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Nearly one in five UK adults would share weight-loss injections with friends or family, a survey commissioned by Pharmacy2U has revealed.
Results of the survey, shared with The Pharmaceutical Journal on 29 July 2026, showed that while 19.7% (n=393) of respondents would share their weight-loss injections, more than one-quarter (26.6%, n= 532) would share oral weight-loss medication.
The survey also showed that nearly two-thirds (62%, n=1,240) of respondents said that they would never share either injections or pills with family or friends.
A nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults who are taking, have previously taken, or are considering taking weight-management treatment were surveyed by British Polling Council member 3Gem from 4–11 June 2026, before the approval of the oral Wegovy (semaglutide; Novo Nordisk) pill on 11 June 2026.
Sehar Shahid, National Pharmacy Association (NPA) board member for Scotland and online pharmacy owner, who runs a weight management service, commented: “This is a concerning finding. Prescription-only weight management medicines should never be shared with friends or family, regardless of whether they are tablets or injections.
“These medicines are prescribed following a clinical assessment to ensure they are safe and appropriate for that individual, taking into account their medical history, current medications and any underlying health conditions. Someone taking medication that has not been prescribed for them could be putting themselves at risk of serious side effects, drug interactions or receiving treatment that is simply not appropriate for them.”
Shahid added that weight management medicines “should be treated with the same level of respect” as asthma inhalers, blood pressure tablets and diabetes medication.
“The safest way to access these treatments is through a regulated healthcare professional who can assess suitability, monitor progress and provide ongoing support throughout treatment,” she said.
Geraldine McCaffrey, director for Wales at the Royal College of Pharmacy, commented: “Prescription weight management medicines must be tailored to the individual and should never be shared with friends or family. They are prescribed following an individual clinical assessment, and what is safe and appropriate for one person may not be for another.
“Anyone considering weight management treatment or thinking about changing how they use their medication should speak to a pharmacist or another healthcare professional first.”
The results of an NPA survey, published in July 2026, showed that more than three-quarters (76%) of pharmacies expected to start “significant numbers” of eligible patients on oral Wegovy.
On 9 July 2026, the General Pharmaceutical Council started a campaign to highlight the risk of fake online pharmacies following the launch of the treatment.
