Changes are coming into force which will make it harder to buy weight loss medication, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, online – a move that eating disorder charities have praised as a vital step towards keeping vulnerable people safer.
This type of medication, which can be genuinely helpful for some people when prescribed and used safely, has now been categorised as 'high risk'. It has also been linked to poor mental health in some patients.
Previously, those looking to buy weight loss meds (often in the form of an injection) over the internet simply needed to complete a patient questionnaire or speak to a provider via a live chat/email, which led to people with eating disorders – who may already be at a dangerously low weight – being able to access harmful prescriptions.
Now, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has said it'll only be possible to issue the weight loss medication once a person's body mass index (BMI) has been properly verified through either a video consultation, in-person, or through their medical records.
Speaking to Cosmopolitan UK about the newly announced stricter measures, Beat's Director of External Affairs, Tom Quinn, said the changes are welcome and that the charity has been "increasingly worr[ied after seeing] more and more people have been prescribed weight loss injections when they have a history of an eating disorder, or are too unwell to use them safely".
Quinn highlighted that "unfortunately anything which claims to aid weight loss, especially so-called 'miracle drugs', are extremely attractive to people with eating disorders, particularly if it's possible to get hold of them easily".
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He said the new safeguards are a "great start" and echoed Beat's support of them, but said more still needs to be done.
"Fewer people will be able to be prescribed these drugs and risk making themselves even more unwell, however we'd like to see them go further and make it mandatory for a thorough mental health assessment to be carried out alongside physical health checks."
The GPhC's new guidelines state: "Verifying information through a phone call would not be appropriate when supplying medication for weight loss."
Any pharmacists found to not follow the new guidance might be subject to an investigation or inspection.
If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s health, you can contact Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity, 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677 or beateatingdisorders.org.uk.
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
