{"id":678987,"date":"2026-07-07T18:35:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T18:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/678987\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T18:35:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T18:35:26","slug":"fake-weight-loss-pills-containing-chalk-and-paint-set-for-black-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/678987\/","title":{"rendered":"Fake weight-loss pills containing chalk and paint set for black market"},"content":{"rendered":"

Intense demand for newly available weight-loss pills<\/a> will see a major \u201csurge\u201d in dangerous fakes flooding the UK, experts have warned.<\/p>\n

Criminal gangs are widely expected to create cheap, counterfeit versions of Wegovy pills, after the \u201ctransformational\u201d new oral treatment<\/a> became available from pharmacists this week.<\/p>\n

Fraudsters selling bogus medication on the black market can make their pills with brick dust or chalk and use paint to colour them, said health experts.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tShorts\n\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tScroll to previous short
\n\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\tScroll to next short
\n\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

New \u2018game-changer\u2019 tests for endometriosis <\/p>\n

Women with suspected endometriosis\u00a0will no longer have to spend years trying to get a diagnosis thanks to\u00a0new\u00a0\u201cgame-changer\u201d\u00a0tests\u00a0approved\u00a0for use in GP surgeries.<\/p>\n

\"Pain,Caption: Pain, stomach, endometriosis, women\u2019s health
Photographer: Kinga Krzeminska
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

\nWhat is endometriosis?\n<\/p>\n

Endometriosis\u00a0is a painful condition affecting one in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other parts of the body.<\/p>\n

\"FileThe move by the NHS is understood to have led to thousands of patients seeing appointments being cancelled (Photo: PA)<\/p>\n

\"MenstrualMenstrual pain, woman with stomachache suffering from pms at home, endometriosis, cystitis and other diseases of the urinary system \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

In an effort to cut the time it takes\u00a0for\u00a0women to be diagnosed with endometriosis, the National Institute\u00a0for\u00a0Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has\u00a0given\u00a0the\u00a0green\u00a0light\u00a0to two tests on the NHS \u2013 EndoSure and Endotest.<\/p>\n

\nHow do the tests work?\n<\/p>\n

With Endotest, women give a saliva sample which is then sent to the lab to check for tiny biological markers called microRNAs. This indicates the presence of endometriosis.<\/p>\n

EndoSure can detect the condition by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads\u00a0on\u00a0the abdomen.<\/p>\n

None of the tests are designed to act as standalone diagnostic tests but should ensure women receive a diagnosis and treatment much faster.<\/p>\n

Expert opinion<\/p>\n

A diagnosis of endometriosis can for some women take the best part of a decade. That delay means living with chronic pelvic pain that affects daily life. These technologies have the potential to change that\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Anastasia Chalkidou, HealthTech programme director at Nice <\/p>\n

\"WomanWoman at home suffering from menstrual pain. Menstrual cramps, woman warming lower abdomen with a hot water bottle, endometriosis, and diseases causing pain. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"CoupleCouple sleeping in bed \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

Missing sleep leads to \u2018one pound every six weeks weight gain\u2019<\/p>\n

A new study has found that delaying sleep by just 80 minutes can lead to weight gain at the rate of one pound every six weeks.<\/p>\n

Previous studies have shown that severe sleep deprivation in the short term leads to changes in appetite and overeating, which can contribute to weight gain.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n

\nHow staying up late affects waistlines\n<\/p>\n

\"SleepSleep tourism in hotel. Exhausted woman sleeps sweetly in bed in the morning \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Who was studied?<\/p>\n

Experts from Columbia University in the US conducted the study with 95 adults who usually get seven or eight hours\u00a0of\u00a0sleep.<\/p>\n

What was analysed?<\/p>\n

They were told\u00a0to\u00a0delay their normal bedtime by 90 minutes for six weeks\u00a0and then\u00a0get the usual amount\u00a0of sleep for the next six\u00a0weeks.<\/p>\n

\"SmartphoneSmartphone on wooden cabinet rings at nine o\u2019clock, next to digital flip clock at home interior. Sunbeam shining through the window on a fresh morning. A brand new day, fresh start, fresh energy, new opportunities. Waking up early for a healthy lifestyle \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"ThisCaption: This is a stock photo of of some weighing scales, a tape measure and running shoes. See PA Feature BOOK Dr Karan Rajan. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature BOOK Dr Karan Rajan. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Alamy\/PA <\/p>\n

NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature BOOK Dr Karan Rajan<\/p>\n

Photographer: Alamy\/PA
Provider: Alamy\/PA
Source: PA<\/p>\n

How was sleep tracked?<\/p>\n

Those studied wore\u00a0wrist monitors\u00a0to\u00a0track their sleep and changes in body weight, waist circumference, body composition and certain hormones.<\/p>\n

\nWhat were the results?\n<\/p>\n

As well as average weight gain of a pound, sedentary time increased by an average of 17 minutes per day during the six-week period.<\/p>\n

That increased to nearly 30 minutes per day for men and postmenopausal women.<\/p>\n

