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Weight-Loss Jab Ads Banned on Social Media
11 Feb
Summary
- Social media posts for weight-loss jabs were banned by the regulator.
- Posts used discount codes and referral links for prescription injections.
- Public promotion of prescription medicines is illegal and risky.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned the first public social media posts promoting weight-loss jabs, including Mounjaro. These posts, appearing on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, utilized discount codes and referral links to advertise injections available through online pharmacies such as Voy and Zava.
Weight-loss injections are classified as prescription-only medicines, making their direct advertisement to the public illegal. The ASA emphasized that affiliate or referral schemes, which reward individuals for sales generated through their links, do not exempt posts from advertising regulations, even on personal social media accounts.
The ASA's rulings established that brands and individuals are accountable for following advertising rules. Posts featuring direct naming of medicines, related hashtags, or images of injection pens, alongside incentives, were deemed public advertisements of prescription-only drugs.
Regulators highlighted the significant risks associated with the irresponsible promotion of these powerful medications, stressing they require supervision by qualified medical professionals. Companies involved acknowledged the rulings, with some stating they have since strengthened controls around referral activities and influencer engagement.
Collaborating agencies, including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), support the ASA's actions. They are working together to ensure compliance and protect the public from potentially harmful and illegal advertising practices concerning prescription-only weight-loss medicines.
