Christmas is often a time when people consume more than usual. Whether it is food or alcohol, the amount can rocket over the festive period and leave revellers counting the cost inadded pounds on the scales.

This means come January, millions of people turn to getting back into shapeas they begin thinking of summer holidays. While this can simply be upping the exercise and cutting calories, others can seek medical alternatives.

Weight loss jabs are a popular option with some people, with around 1.5 million people taking them to get back into shape. Of these 90% are paying privately for the drugs, costing around £100 a month from reputable sources.

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However, many people seek to lower the cost by turning to online sources they have seen on social media. And while some of these are genuine, others can leave you risking your health, say government drug experts.

According to the MHRA, the government body responsible for ensuring medicines and other health devices and tests are safe as well as effective, there are serious risks to buying weight loss products from unregulated websites or via social media. And it has set out some key words to look out for which could show you are buying from an illegal seller.

It says: "Products sold illegally may be fake, contaminated, incorrectly dosed, or contain powerful ingredients not listed on the packaging. These can lead to dangerous side effects, including heart problems, psychological effects and dangerously low blood sugar.

"Some medicines used for weight management – including all GLP-1 medicines, sometimes referred to as “skinny jabs” – are prescription-only. They should only ever be supplied following a proper assessment by a qualified healthcare professional to ensure the treatment is appropriate and safe."

Jenn Matthissen, from the MHRA’s Safety and Surveillance team, said: “People often look for ways to support their health at this time of year, but buying medicines from illegal online sellers can put your health at real risk. Always make sure you are using authorised products from legitimate sources and speak to a healthcare professional for advice on safe, evidence-based options.

"If you are considering weight-loss treatment, talk to your GP, pharmacist or another qualified healthcare professional. More information on what you need to know about weight-loss medicines is available on the MHRA’s dedicated page on the GOV.UK website."

Health Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said: "As a practising doctor and patient safety minister, I want to be absolutely clear - please do not buy weight loss medications from unregulated sources. These products are made with no regard for safety or quality and pose a major risk to unwitting customers.

"Don’t line the pockets of criminals who don’t care about your health. Safe, appropriate, licensed obesity drugs can greatly benefit those with a clinical need but should be obtained from a registered pharmacy against a valid prescription.”

The MHRA advises:

• Do not buy prescription-only medicines without a prescription. GLP-1 medicines and other treatments for weight management should only be supplied after a clinical assessment.




• Only buy medicines from registered UK pharmacies or legitimate retailers.




• For pharmacies in Great Britain, you can check registration on the General Pharmaceutical Council website.




• For pharmacies in Northern Ireland, refer to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) website.




• Avoid weight-loss products promoted on social media, especially those promising “quick fixes”, “miracle results”, or unusually low prices – these are common signs of illegal sellers.




• Report suspicious websites or products to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme so action can be taken to protect others.