NPA warns of ‘spiralling demand’ for NHS weight-loss medications

Survey results revealed that nearly one-quarter of UK adults tried to access weight-loss treatments in the past year via pharmacies.
A woman injects a weight-loss pen into her thigh

More than two-thirds of people aged between 25 and 34 years would access weight-loss treatments on the NHS if it was made available to them, despite many being “unlikely to be clinically eligible”, according to a survey commissioned by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).

The survey results, published on 28 July 2025, revealed that 41% of all adults would be interested in NHS weight-loss treatments if they were able to access them.

Over one-fifth (21%) of survey respondents said they had attempted to access weight-loss treatments in the past year through an online or in-person pharmacy.

More than 2,002 adults in the UK took part in the NPA-commissioned survey, which was conducted by market research agency Savanta between 20 and 23 June 2025.

The findings have led the NPA to warn that “spiralling demand, fuelled in part by social media, risked people being tempted to resort to unregulated online suppliers instead of regulated pharmacies”.

In April 2025, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) jointly issued a reminder that advertisements for named prescription-only medicines (POMs) for weight management are prohibited, including paid advertisements on social media and other social media content.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide; Eli Lilly) became eligible for primary care prescription to NHS patients from 23 June 2025, while Wegovy (semaglutide; Novo Nordic) was made available in September 2023 under a controlled launch.

The NHS offers Mounjaro to people with a BMI of 40 or more — adjusted for ethnicity — and four associated comorbidities.

Wegovy is only available on the NHS to people with a BMI between 32.5 and 35.0, depending on ethnicity, or with a slightly lower BMI and other criteria are treated by a specialist weight management service.

Mounjaro can be prescribed by GPs, while Wegovy is available through specialist weight management services.

Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, said: “It’s clear from this polling that many more people are interested in getting weight-loss jabs than would actually be suitable for treatment. We want to make sure supplies are carefully managed so that those in most clinical need can benefit from weight-loss medication.

“We’re also urging the government to bring forward plans to include pharmacies in the roll out of their NHS weight management programme.”

Commenting on the survey, Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said the society shared the NPA’s concerns.

“Obtaining these medicines from unregulated sources poses a serious risk to health, as they may be counterfeit, substandard or misused,” she said.

“Safeguards must include proper consultation, dispensing via regulated pharmacies and ensuring patients receive follow-up and lifestyle support. Access should be based on clinical need and not ability to pay, with patient safety as the top priority.

“Pharmacists are medicines experts and already play a key role in weight management. Expanding NHS weight management services through community pharmacies could improve access, but this must come with the necessary funding, training and safeguards to ensure services are safe and sustainable.”

Last updated
Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ, July 2025, Vol 315, No 7999;315(7999)::DOI:10.1211/PJ.2025.1.366170

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