To think weight-loss injections should be prescribed in person only. The scale of abuse must be shocking.

Quite.

To be prescribed them on the NHS you have to meet certain criteria, being fat alone isn't enough. If they reduced the criteria it would cost the NHS a fortune.

I think is you're obese and can not access them through the NHS then paying for them is OK.

I know of 5 people who are on Mounjaro, all of whom have lost stones in months. Why should they be deprived of jabs that are improving their health because a few bad apples have lied to get them?

@lechatnoir it’s also not Mournjaro as far as I understand, it’s a semiglutide (Ozempic) variant which comes in vials and has to be drawn up into a standard syringe and administered by the practitioner. One now books out a full day per week to WLI she has that many clients

The OP says WLI are not for "normal sized people" - I was only a size 12/14 and only in the overweight range but was prescribed it legitimately. Some of her friends may be obtaining it illegally, who knows, but it's faux concern and potentially legitimate use being mixed up with idiots buying it from dodgy beauty places.

@Ineedanewsofa ah so that makes a lot of sense as I think these women all use the same aesthetics person so yes if she's a licensed prescriber then presumably could easily get hold of the WLI. Makes you wonder how widespread this is 😲

Round here WLI are offered as a service (under the counter) by aesthetic practitioners, so there’s a strong correlation in that respect, these practitioners are all licensed prescribers who have stopped offering Lemon Bottle fat dissolvers and moved to GLP1s

@spoonbillstretford this post is about people who are NOT obese and therefore don't need WLI but those wanting to lose a few pounds for aesethic reasons & accessing them through dubious/illegal online sites. There are risks in taking any medication but can see how the health risks associated with obesity could outweigh any potential /unknown risk of the WLI and be a game changer for many (& the NHS) so I'm not anti WLI per se and I don't think the OP is either but is is being abused and I am worried how widespread this is if my local area is anything to go by.

@Thisisdrugabuseyoy don’t work in healthcare because if you did you would know that semaglutide has been used FOR YEARS with minimal side effects. Perhaps you work in admin in the NHS but definitely you’re not a clinician of any sort, as your words clearly portray. The good news is, you can be concerned as much as you want but people will continue to use it. So thanks for your misplaced concern (from someone who comes from a medical family)

You don't seem to be as concerned with the exploding time bomb which is obesity. Most people are fat and a lot of people become unwell with it one way or another, or the other way round. If you genuinely work in healthcare I'd be worrying about that not about a few daft thin people.

@zacsGrannybut that’s on the NHS - they are also worried about costs. Surely privately is different, also sorry but people need to take responsibility for risks etc. I honestly think there’s lots of envy towards those who can afford it privately. As I said I’ve always been slim but I’m lucky enough to be able to afford mostly private care and I’ve heard people disparaging that. It’s one of those things full stop

@Thisisdrugabuse YES the friend's I know who use WLI all have tweakments . I wondered if they get them from the same practitioner

I'm waiting to start Munjauro after being prescribed for health reasons, not weight loss.
I've been waiting for two months as I can access until I have had a special appointment, for what is called 'Wrap Around Care' before NHS will allow someone to start these injections.
So it seems utterly ridiculous that people can lie and access these drugs privately.

It’s none of your bloody business!! No one cares if you agree or not. It’s their body, their choice
Snout out!!

@NellitheNelephant so there's 4 friends I'm thinking of. One of them does look amazing - she's very very slim but does look great. The other 3 look really awful - gaunt in the face, even with clothes on I wince at how skinny their legs are, one has also added some fillers presumably to fill the hollowness so now just looks totally different & frankly plain odd. I am certainly not going to say anything (these are mum friends I spend time with not every so often so not close even friends to be commenting) but I am worried

Thankfully I don’t need them (perfect size 8) but live and let live. What is it to you OP? Another thread bashing people who use weight loss injections. For us people who have been thin from. Birth weight have taut skin and muscular abdomens so nothing to be jealous about. Do mind your own business, if you were my friend and dared criticise me I would tell you where to go.

They have been life-changing for many but plenty of people abuse them. There should be greater regulation and oversight for something you inject into your body. There should also be a minimum limit and once you hit that you can't be prescribed any more as weight-loss can become addictive.

I'm taking MJ prescribed by my GP (for diabetes). I had to attend two in person appointments with him. He weighed and measured me as part of the process. He was very thorough about the medication, potential side effects etc. I then had an appointment with my diabetes nurse where she oversaw my first injection, rang me a week later to check re side effects and has rung me twice more in the 6 months I've been on it. there's no way I would get the same service through an online prescription.

My BMI was about 27.5 when I started, I was a size 14, but my blood sugars were out of control despite two lots of meds. I've not told anyone apart from DH that I'm in MJ, but if people knew they would probably think I shouldn't get it as I'm not obese. But it has been a miracle for my blood sugar levels which is all I care about.

I do think it's open to abuse, especially by people with ED. So I think it should only be available via the NHS, but the criteria should be widened to anyone with a BMI of more than 40, or anyone with a BMI of more than 35 who also has other issues like high BP. And of course it should remain available to people with T2 Diabetes who haven't found other meds effective.

I am on WLI and have lost 3st since January. Still another 2st to go and that will get me to a healthy size 12. I have no ambition to get to a 6/8 or even 10. Anything below a 12 on my frame looks too thin.

To add, I get my WLI through an online pharmacy but had to have a video call before it was prescribed and also had to step on the scales and show them the weight. I also have to check in each week and show them the scales. Still open to abuse I guess...

I'm using it (BMI 34 though) and I do tend to agree with the OP. I actually looked online at what you have to do and thought, none of these people prescribing me this is looking beyond a few checked boxes. So I got it locally, in person, where I had a consultation and there is follow-up and monitoring.

They won't be getting it from a pharmacy registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council unless they slipped through the (then inadequate) checks early on.

If they are getting it from anywhere other than a GPhC-registered pharmacy then it is being sold illegally.

Someone who is willing to buy prescription drugs illegally is clearly willing to risk their health. I don't have much sympathy unless they are very young or unable to understand the risks they are taking.

Do their faces look ok? Some of the celebs who have used it look terrible (sorry to be so judgmental) and I would hate to look like that. Is it because they lose the weight so quickly? Will the weight redistribute so that their faces fill out again in the long run?

Oprah Winfrey looks absolutely fantastic, though. But I am not even tempted.

OP no idea why you're getting such a hard time but just wanted to add I too have a number of friends who are worryingly thin from using WLI - one friend I actually thought was seriously ill when I saw her she was so skinny. Not one of these was obese, I'd say most were a 10-12 all probably wanting to shift a few pounds maybe even a stone or 2 but absolutely no chance they were even close to qualifying for it legally. I'm guessing money talks and it is worrying and I do agree online prescribing should be banned.
I'm normally a 12 but currently more like a 14 so yes of course would like a quick & easy way to lose it & if it was risk free & not so expensive might be tempted but I'm genuinely shocked. It's like anyone normal size with money is suddenly stick thin. Maybe that's just where I live but it's rife and of course I haven't spoken to all of them to know it's WLI but it's a bit of a coincidence that after years of being in the 10-12 range so many are suddenly able to drop to a size 6-8.

That is so sad. I never even gave it a thought, until you mentioned it, that the meds could be misused by people with eating disorders. This is going to be especially dangerous for young people.