A new report from the London Assembly Health Committee warns that most Londoners seeking weight loss drugs are turning to private or illicit sources due to the NHS’s sluggish rollout-putting their health at serious risk.
The capital faces a “two-tier” obesity treatment system. While an estimated 500,000 residents qualify for GLP-1 receptor agonists like Wegovy or Saxenda, only about 3,000 received them through the NHS as of November 2025.
Tens of thousands now buy these medications privately. Others resort to unregulated “skinny jabs” sold via social media, gyms, and beauty salons-some containing counterfeit or unsafe ingredients.
More than 18,000 illegal weight loss drugs were seized at UK borders between 2024 and mid-2025.
Emma Best, Chair of the London Assembly Health Committee, called the disparity “deeply unequal” and urged faster NHS access, consistent clinical pathways, and stronger enforcement against illicit sales.
The committee recommends a London-wide treatment protocol with wraparound care and a cross-agency taskforce to combat counterfeit drugs.