Weight-loss jabs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by reducing food cravings. The NPA has previously urged patients to avoid buying weight loss injections from unregulated online sellers, who may be selling fake drugs.

The National Pharmacy Association is calling for tougher rules in the market, saying people with a history of eating disorders have been wrongly prescribed drugs

Nick Kaye, chairman of the NPA, told the PA news agency: “It is important that consultations with patients are thorough, allowing a clinician to gain a full picture of someone’s suitability for weight loss injections as well as ensuring the patient fully understands the nature of the treatment and any potential side-effects it may cause.

Pharmacy leaders have issued a warning over the online sale of weight-loss jabs insisting there is still a risk to patient safety.

Pharmacy leaders warn against the online sale of weight-loss jabs, highlighting risks to patient safety and improper prescriptions for individuals with low body weight or prior eating disorders. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) calls for tighter rules and urges a mandatory 20-minute consultation instead of relying on online questionnaires to access drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro.

The NPA said it was also aware of people being wrongly prescribed the drugs who have previously had eating disorders, or whose body weight is already low. The body, which represen