those unwell’.
Additionally, the charity says that the side effects of vomiting and nausea noted throughout clinical trials have the potential to trigger the onset of eating disorders, or harm those who are vulnerable to them.
At Bodyline, in all our initial consultations our nurses are trained to check with patients if they have a history of eating disorders and speak to their GP if necessary. If there has been any history of it, we will not continue the process of medical weight loss treatment as it poses too high a risk for their physical and mental health.
If you or anyone you know are struggling with an eating disorder, we strongly recommend you reach out to Beat via their helpline or for immediate mental health help, text SHOUT to 85258 for support from mental health charity helpline Shout.
Support isn’t negotiable
The dangers and risks of unchecked access to weight loss medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide are mounting, and here at Bodyline we want to contribute to a safer prescribing process.
These weight loss medications are incredible in the fight against obesity, and never before have we seen such promising results in improving weight health, physical health, and mental health.
Those who are eligible in BMI, those who struggle to lose weight even though it feels they have tried everything, those who live with weight health related problems, all those who are eligible and ready to change their life completely should have access to these groundbreaking medical solutions.
But there must be a balance, there must be checks, there must be caution, and there MUST be regulation. Face to face prescribing and ongoing support should be non-negotiable within any lifestyle altering medical programme.
Our Bodyline staff have been providing regulated services within the medical weight health industry for 17 years. We have a wealth of experience with safe prescribing practices, medical history analysis, and weight loss support.
Don’t risk your health on a faceless online pharmacy who doesn’t care about your wellbeing. Our holistic approach means our patients are supported every single step of the way.
We welcome any and all regulatory action that the government, MHRA, and NICE enact for the interest of patient safety within the rise of weight loss medication use.
If you would like to find out more about Bodyline’s safe and effective weight loss injection programmes, contact Bodyline today at 0800 995 6036 or fill in an online contact form for a call back.
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