A Somerset GP is urging caution for anyone considering purchasing weight loss drugs online, highlighting the dangers posed by counterfeit and unsafe products.
Dr Ulrike Naumann, an obesity and weight management specialist, warns that while online buying may seem convenient, these unregulated drugs could be counterfeit, unsafe, or unsuitable for individual health needs. She stresses the importance of seeking professional medical advice to ensure weight loss is both safe and sustainable.
“Obesity is a complex, long-term health condition that is often misunderstood and stigmatized,” Dr Naumann explains. “It requires more than a quick fix. Effective treatment involves a comprehensive approach, including expert guidance on nutrition, physical activity, mental wellbeing, and ongoing monitoring and support.”
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Dr Naumann, who works at Wessex Private General Practice, will be leading a new weight management clinic at the Kingston Wing, the private unit at Yeovil Hospital. This clinic will be open to fee-paying patients, with all profits reinvested into the NHS.
“People who undergo professional support alongside weight loss medication are more likely to achieve lasting success and less likely to discontinue treatment prematurely,” Dr Naumann added. “In contrast, over half of individuals who self-medicate without guidance stop within the first year.”
Hannah Pitman, private patient service manager at the Kingston Wing, welcomes Dr Naumann’s arrival. “Her expertise in weight management adds a valuable new dimension to our services,” she said. “This clinic complements, rather than replaces, existing NHS provisions.”
Weight-loss injections, also called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs), mimic the natural hormone GLP-1 to help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, drugs such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) have since been approved for obesity treatment.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) licenses these drugs for patients with a BMI over 30, or between 27 and 30 with weight-related medical conditions known as co-morbidities. The NHS currently offers Mounjaro to patients with a BMI over 40 who also have at least four co-morbidities, according to the National Pharmacy Association.
For more information about the weight management clinic, contact the Kingston Wing at 01935 384234 or email [email protected].