People should not use anti-obesity drugs as a ‘quick fix’ to lose unwanted weight’ for aesthetic reasons, warned an NHS doctor.
Professor Steve Powis, national medical director of NHS England, issued the warning after evidence emerged that growing numbers of people who are not medically qualified are obtaining the drugs from private beauty clinics or online pharmacies.
‘Drugs including Ozempic and Wegovy should only be used by people prescribed them for obesity or diabetes. I’m worried about reports that people are misusing them. They are not intended as a quick fix for people trying to get “beach body ready”,’ said Powis.
The drug semaglutide, which suppresses appetite, was initially used to treat diabetes under the brand name Ozempic. But a higher-dose version, sold as Wegovy, has been marketed as a treatment for obesity after studies showed it could help people lose 15% of their body weight in 68 weeks. The jabs are available on the NHS for patients who meet strict criteria but can also be bought privately on prescription, along with other brands.
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NHS England said people, especially young women, who used the drugs without any medical reason were ending up seriously ill in hospital, including in intensive care. A young girl was reported to arrive at A&E with life-threatening symptoms, ‘unable to eat and about to pass out’ after taking Wegovy she bought online.
‘We know these new drugs will be a powerful part of our arsenal dealing with obesity – but they should not be abused. Buying medication online without a doctor’s supervision can lead to complications and dangerous consequences,’ said Powis.
The Society for Acute Medicine, which represents many hospital doctors, said ‘urgent regulation’ was needed to ensure proper access to weight-loss drugs. The society has raised its concerns with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which monitors adverse reactions to drugs to prevent further misuse of the weight loss medications.