\"ThisCaption: This is a generic photo of a young woman sleeping peacefully in bed while wearing a smartwatch. See PA Feature WELLBEING Sleep. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA feature WELLBEING Sleep PA Photo. Picture credit should read: Alamy\/PA. <\/p>\n

NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature WELLBEING Sleep.
Photographer: Alamy\/PA
Provider: Alamy\/PA<\/p>\n

What are the long-term effects of losing sleep?<\/p>\n

When extrapolated to a full year, we would expect that losing less than an hour and a half of sleep per night could result in clinically meaningful weight gain<\/p>\n

Faris Zuraikat, assistant professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia<\/p>\n

\"ManMan standing on weight scale, low section \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"FILEWas Trump\u2019s intervention really worth it? (Photo: Reuters) <\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

Donald Trump has torched America\u2019s World Cup legacy<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Daniel Storey<\/p>\n

Sport Feature Writer of the Year<\/p>\n

There was some hope that the USA would get through their last-16 tie against Belgium, perhaps even with Folarin Balogun playing a starring role. If this was the only way to shame Fifa into a full explanation, why not? The USA\u2019s exit after a 4-1 defeat allows this rotten case to be quickly brushed under the rug before the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n

\nRed card row that tainted World Cup\n<\/p>\n

Donald Trump sparked huge controversy by confirming he lobbied Fifa boss Gianni Infantino to review United States striker Folarin Balogun\u2019s one-match ban at the World Cup, branding the referee who sent him off \u201csuspect\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"UnitedCaption: United States\u2019 Folarin Balogun (20) gets a pat on the head from Bosnia\u2019s Sead Kolasinac (5) as United States\u2019 Christian Pulisic (10) stands by after receiving a red card during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo\/Martin Meissner)
Photographer: Martin Meissner
Provider: AP Photo\/Martin Meissner
Source: AP
Copyright: Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

\"FILEWith one move, Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino have thrown the World Cup into controversy (Photo: Leah Millis\/Reuters)<\/p>\n

After significant outcry, including from Uefa who said the decision left the integrity of football at stake, Balogun\u2019s ban was suspended by Fifa\u2019s disciplinary committee, allowing him to play in the last-16 clash with Belgium.<\/p>\n

\nWas it all worth it?\n<\/p>\n

\"COMMERCECaption: COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO \u2013 OCTOBER 14: Head coach Mauricio Pochettino of the United States walks off the field after winning the game against Australia at Dick\u2019s Sporting Goods Park on October 14, 2025 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers\/USSF\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Andrew Wevers\/USSF
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images North America
Copyright: 2025 Andrew Wevers\/USSF<\/p>\n

US started well<\/p>\n

Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT had made friends amongst travelling supporters.<\/p>\n

World Cup fever grew<\/p>\n

They also gained new fans amongst their own football-sceptic population, thus evaporating a degree of the insularity that can blow through US sport.<\/p>\n

\"ALCaption: AL KHOR, QATAR \u2013 NOVEMBER 25: US fans hold up an American flag before a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and USMNT at Al Bayt Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Doug Zimmerman\/ISI Photos\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Doug Zimmerman\/ISI Photos
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe<\/p>\n

\"SANTATrump does not respect Balogun for who he is (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

But scandal will endure <\/p>\n

That has changed over the last three days. Unless the USA actually reached the World Cup final, this controversy promised to be the overriding legacy of their tournament.<\/p>\n

US Soccer and Pochettino are also guilty<\/p>\n

For all the hollering and deliberate moral selectivism of some in the US football community over the last 48 hours, everybody reasonable knows that Balogun should not have been playing.
That includes Pochettino.<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND \u2013 FEBRUARY 04: Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Chelsea, looks dejected during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on February 04, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill \u2013 Danehouse\/Getty Images)
Photographer: James Gill \u2013 Danehouse
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe<\/p>\n

\"LOSUSA are among the nations who can go easy in the final round of group games (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\nA legacy has been soured\n<\/p>\n

In 2019, the United States Women\u2019s National Team declined an invitation to visit President Trump\u2019s White House because they did not want their success to be co-opted by a regime that had worked against their fight for equal pay and LGBTQ+ rights.<\/p>\n

\"UnitedThe tackle for which Balogun was sent off (Photo: AP)<\/p>\n

\"SANCaption: SAN JOSE, CA \u2013 JULY 9: Crystal Dunn #19 of the United States high fives her teammates after a game between Wales and USWNT at PayPal Park on July 9, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Brad Smith\/USSF\/Getty Images for USSF).
Photographer: Brad Smith\/USSF
Provider: Getty Images for USSF
Source: Getty Images North America<\/p>\n

In 2026, the USMNT relied upon the same President to personally intervene in their own cause and were then immediately knocked out of their host tournament.<\/p>\n

A legacy has been soured. Memories will last for the wrong reasons. A reputation has been torched.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Non-obese people who want to lose weight may turn to cheaper and potentially unsafe fake slimming pills sold through social media, gyms and salons, they warned.<\/p>\n

