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AI Fakes Weight, Unlocks Slimming Drugs
5 Jan
Summary
- Young people use AI to fake BMIs for weight-loss drugs.
- Online pharmacies approve edited photos with minimal checks.
- Regulators confirm single photos are insufficient for prescriptions.
An investigation has uncovered a disturbing trend where young people with healthy BMIs are using artificial intelligence and photo-editing software to falsify their weight. This allows them to illicitly obtain powerful weight-loss drugs, such as Mounjaro, from online pharmacies. The process involves simple image manipulation to appear heavier, followed by submission to online pharmacies that approve prescriptions with minimal scrutiny.
Several women confirmed the ease with which they accessed these medications, with one stating it took only five minutes to edit a photo and submit an application. The influence of social media, celebrity endorsements, and societal pressures around body image are cited as key motivators for this behavior. Eating disorder clinicians note a recent surge in this practice, impacting both general and at-risk populations.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has emphasized that a single photograph is insufficient for verifying a patient's medical criteria for weight-loss drugs. While the GPhC has taken enforcement action against approximately 18 pharmacies for inadequate online checks, loopholes persist. Despite ongoing oversight efforts, individuals can still acquire prescription-only drugs rapidly, often without understanding the associated health risks.
