The Care Pharmacy in Bradford is behind the new campaign which focuses on the health risks of buying unregulated weight loss drugs from unofficial sources like social media, street dealers, and online messaging apps.
The pharmacy has raised concerns after noticing an increase in people asking about or being offered black-market weight loss treatments.
Mohammed Ismail Lakhi, owner of The Care Pharmacy, said: “Weight loss treatment should never begin with social media hype or unregulated sellers, it should begin with trusted healthcare professionals like a regulated pharmacy.
“If a treatment avoids medical checks, it avoids patient safety.
“If you don’t know what is in it or where it is from, don’t put it in your body.”
The campaign, titled Weight Loss: Real Medicine. Real Care. Real Safety, is designed to educate the public about the serious health risks associated with using counterfeit weight loss medication.
The pharmacy is urging anyone offered such drugs through unofficial channels to report the matter to the police.
Rising demand for injectable treatments like Mounjaro has led to growing concerns about the spread of fake and potentially dangerous alternatives.
Contributing factors include high private prescription costs and restrictions around NHS eligibility.
Reports suggest around 18,300 illegal or unregulated weight loss and diabetes medications were seized entering the UK between 2024 and mid-2025.
Investigations by regulators and media outlets have repeatedly linked social media platforms, beauty salons, gyms and online groups to the sale of counterfeit ‘skinny jabs’.
Earlier this month NHS England’s national director of patient safety Professor Megan Fowler told the Health and Social Care Select Committee there were concerns around black market drugs and the risk they pose to the public.
She said: “People are seeking GLP-1s, and it’s often a different cohort to those we’re currently treating in the NHS, who have the most significant [weight-related] issues.
“Some of those people will seek private providers but there are concerns about black market drugs.”
The Care Pharmacy’s campaign also stresses the need for medical screening and ongoing clinical supervision for anyone considering weight loss treatment.
It warns that the drugs are not suitable for everyone and may worsen health conditions such as pancreatitis, gallstones, liver disease, or kidney problems.
Mr Lakhi said: “Safe medicine should always come with professional support.
“Patients deserve qualified medical oversight, accurate information and ongoing clinical care throughout treatment.”
The campaign will run across digital channels, educational materials, and community outreach events throughout West Yorkshire.