Pharmacists warn AI-doctored photos used to obtain weight-loss drugs
Chemists caution over growing use of deception to secure treatments such as Mounjaro and Wegovy
Patients are increasingly using deceptions such as AI-edited photographs to make themselves appear heavier and access weight-loss treatments, pharmacies have warned.
They called for tougher verification checks and cautioned that deploying trickery to access drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy can have serious health consequences, especially for those with eating disorders.
Adults in England can qualify for some treatments under the National Health Service if they have a body mass index of 35 or above and at least one health condition related to their weight. Private providers can prescribe injections to patients with a BMI of 30 or above, falling to 27 with a weight-related condition.
Chemists fear the lure of weight-management injections and the growing social normalisation of taking them is pushing people to take drastic steps.
Sehar Shahid, a board director at the National Pharmacy Association, highlighted “patients using AI-doctored photos in order to access weight-loss treatments when they may not be clinically eligible to do so”.
One of its members recently reported that a patient hid weights in their pockets in order to appear heavier and access the drugs.
The deceptions take place despite new guidelines introduced nearly two years ago that require pharmacies to verify the weight of patients seeking weight-loss drugs, such as via video consultations and checking medical records.
“Regulations must keep pace with evolving technological changes in order to protect patient safety,” Shahid said.
The UK has seen a huge rise in the use of so-called GLP-1 medications, which act as appetite suppressants by mimicking a natural gut hormone released after eating. Mounjaro, made by Eli Lilly of the US, and Wegovy, from Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, dominate the market.
A recent University College London study estimated that 1.6mn UK adults used GLP-1s in a 12-month period to early 2025. The vast majority access them through private online pharmacies that can charge £300 a month for treatment.
Ahsan Bhatti, owner of Quick Meds, an online pharmacy, also noted a rise in the number of patients submitting photos that deployed tricks such as “subtly exaggerating their abdominal size or altering body contours to appear eligible for treatment”.
While these could look convincing at first glance, closer inspection often revealed the “tell-tale signs” of manipulation such as curved door frames or inconsistent shadows and lighting, he said.
“As AI editing tools become more accessible and sophisticated, verifying eligibility through photographs alone is increasingly challenging for online pharmacists,” he added.
Bhatti stressed the significant risk of these doctored images to patients. GLP-1 drugs are “powerful prescription medicines, not a cosmetic quick fix and they carry potential risks and side-effects”, he warned.
“It’s vital that we educate patients about the importance of being honest during consultations and the potentially life-threatening consequences of obtaining prescription medicines through deception,” he added.
The eating disorder faculty of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has expressed concern that its patients may be misusing weight-loss drugs.
“We’re hearing of people who have used AI to falsify photographs, and that these were not subsequently verified by the prescriber, which means they were easily able to access the medication,” said Kerri Fleming, head of services at Beat, an eating disorder charity.
“There are workarounds, such as requiring photographs to be taken live, but not every pharmacy has these safeguards in place yet,” she added.
Roz Gittins, chief pharmacy officer at the General Pharmaceutical Council, the industry regulator, said verifying a patient’s BMI over the phone or relying on a photo or pre-recorded video was not “appropriate” for pharmacies that supply medication for weight management.
“Information provided by the person, including their weight, height and/or body mass index, should be independently checked,” Gittins said.
She warned that the GPhC, which inspects hundreds of pharmacies each month, had the power to take action against any pharmacist who failed to take adequate precautions to verify a patient’s weight.