This investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches highlights a concerning lack of age verification and proper safety checks when prescribing weight-loss medications, particularly the controversial “skinny jab.” The undercover probe revealed a 16-year-old girl was able to purchase the drug from Boots by simply lying about her date of birth. Despite Boots’ policy of not prescribing such drugs to anyone under 18, the girl was handed the medication after her false age was accepted, with no further checks made.
The weight-loss drug in question, which includes semaglutide (brands like Ozempic and Wegovy), is typically used for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, it’s increasingly being marketed as a weight-loss solution, even though it carries significant risks, including nausea, stomach pain, and serious side effects like pancreatitis. While the medication can be beneficial for those with clinical obesity, its use in younger, healthy individuals—especially without appropriate medical oversight—is deeply worrying.
The investigation also pointed to a growing trend of “side hustles” among healthcare professionals, some of whom are prescribing these drugs without the proper medical assessments or safeguards in place. This includes cases where prescriptions were made without verifying patients’ height or weight, and some nurses were found to be selling the medication privately without adequate checks.
These practices have raised alarms about the prioritization of profit over patient safety, especially considering the high demand for these medications and their portrayal as a quick fix for weight loss. Health experts are urging for stricter regulations to prevent this dangerous trend from continuing, particularly in light of the increasing number of people—especially young people—seeking these medications without fully understanding the risks involved.
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