In a world of quick fixes and social media perfection, weight-loss injections have become a frighteningly easy answer for those struggling with their body image.
The injections were developed to help manage type 2 diabetes, but can also help to reduce appetite and make the user feel fuller for longer.
These typically can only be provided by doctors for weight loss if, based on their clinical judgement, other standard treatments have been ineffective.
However, Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk brought its slimming medication Wegovy, which contains the same ingredient as the now infamous Ozempic, to the UK in 2023.
This has allowed high-street chemists to stock the product, with a simple online consultation enabling consumers to purchase the injection.
But how are brands and retailers able to promote prescription-only medicine (POM), which under the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) guidelines can not be advertised?
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