UK government warns weight loss injections may be contaminated

The UK health minister warned that weight-loss injections bought from unregulated online sellers can be contaminated and have caused serious harm; regulators including the MHRA are reported as advising against buying such products online.

The UK health minister has warned that weight-loss injections purchased from rogue online sellers can be contaminated and may be life-threatening. The comment was made as demand for appetite-suppressing injections is predicted to rise at the start of 2026, and cheaper, unregulated alternatives are reported as being offered on social media and other online platforms. Regulators such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency are reported as advising against buying medicines from unregulated websites or anonymous sellers. Key points: - Health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed warned that fake or unlicensed weight-loss injections risk contamination, incorrect dosing, or containing powerful ingredients not listed on the packaging. - The article reports examples of people suffering heart problems, psychological effects, dangerously low blood sugar, and some requiring intensive hospital treatment after using such products. - Surveys cited in the article suggest demand could rise to over three million people taking these drugs in the coming year, and some respondents said they would consider obtaining them via social platforms or unregistered sellers. - The article notes that licensed GLP-1 weight-loss injections are prescription-only and that the MHRA has warned against purchasing from unregulated websites. Summary: The reported impact is that individuals using black-market weight-loss injections face serious health risks and some have required intensive hospital treatment. Undetermined at this time.