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AI Fakes Obesity for Weight Loss Pills
19 Sep
Summary
- Pharmacies may illegally prescribe weight loss drugs via AI deception.
- Patients can fake obesity using AI for unregulated prescription access.
- Experts warn of severe risks to patients with eating disorders.
A probe has uncovered that many online pharmacies are circumventing new guidelines requiring in-person or video consultations to verify patient BMI before prescribing weight loss medications like Wegovy. These firms are reportedly allowing patients to upload AI-generated images, easily faking obesity to obtain drugs. This practice bypasses crucial safety checks, enabling individuals who are underweight or of healthy weight to access potent appetite-suppressing medication. Experts and eating disorder charities have voiced serious concerns, warning that this poses a significant risk to public health, particularly for those with or at risk of developing eating disorders.
The General Pharmaceutical Council mandates that pharmacies must independently verify patient weight and height, stating that solely relying on photographs is inappropriate. As of September 2026, UK regulators have received 216 suspected death reports linked to GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, with one death in 2024 officially linked to a similar drug. Regulators are investigating the findings and considering further action, including potential regulatory measures and enforcement actions against non-compliant pharmacies and involved pharmacists.
