Advertisements for GLP-1 weight loss medications are ubiquitous, appearing on television and social media platforms.
They can raise awareness regarding available assistance for individuals suffering from obesity who seek treatment; however, when directed towards inappropriate audiences, they may pose significant risks.
Although reputable pharmaceutical companies are prohibited from disseminating misleading weight loss advertisements, telemedicine firms that prescribe compounded, non-FDA-approved medications provide weight loss drugs to individuals who do not qualify as overweight, fail to disclose pertinent information about associated risks or potential impurities, and, in some cases, even target those who do not meet established treatment criteria.
As a professional engaged in supporting young women and individuals managing mental health concerns such as anorexia, I find the proliferation of these advertisements to be troubling.
The challenges associated with maintaining a healthy body image are already exacerbated by the representations portrayed on television and social media imagery.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates advertisements for the manufacturers of FDA-approved drugs, but not for compounded drugs.
Furthermore, the FDA does not test the finished product for impurities. These drugs were never intended to be mass-produced and taken by millions of people. Nonetheless, they are, and the risk mitigation strategies in place for regularly approved medicines are not being applied.
Compounded medications are formulated from the components of approved pharmaceuticals by pharmacies, rather than in manufacturing facilities inspected and approved by the FDA, such as those utilized by pharmaceutical companies. Compounding is permitted in specific circumstances where there is a patient need or a shortage.
This may include the preparation of a syrup for individuals who are unable to swallow pills or a regimen for cancer treatment when the necessary medication is unavailable.
Following the inclusion of GLP-1 drugs on the FDA’s shortage list, compounding pharmacies commenced the mass production of weight loss medications derived from the ingredients utilized in Wegovy or Zepbound.
Observing a considerable opportunity for profit from compounding regulations, these pharmacies also initiated extensive marketing campaigns for these medications. This represents an unprecedented challenge for all parties involved and introduces complexities for mental health practitioners and their patients.
FDA-approved drug advertisements must receive approval from the FDA. They cannot make misleading statements, promote drugs for unapproved uses, and must present both risks and benefits.
For these reasons, FDA-approved drug advertisements can be annoying and are often laden with information, but they maintain a degree of transparency. In contrast, compounded drug advertisements lack FDA regulation. Telemedicine companies selling compounded medicines enjoy broad latitude, including promoting to individuals who are not overweight or for whom treatment may not be advisable, such as those with anorexia.
Obesity is a serious, often fatal disease, and people living with obesity deserve effective treatment. Individuals with eating disorders resulting in very low weight also face life-threatening conditions. Whether FDA-approved or compounded, advertisements for weight loss medicines should outline the risks and benefits of treatment.
As telemedicine companies prescribing these medicines continue to proliferate, healthcare professionals writing prescriptions for weight loss treatments need training to ask the right questions to screen out individuals with a history of anorexia.
Advertisements carry significant influence and reach many individuals, both intended and unintended.
It is crucial to protect public health. All drug manufacturers distributing drug advertisements should adhere to the same regulations, whether they are FDA-approved or online pharmacies selling compounded drugs.
Kendall F. Roper is a physician assistant who has practiced over 20 years in critical care, trauma, orthopedics, and general medicine, now caring for patients with UAB St. Vincent’s Orthopedics in Clanton, Alabama.
