Weight loss drugs online: The test that reveals a concerning failure

An American study examined 49 websites offering GLP-1 weight loss drugs and found that 45 of them issued a prescription to a simulated patient, sometimes within minutes. Only about half of the sites asked about eating disorders, and only 13 required a video call. The study raises concerns about the ease with which powerful medications can be obtained without adequate medical supervision.

A new American study examined 49 U.S. websites offering GLP-1 weight loss drugs, including semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic) and tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Zepbound and Mounjaro). A researcher posing as a 27-year-old man meeting treatment criteria approached the sites using a 'mystery client' methodology. The results are alarming: 45 out of 49 sites issued a prescription, and 34 even sent the medication. The median time to receive a prescription was one day or less, and in two cases of compounded preparations, approval was given within five minutes. The medical screening was minimal: only 55.1% of sites asked about a history of eating disorders, 53.1% asked about diet and physical activity, and only 13 out of 49 required a video call. In nine sites, a prescription was issued even though the patient uploaded only an upper body photo instead of a full body photo. The study points to significant gaps in information verification and medical screening, raising questions about the safety of treatment with powerful medications provided without adequate medical supervision.