'I thought I was going to die' - Woman calls for tighter weight-loss jabs checks

Emma Dyer, a 40-year-old woman from Carlton in Nottinghamshire, collapsed on her bathroom floor and began vomiting blood in March 2024 after purchasing weight-loss injections online without medical consultation or checks on her history of eating disorders, seeking to rapidly lose weight following a customer's comment that triggered her body image concerns. Despite having a history of anorexia and bulimia, Emma was able to buy the injections with no questions asked about her medical history or current medications, simply lying about her body mass index on the website. The experience left her terrified for her life and now she's advocating for stricter regulations on the sale of such powerful medications. Emma had been in a stable place with a healthy weight and a job she enjoyed before a customer's remark that she "looked a lot better when she was skinnier" sent her spiraling back into disordered eating patterns. Desperate to lose weight quickly, she paid £115 for what she believed were Saxenda injections online. When they arrived, the poorly printed instructions failed to mention the need to start with a low dose, leading her to inject a medium dose instead. The consequences were immediate and severe, with her experiencing hallucinations, vomiting blood, and fearing for her life while lying alone on her bathroom floor. The rise in weight-loss injection usage has become a growing concern in the UK, with an estimated 1.6 million adults having used such medications in the past year according to University College London researchers. While some obtain medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy through the NHS, many purchase them privately from various sources, including online pharmacies and even non-medical providers. Dr Claire Fuller, NHS England's national medical director, warned about unverified sellers promoting weight-loss jabs without proper medical supervision, emphasizing that "weight-loss drugs are powerful medicines and can have serious side effects." Daniel Magson of eating disorder charity First Steps ED reported a 57% increase in referrals in 2024-25, with people experiencing physical illness, heart issues, depression, and relapses. Pharmacist Grace Pickering stressed the importance of proper medical oversight, including face-to-face consultations and regular check-ins, standards she believes all providers should meet.