A disturbing incident has brought to light the critical need for stricter regulations in the online healthcare sector, after a severely anorexic young woman, identified as Catlin (name changed), was prescribed the blockbuster weight loss jab Wegovy by a major UK online pharmacy, Numan. Despite weighing less than 38kg (under six stone) and having a decade-long diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, Catlin was able to access a monthly subscription by uploading an AI-generated image to bypass the standard eligibility criteria.

Catlin's mother, Debbie, has been informed by medical professionals that her daughter is at risk of sudden death due to malnutrition and related mental health problems. Diagnosed as a teenager, Catlin has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act multiple times. Debbie discovered her daughter's use of Wegovy, finding empty and full boxes of the drug hidden, and contacted Numan to cancel the prescription. Initially, her request was denied due to data protection policies. It was only after LBC intervened on Debbie’s behalf that Numan cancelled the subscription.

NHS guidelines stipulate that weight loss injections like Wegovy should only be prescribed to patients with significant weight-related health problems and a BMI of 35 or higher, classifying them as obese. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, works by tricking the brain into a sensation of fullness, thereby aiding weight loss.

Debbie expressed her profound anguish and sense of powerlessness, describing her daily routine of checking if her daughter is still alive. She is now advocating for comprehensive reforms in the healthcare sector, demanding face-to-face checks for all prescriptions and robust mental health screening to protect vulnerable individuals from similar dangers.

In response to Catlin’s harrowing story, Sokratis Papafloratos, CEO of Numan, issued an apology to the family and committed to implementing significant changes. Numan has pledged to expand its safeguarding leadership team, improve verification rigor through a combination of live-photo submissions, video consultations, and gaining NHS record access. The company will also increase the proportion of patients verified via video call, following recent crackdowns by the General Pharmaceutical Council on weight loss jab restrictions. Patients applying for weight loss jabs will now be required to submit photos in real time.

The UK's eating disorder charity, BEAT, estimates that at least 1.25 million people in the UK live with an eating disorder. Tom Quinn, founder of BEAT, highlighted that these types of drugs are 'incredibly attractive' to individuals grappling with serious illnesses like anorexia, emphasizing the critical need for face-to-face consultations to verify BMI and, more importantly, proper mental health screening, as individuals may struggle with an eating disorder before experiencing significant weight loss.

This case follows another tragic incident involving Ms. McGonigal, a mother-of-three, who died after being illegally administered black market semaglutide by a beautician. After being deemed ineligible for the jab on the NHS, Ms. McGonigal resorted to unregulated sources, leading to her death days after an injection. These incidents underscore a systemic vulnerability in both regulated and unregulated access to powerful weight loss medications.

Debbie's plea resonates with a deep concern for the potential loss of other lives, fearing that thousands of children could face similar fates. The urgent call for action emphasizes the necessity of strengthening regulations to prevent such perilous access to medications that, while beneficial for some, pose extreme risks to those with underlying health conditions like eating disorders.

If you are worried about your own or someone else’s health, you can contact Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity, 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677 or visit beateatingdisorders.org.uk.