People are faking weight to get skinny injections, says Chelsmford GB

A GP says she has seen patients putting “weights on their backs” to fake readings in order to be prescribed weight-loss injections online.

Fiona Graham, who runs a private practice in Chelmsford, Essex, said she regularly receives requests for Wegovy and Mounjaro from people who do not meet the criteria for the drugs.

“People use weights, water bottles under their arms, books — anything that makes them look heavier than they actually are,” she said.

Rose Gittins, of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC), said its guidance made clear that prescribers of weight-loss drugs were expected to check patients’ weight and height before administering medicines.

Dr Graham, who also runs NHS clinics, said people could become “nutritionally depleted” if they used the drug without qualifying for it because they would not maintain their nutritional needs normally.

“We could see people losing bone density and muscle mass, and that’s where we might see some problems in the future,” she said.

Dr. Graham called for stricter checks to prevent vaccines being sold inappropriately online.

She added: “How do we know someone’s weight if it is just a photo taken of their weight?”

“It leads itself to people who can bend the rules and get around the system.”

Weight-loss vaccines have been available on the NHS in England since the end of June, but the medicine is not available without a prescription and patients must meet their needs. Strict criteria to be eligible for a prescription.

It is estimated that around 1.5 million people take weight loss medications in the UK.

James, not his real name, said he used a weight-loss injection to stay fit.

The 34-year-old, from Suffolk, said he had never had a problem getting the medication online.

“Two minutes on Google and you can have it in your cart,” he said.

“I’ll keep taking it. If it hurts me, it doesn’t hurt anyone else.”

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence states that weight loss injections should only be offered in the NHS to an obese adult with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35 and who has a pre-existing weight-related health condition.

Guidance from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) states that online private prescribers should only give Mounjaro to adult patients with a BMI of 30 or more.

Ms Gittins, chief pharmacy officer at GPC, said: “Earlier this year, we updated our guidance to clarify that when providing medicines used for weight management, the prescriber is expected to independently verify the information provided by the person, including weight, height and/or body mass index.

“We inspect hundreds of pharmacies each month and reach out to many of them in response to the concerns we receive.

“We will continue to take appropriate action to protect patient safety if a pharmacy does not meet our standards.”

An MHRA spokesperson said: “Prescription weight loss medicines should only be obtained from a registered pharmacy against a prescription issued by a healthcare professional.

“Taking these medications from any other source carries serious risks to your health with no guarantees about what they contain.”

The BBC contacted the Department of Health and Social Care.