Fake weight-loss tablets are set to flood Britain, experts warn, as the pharmaceutical industry launches tablet forms of popular injectable medications. The move could lead to a surge in counterfeit pills, which could be easier for scammers to produce and distribute due to lower production costs.
The demand for weight-loss treatments has grown significantly in recent years, with trials showing that certain injections can help people lose up to 20% of their body weight. However, the jabs are expensive, require an injection pen and needles, and must be refrigerated, making them less accessible to some.
Now, pharmaceutical companies are working on oral versions of these medications, creating tablets containing drugs that mimic the hormone GLP-1. While this could improve access for some people, experts warn that it also increases the opportunity for scammers to falsify the pills.
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has repeatedly warned consumers about the dangers of counterfeit weight-loss medications, which can include medications taken out of the legitimate supply chain or contaminated with incorrect active ingredients. Dr Bernard Naughton, an associate professor at Trinity College Dublin, says that even when people think there may be something wrong with a medication, they are often still willing to take the risk and buy it online.
The MHRA has been taking action against counterfeiters, but experts warn that stronger regulation and enforcement are needed to prevent this type of fraud. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the pill form of Wegovy, says that its product is subject to rigorous regulatory processes and ongoing oversight, while Eli Lilly also takes steps to combat counterfeits.
The UK needs to do more to protect consumers from fake weight-loss medications, according to experts. Oksana Pyzik, an associate professor at UCL school of pharmacy, says that patients need to know that they should only access these products with a prescription and under medical supervision.
In addition to stronger regulation, the UK also needs to develop public health campaigns targeting groups with different motivations and attitudes to risk when it comes to buying medications online. Dr Naughton says that this is crucial because there is value in buying medicines online, and it provides access to people who wouldn't have access otherwise.
The demand for weight-loss treatments has grown significantly in recent years, with trials showing that certain injections can help people lose up to 20% of their body weight. However, the jabs are expensive, require an injection pen and needles, and must be refrigerated, making them less accessible to some.
Now, pharmaceutical companies are working on oral versions of these medications, creating tablets containing drugs that mimic the hormone GLP-1. While this could improve access for some people, experts warn that it also increases the opportunity for scammers to falsify the pills.
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has repeatedly warned consumers about the dangers of counterfeit weight-loss medications, which can include medications taken out of the legitimate supply chain or contaminated with incorrect active ingredients. Dr Bernard Naughton, an associate professor at Trinity College Dublin, says that even when people think there may be something wrong with a medication, they are often still willing to take the risk and buy it online.
The MHRA has been taking action against counterfeiters, but experts warn that stronger regulation and enforcement are needed to prevent this type of fraud. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the pill form of Wegovy, says that its product is subject to rigorous regulatory processes and ongoing oversight, while Eli Lilly also takes steps to combat counterfeits.
The UK needs to do more to protect consumers from fake weight-loss medications, according to experts. Oksana Pyzik, an associate professor at UCL school of pharmacy, says that patients need to know that they should only access these products with a prescription and under medical supervision.
In addition to stronger regulation, the UK also needs to develop public health campaigns targeting groups with different motivations and attitudes to risk when it comes to buying medications online. Dr Naughton says that this is crucial because there is value in buying medicines online, and it provides access to people who wouldn't have access otherwise.
, they're just gonna keep pushing these fake weight-loss tablets out there, hoping ppl don't notice the difference 
. but seriously, who needs a pill that's not even real? like, what kinda scammer tries to sell ppl fake meds and expects them to be okay with it? 
the UK should really step up its game when it comes to regulating these companies and keeping an eye out for counterfeiters 
. and btw, shouldn't there be a way to make these medications more accessible to people who can't afford 'em? like, is that too much to ask? 
. It's like we're playing a game of roulette with our health. I mean, think about it - these are serious medications that can make a huge difference in people's lives, but now they're being dumbed down into pills that scammers can easily knock off. The demand for weight loss treatments has been skyrocketing, and I'm worried that we're putting people's lives at risk by not having stronger regulation in place 
. The pharmaceutical companies might say their products are subject to rigorous regulatory processes, but let's be real, how many times can we trust these big corporations before something goes wrong? We need a public health campaign that actually tells people why buying meds online with no prescription is a bad idea 
.
. It's time to put people over profits 
.
I mean, I get that pharmaceutical companies want to make their meds more accessible, but come on... fake weight-loss tablets are just going to flood the market and put innocent people's health at risk. 
I'm all for innovation and helping people lose weight, but let's make sure we do it safely and responsibly. 
It's like something straight out of a movie, where the villainous Dr. Evil is trying to sabotage the world with his Botox-based weight loss formula 
. But seriously, this is super concerning and I totally agree that stronger regulation and enforcement need to be put in place ASAP 
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. But they're expensive, require needles and refrigeration... it's already super intimidating to get started.
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. Let's get ahead of this problem and make sure everyone has access to safe and effective weight loss treatments 
.
what if they fall for those fake pills?!?! 
counterfeit pills r easy to make & sell online & scammers will be all over it 
plus u can never know what ur gettin 
so yeah, stronger regulation & public health campaigns r def needed 
. Can't we find a way to make these meds more affordable without sacrificing our safety? 
. We got to look out for each other, you feel me?
. And it's not just about the financial loss, it's about people's health too... what if these fake pills contain who-knows-what? 
. We need stronger regulation and enforcement, like, pronto 
.
these new weight loss tablets are gonna be a problem, you know? its like theyre creating a whole new market for scammers 
. we need better regulation here, not just some watered down version of what's already happening 
anyway, if ur gonna get one of these pills, please for gods sake make sure u have a prescription and check it out from a reputable doc 
. And don't even get me started on the fact that some experts are saying patients should only access these products with a prescription... like that's not already being done?! 
. They're putting people's health at risk and that's just crazy.
. We've seen how easy it is for scammers to make a quick buck off vulnerable people trying to lose weight. This is all about supply and demand, but what's the real cost here? Not just our health, but also our trust in ourselves and others. It's not just about the medications being fake, it's about the emotional toll of giving up on your own worth when you're buying pills instead of facing your problems head-on