Dozens of Middle-Aged Britons Die After Taking Trendy Fat-Burning Injections

As of November 2025, the UK's drug watchdog has received 52 fatal reports linked to weight loss injections since the beginning of 2024, when the drugs started being rolled out more widely. Experts are sounding the alarm over the growing death toll, as millions more Britons seek these "game-changing" treatments to tackle the nation's obesity crisis.

However, the drugs are being used "inappropriately" by slimmer adults who "fancy losing a bit of weight," according to Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum. He warns that if people take the medications without medical supervision when they don't truly need them, they risk "serious complications - or death."

The data also reveals concerns over illegal knock-off versions of the drugs, often advertised on social media, as well as people obtaining the injections through private online pharmacies by lying about their weight and health conditions. Health officials are calling for tighter restrictions on prescriptions, as the benefits may not outweigh the potential risks for those who are not clinically obese.