Pharmacists are braced for a surge of thousands of new patients coming forward for weight-loss medication<\/a> after the Wegovy pills went on sale on Monday.<\/p>\n

Online chemists have begun selling the 1.5mg starting dose at around \u00a399 a month for existing patients, and \u00a379 for new patients.<\/p>\n

Fake pills are \u2018bread and butter\u2019 for criminal gangs<\/p>\n

Some 97 per cent of pharmacies fear the shift from injections to pills will lead to an increase in fake or unlicensed weight-loss drugs, according to a survey by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which represents independent community chemists.<\/p>\n

Pills are easier to counterfeit than jabs, said Bhavik Patel, a professor of clinical and bioanalytical chemistry at the University of Brighton. \u201cFor criminal gangs, pills are their bread and butter,\u201d he told The i Paper.<\/p>\n

The scale of the black market trade will \u201cstretch\u201d both the UK Border Force and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) tasked with finding fakes, added Patel.<\/p>\n

Ahsan Bhatti, pharmacist and owner of Quick Meds, warned of a \u201creal surge in the black market for fake weight-loss pills\u201d over the next three to six months.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese pills will push demand for weight-loss medication even higher, and my worry is that more patients end up buying fakes online. That means more hospitalisations \u2013 and, I fear, more deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fake medications can contain smaller, incorrect doses, and can be topped up with potentially dangerous ingredients. Insulin and water have been used as replacements for existing weight-loss injections, said Patel.<\/p>\n

Counterfeiters have previously used brick dust, chalk and paint to fill out and colour all kinds of fake pills, the chemistry expert added.<\/p>\n

Cost may push people to fakes<\/p>\n

\u201cIf accessibility or cost for pills becomes hard for people, there is greater risk of turning to the black market,\u201d said Patel.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, there may be some people who aren\u2019t eligible but want to change their appearance \u2013 they may look for alternative sources online.\u201d<\/p>\n

There had been hopes that Wegovy pills would help bring the cost down of weight-loss drugs. They have been available in injection form for between \u00a3100 and \u00a3300 a month, depending on the dose.<\/p>\n

However, Novo Nordisk has revealed that the pill is \u201cnot cheaper\u201d to manufacture than their injections, dampening hopes that tablets will cost significantly less.<\/p>\n

Huge demand for the new pills is a \u201cpositive thing\u201d if it widens access for people who need the medication, said pharmacist Thorrun Govind. \u201cNot everyone is comfortable with jabs.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Govind is worried that a surge of new people interested in the weight-loss drugs for the first time may look for cheaper prices.<\/p>\n

They may not understand there are strict eligibility requirements around body mass index (BMI), and that weight must be verified by a registered prescriber in a \u201ctwo-way\u201d consultation, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI worry about messages on social media about getting into shape, about being beach-body ready and so on,\u201d said Govind. \u201cThey may drive people who don\u2019t need the medication to find the pills by illegitimate routes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scammers are cloning pharmacy websites<\/p>\n

Counterfeit weight-loss jabs have typically been sold online for 20 to 30 per cent less \u2013 often using fake websites, said Bhatti.<\/p>\n

He expects to see the same for weight-loss pills. \u201cThe saving is usually modest by design. If it looked too good to be true, nobody would fall for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buyers should be wary of any weight-loss drugs offered without eligibility checks, experts warned. Prices significantly lower than those offered by regulated online pharmacies are another red flag.<\/p>\n

One in 10 online pharmacies have had their websites or social media accounts cloned by scammers selling fake weight-loss jabs, the NPA said.<\/p>\n

Bhatti said his own company\u2019s website had been cloned by scammers. The Government should back the creation of a new \u201cpharmacy\u201d domain name to help identify regulated pharmacies, he said.<\/p>\n

More than 6,500 fake or unlicensed weight-loss drugs have been seized by UK authorities over the past three years, according to MHRA figures from earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Northampton Police recently raided an illegal operation on a country estate \u2013 capturing another 12,000 unlicensed weight-loss jabs. But the true scale of the black market is unknown.<\/p>\n

An MHRA spokesperson said it was \u201ccontinuously monitoring trends\u201d in the fake weight-loss drug market and would \u201cremain vigilant to emerging threats\u201d.<\/p>\n

The regulator said it works with law enforcement and customs agencies \u2013 both in the UK and internationally \u2013 to disrupt criminal supply chains.<\/p>\n

Novo Nordisk said it was taking action to tackle fakes, including sharing information about supply chains with law enforcement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Intense demand for newly available weight-loss pills will see a major \u201csurge\u201d in dangerous fakes flooding the UK,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":678988,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[7431,102,2960,6591,578,8084,56,54,55,10029],"class_list":["post-678987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-medication","tag-diets","tag-health","tag-healthcare","tag-medication","tag-ozempic","tag-pharmacies","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-weight-loss-jabs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=678987"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678987\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/678988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=678987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=678987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=678987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}