Warnings about weight loss jabs being promoted on social media

Warnings have again been issued over the risks of weight loss injections, and for people considering using them not to be influenced by social media.

The Advertising Standards Agency has penalised nine companies who have promoted prescription-only slimming jabs, including one company endorsed by Gemma Collins, who promoted the injections to her 2.2million followers.

Advertising prescription medication is banned in the UK, which includes sponsored social media posts, and could results in a fine and up to two years in prison.

The ASA said it was “crystal clear” that injections such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are medication, available only by prescription, and said it will continue to clamp down on their promotion.

While licensed weight loss jabs are proving effective for many people, and are available both through the NHS and privately, they come with many risks and side effects, including stomach problems, circulation issues, headaches and problems sleeping. More serious consequences can include pancreatis and gastro problems.

However, issues have also arisen with unlicenced weight loss injections, sourced from non-healthcare settings, which have seen people being forced to seek hospital treatment from serious unexpected side effects.

Lara Bennett, senior associate at Slater and Gordon, warns that weight loss medication should only be bought and used responsibly, with full knowledge of possible negative effects.

"While it is right that these adverts have been banned, as advertising of prescription medication is illegal, promoting weight loss injections in this way via social media is really not appropriate,” she says.

"Weight loss injections work very well for some people - but they carry a raft of side effects and potential complications which are of course not advertised in social media marketing, and people risk seeing only the benefits while remaining oblivious to the very real risks.

"Such medication needs to be closely monitored and supervised and should only be sought from reputable sources."