Emma Dyer remembers the moment she clicked \u00ab\u00a0buy now\u00a0\u00bb on a set of weight\u2011loss jabs she found online.<\/p>\n
She had no medical consultation, no ID checks, and no questions about her history of anorexia and bulimia.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0It was just so easy – too easy,\u00a0\u00bb she says. \u00ab\u00a0They never asked for my medical history or what medication I was taking. It was like buying groceries.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Within days of taking the injections, Emma collapsed on her bathroom floor and thought she was going to die.<\/p>\n
Emma had a history of eating disorders. She says she had reached a healthy weight, felt stable, and was working in a job she enjoyed.<\/p>\n
But a single comment from a customer who she said told her \u00ab\u00a0you looked a lot better when you were skinnier\u00a0\u00bb, sent her spiralling.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0I came home one night and rushed into it,\u00a0\u00bb she says. \u00ab\u00a0I typed in ‘weight-loss injections’. I just wanted to lose weight as quickly as I could. I thought if I was skinny again, people would accept me – and I’d accept myself.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Emma paid \u00a3115 for what she thought were Saxenda injections.<\/p>\n
The 40-year-old, from Carlton in Nottinghamshire, said the website she used offered no safeguards. She says it only asked for her body mass index (BMI), which she was able to lie about.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0If they’d checked my medical history with my GP, I don’t think I would’ve been eligible,\u00a0\u00bb she says. \u00ab\u00a0My BMI was normal. I just wasn’t in the right headspace to make a logical decision.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
When the injections arrived back in March 2024, the instructions were \u00ab\u00a0poorly printed\u00a0\u00bb, Emma says. Not realising she needed to start on a low dose, she injected a medium one.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0The first day I had no appetite. I thought, ‘this is great, this is what I want’. Then the second day, it all kicked off,\u00a0\u00bb she says.<\/p>\n
She collapsed on the bathroom floor.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0I couldn’t move, I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t open my eyes,\u00a0\u00bb Emma says. \u00ab\u00a0I was hallucinating and throwing up so much I started vomiting blood. I literally thought, ‘this is it – this is how I’m going to die’.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Ashamed and frightened, she told no-one.<\/p>\n
She says: \u00ab\u00a0I know people would’ve said, ‘Emma, you don’t need to take them’. But in my head, I didn’t think I was fine. So I dealt with it all by myself.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
She has now decided to share her story in the hope others will think twice before ordering weight-loss jabs online.<\/p>\n
According to some recent figures, estimated by external researchers from University College London, about 1.6 million UK adults have used weight-loss injections in the past year.<\/p>\n
Some people are able to get the injections – called Mounjaro and Wegovy – through the NHS but most buy them privately.<\/p>\n
Both drugs work as an appetite suppressant by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which makes people feel fuller.<\/p>\n
The jabs are highly effective, but experts say users should be aware of the risk of weight gain once they stop taking the drugs.<\/p>\n
Dr Claire Fuller, NHS England’s national medical director, says the organisation is concerned about reports of unverified sellers and the promotion of weight-loss jabs without \u00ab\u00a0clinical oversight, medical checks or follow-up care\u00a0\u00bb.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0The lack of supervision can put people’s health at serious risk, and there may also be concerns about the quality or authenticity of the products on offer,\u00a0\u00bb she says.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0Weight-loss drugs are powerful medicines and can have serious side effects, which is why they must only be prescribed by an appropriately trained healthcare professional.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
The NHS added access to such medication goes hand in hand with \u00ab\u00a0behavioural support and wraparound care\u00a0\u00bb.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0The structured wraparound care support focuses on good nutrition to support health and increasing physical activity,\u00a0\u00bb a spokesperson added.<\/p>\n
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has also published guidance on how to obtain weight-loss jabs safely and the risks to be aware of.<\/p>\n
Daniel Magson, CEO of Derby-based eating disorder charity First Steps ED, says Emma’s experience reflects a trend it is increasingly alarmed by.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0At the moment, we’re seeing a huge rise in people accessing weight\u2011loss injections – some through pharmacies, some online, and in some cases even from their hairdressers,\u00a0\u00bb he says. \u00ab\u00a0And they’re not getting the right support alongside them.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
The 33-year-old says the charity is witnessing a pattern:<\/p>\n
Daniel says referrals to the charity have risen sharply. In 2024-25, it says it received 1,339 adult referrals, representing a 57% increase compared to 852 referrals the previous year.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0We’re now training staff not just on weight\u2011loss injections, but on how shifting body ideals caused by them are re\u2011triggering people – including those who recovered decades ago,\u00a0\u00bb he says.<\/p>\n
His fear is that support services are being left to \u00ab\u00a0pick up the pieces\u00a0\u00bb.<\/p>\n
Pharmacist Grace Pickering, who works at Well Pharmacy in Alfreton, Derbyshire, says Emma’s experience is far from isolated.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0We’ve had some quite worrying situations where people have shown me things that have not come from medical professionals,\u00a0\u00bb the 29-year-old says. \u00ab\u00a0If you get it from a non\u2011reputable source, the medication might not be what it says it is.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Grace says her pharmacy follows guidelines set by the General Pharmaceutical Council when offering its weight-loss service, which includes an initial face\u2011to\u2011face consultation before prescribing medication, and then monthly check\u2011ins afterwards.<\/p>\n
She believes all providers should meet these same minimum standards.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0All we want is for the service to be led by a medical professional,\u00a0\u00bb she says. \u00ab\u00a0Face\u2011to\u2011face consultations, regular check\u2011ins, and instant support if patients need to talk about side effects.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Emma agrees, and says her experience shows why tighter regulation is needed.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0They should ask for photographic evidence, see the person, check their BMI, know what medication they’re on, ask for medical notes,\u00a0\u00bb she says.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0It’s not just about the checks – it’s before, during and after. You need that ongoing support.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Emma says she hopes talking about her experience will encourage others to think twice.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0It was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made,\u00a0\u00bb she says. \u00ab\u00a0I spiralled back into my eating disorder. I nearly died. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.<\/p>\n
Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. Sign up here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Emma Dyer remembers the moment she clicked \u00ab\u00a0buy now\u00a0\u00bb on a set of weight\u2011loss jabs she found online. She had no medical consultation, no ID checks, and no questions about her history of anorexia and bulimia. \u00ab\u00a0It was just so easy – too easy,\u00a0\u00bb she says. \u00ab\u00a0They never asked for my medical history or what […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-9820","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uncategorized"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9820"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9820\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placedesnations.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}