Dr. Vicky Price reports influx of young girls suffering side-effects from these drugs despite not being overweight
Many obtain them from online pharmacies without prescriptions
NHS England warns against misuse of weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy
Professor Sir Stephen Powis expresses concern over reports of normal weight and underweight individuals obtaining these drugs without proper checks
These medications should only be used by those with obesity or diabetes due to dangerous side-effects when abused
Wegovy, a higher-dose version of semaglutide, has been marketed as a treatment for obesity after studies showed it could help individuals lose 15% of their body weight in 68 weeks
Britain's top doctor, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, has issued a warning against the misuse of weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy for individuals trying to achieve a 'beach body.' The NHS England medical director expressed concern over reports of normal weight and underweight individuals obtaining these drugs from private clinics or online pharmacies without proper checks. Sir Stephen emphasized that these medications should only be used by those with obesity or diabetes, as they can have dangerous side-effects when abused.
The popularity of weight-loss drugs has surged due to their ability to help people lose significant amounts of weight. For instance, Wegovy, a higher-dose version of semaglutide initially used for diabetes treatment, has been marketed as a treatment for obesity after studies showed it could help individuals lose 15% of their body weight in 68 weeks. However, the ease of access to these drugs online and through beauty clinics has raised concerns about their misuse.
Dr. Vicky Price, a consultant in acute medicine and president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, reported an influx of young girls suffering side-effects from these drugs despite not being overweight. She added that many were even obtaining them from online pharmacies without prescriptions.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis emphasized the importance of using these drugs under medical supervision and warned against their misuse as a quick fix for those trying to get 'beach-body ready.' He also urged individuals to be cautious when purchasing medications online, as they may not receive proper checks or guidance from healthcare professionals.
NHS England's medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, is alarmed by reports of people using weight-loss drugs as a quick fix to lose weight and get beach-body ready this summer.
The side-effects of these drugs can be dangerous and they need to be used under medical supervision.
Many online pharmacies are selling semaglutide injections at high prices but make few checks on the weight or underlying health of the person buying them.
A recent BBC investigation found an online black market in sales of semaglutide without prescription, as well as the drug being offered in beauty salons in London and Manchester.
Accuracy
People using weight-loss drugs as a quick fix to get beach-body ready
Young women are buying Ozempic online despite not having obesity or type 2 diabetes.
Deception
(30%)
The author uses emotional manipulation by implying that people who are using weight-loss drugs to lose a few pounds for the summer are misusing them and putting their health at risk. She also engages in selective reporting by only mentioning the potential dangers of these drugs without providing any context or balance. The article does not disclose any sources.
It can be a genuine threat to patient safety
People are misusing them
They should not be abused.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(95%)
The author expresses concern over the misuse of weight-loss drugs by people trying to get 'beach-body ready', implying a judgment towards those individuals. She also quotes Prof Powis stating that the drugs are not quick fixes and should only be used under medical supervision, which could be seen as a bias against those who are using them without prescription.
People are misusing them
they are not intended as a quick fix for people trying to get beach-body ready.
Young women are buying Ozempic online despite not having obesity or type 2 diabetes.
Doctors in emergency care report seeing 'almost every shift' young women with complications from taking Ozempic.
Accuracy
Ozempic and Wegovy, which contain semaglutide, are being used on the NHS for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Many young women have lied about their weight to obtain Ozempic or Wegovy privately.
Deception
(30%)
The author uses emotional manipulation by describing 'young, beautiful girls' and the term 'beach body ready', which can evoke feelings of pressure and inadequacy. The article also engages in selective reporting by focusing on the negative consequences of Ozempic use without mentioning its potential benefits or contextualizing it within the larger issue of weight loss drugs and disordered eating.
Young women are ending up in A&E after buying Ozempic online...
Doctors in emergency care report that ‘almost every shift’ they see ‘young, beautiful girls’...
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy and inflammatory rhetoric. It also uses a dichotomous depiction of young women abusing Ozempic for cosmetic reasons.
. . . the NHS’s top doctor warning that weight-loss injections should not be abused in an attempt to get “beach body ready”.
Doctors in emergency care report that “almost every shift” they see “young, beautiful girls” with potentially deadly complications who took the drug despite being a healthy weight.
Some patients, however, including those with eating disorders, have lied about their weight to get them privately from online pharmacies or beauty clinics — leading to complications including inflammation of the pancreas.
Britain’s top doctor, Sir Stephen Powis, warns against using ‘fat jabs’ for weight loss outside of obesity or diabetes treatment.
Many individuals are obtaining these jabs from private beauty clinics or online pharmacies with few checks.
An influx of young girls have been seen in A&E suffering side-effects from these drugs despite not being overweight.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy and a dichotomous depiction. The author quotes Professor Sir Stephen Powis's opinion on the misuse of fat jabs, presenting it as a definitive statement rather than one perspective. Additionally, the article sets up a false dichotomy between using fat jabs for obesity or diabetes treatment and abusing them for beach-body readiness.
. . . the drugs can be dangerous and were not a ‘quick fix’ for people who ‘just want to lose a few pounds’.
In some cases, the users are even thought to have eating disorders. Many are young girls.
Buying medication online without a doctor’s supervision can lead to complications and dangerous consequences.
Top NHS doctor warns against using weight-loss drugs like Ozempic for 'beach body ready' purposes.
Professor Steve Powis of NHS England warns of the dangerous complications that can arise from abusing these drugs.
Le Nise Brothers, a women’s health campaigner and nutritionist, expresses concern over women misusing weight loss drugs for cosmetic reasons.
Accuracy
Top NHS doctor warns against using weight-loss drugs like Ozempic for ‘beach body ready’ purposes.
Anti-obesity drugs should only be prescribed for those with severe obesity, type 2 diabetes, or health problems related to weight, according to experts.
Many online pharmacies are selling semaglutide injections at high prices but make few checks on the weight or underlying health of the person buying them.
Some young women have lied about their weight to obtain Ozempic or Wegovy privately.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author quotes Le'Nise Brothers expressing concern about women abusing weight loss drugs due to societal pressure to look a certain way for the summer, but does not mention that she also urges women and girls to find ways to accept their body as it is or opt for healthy and sustainable ways to lose weight. This selectively reports only part of her statement, potentially manipulating readers into believing that the only solution is prescription drugs. Additionally, the article uses emotional language such as 'dangerous complications' and 'life-threatening complications' to evoke fear in readers.
She warned young women are particularly susceptible to body image pressures as they are still developing their sense of self.
People should not use weight-loss drugs to shed weight in a bid to get ‘beach body ready’ for the summer, a top NHS doctor has urged.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(95%)
The author expresses concern about people misusing weight-loss drugs to get 'beach body ready', implying that this is an unhealthy and potentially dangerous practice. She quotes Professor Steve Powis warning against the 'dangerous' complications of these drugs when abused, and Le'Nise Brothers expressing concern about women resorting to quick fixes for their summer bodies due to social media pressures. The author does not provide any counter-arguments or evidence that weight loss drugs are safe or effective for this purpose.
I’m worried about reports that people are misusing them – they are not intended as a quick fix for people trying to get ‘beach body ready’.
Ms Brothers urged women and girls to find ways to accept their body as it is or to opt for healthy and sustainable ways to lose weight.
People should not use weight-loss drugs to shed weight in a bid to get ‘beach body ready’ for the summer, a top NHS doctor has urged.
She warned that a massive rise of content on TikTok pushing calorie restriction and quick weight and fat-loss methods is leading many women to be ‘incredibly focused on the way they look and pursue quick solutions for their summer holidays’.
