Why does MN permit posts advertising weight loss medicines?

[SnakesAndArrows]

There are many posts on here advertising prescription-only weight loss medicines. This is both against site policy and the law. Reporting them seems to have no effect. Why not?

Is it called My Juniper? That might be it

They can, but they cannot mention the prescription only medicines by name. This is advertising. There are posters on these threads whose posts are adverts.

I've seen Numan and Juniper ads, but they don't mention Mounjaro or Wegovy or even injections, they advertise their weight management services with advice, support and the most up to date medication (or something like that).

The same with referral codes, you are referring the person to the pharmacy not the medication.

I don't have a problem with the advertising, they advertise erectile dysfunction medication which is prescription only, but no one complains about that. Ensuring prescribing guidelines are followed robustly is the more important issue.

Thanks @SnakesAndArrows , there is also a whole board to promote codes for discounts for prescription medicines … all this makes me shiver to be honest

I agree. It seems strange that Mumsnet don’t appear to have done their homework on this. They are probably not breaking the law themselves by failing to remove the obvious illegal advertising posts, but then again I’m not a lawyer. In either case it’s really not a good look.

Some erectile dysfunction medicines are Pharmacy only (P), not prescription only (POM), medicines. These are the ones you’ve seen on TV.

Posting a code isn't a brand advertising though?

I feel icky about the code threads, but I don't believe they are advertisements.

Unless you're talking about something different?

I have to say I think it’s bordering on shonky for mn to have a board devoted to exchanging discount codes for these drugs.

I await a deletion.

Looking at the titles … they’re advertising a brand most of them of a product that is obtained by prescription only

After seeing this thread earlier in the day I clicked on a couple of those weight loss threads and it's literally just "posters" back and forth sharing "their codes" in the same format. They're bots / people employed to post these random codes to incentivise you to buy from any particular company.

Because it drives posts and they like the ad revenue!

Search the poster Ahshgsvs

Same thing in a slightly different format. It’s very obviously a shill, paid by the company to advertise on this board. Mumsnet is aware of it but has taken no action. There are many others.

Hello @SnakesAndArrows thanks for posting. We don't allow people to join Mumsnet and spam weight loss codes (or anything for that matter). Genuine posters can use the dedicated board to swap deals they’ve found helpful.

But you do. Ahshgsvs is clearly one such.

No response? Well, how about GonnaBeSlim

Copy and paste (with the weight loss total increasing over time).

It’s really disappointing how you will turn a blind eye to this unethical and illegal marketing.

You can hide the board

I could. But that wouldn’t stop Mumsnet breaking its own rules on advertising, and being complicit in illegal advertising of POMs, would it?

That's their problem

The adverts seen on TV and SM are from private pharmacies. If you look/listen closely, they don't mention specific weight loss medication, just weight loss programmes. It's illegal to directly advertise prescription medication. Orlistat is not a prescription medication, it's an OTC so you can advertise this. It's a loophole which is monitored closely - companies which overstep the mark have been fined and you can report any breaches of the law on advertising to the MHRA