As the United Kingdom grapples with an escalating obesity crisis, the use of weight-loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy has surged into the national spotlight. But while some politicians and public figures have championed these drugs as revolutionary, others are voicing skepticism—and regulators are sounding alarms about how these medications are being marketed and supplied to the public.
One of the most candid voices in this debate is Tory peer Ed Vaizey, the former culture minister, who recently shared his own struggles with weight and his mixed experiences using weight-loss jabs. Speaking to The Independent, Lord Vaizey revealed that despite the widespread enthusiasm for these drugs, his personal results have been underwhelming. "It was certainly not a miracle drug," he admitted on August 31, 2025, referring specifically to his experience with Mounjaro. While he acknowledged that hundreds of thousands of people have shed pounds with the help of these medications, he cautioned that they are not a panacea for everyone.
Vaizey’s journey began during the Covid-19 pandemic, a period when, like many, he saw his lifestyle change dramatically. With the Westminster lunch circuit on hold, he initially lost weight simply by eating less and drinking less wine. But once lockdowns lifted and social obligations returned, the weight crept back on, prompting him to seek pharmaceutical help. "I went on to Wegovy first and then Mounjaro. Wegovy definitely did the trick," he said, crediting the former with his initial weight loss. But after a nine-month hiatus, when he noticed his weight rising again, he switched to Mounjaro—only to hit a frustrating plateau.
"It helped get it down but I’m stuck at about 14st 10lb now, which I regard as for me being about a stone overweight," Vaizey explained. While Mounjaro did reduce his appetite and made him feel fuller at mealtimes, it did not continue to drive weight loss, even at the maximum dose. "It doesn’t seem right and I was, at one point, on the maximum dose. I still use it, partly because I think my weight will creep up again if I stop using it."
Despite these limitations, Vaizey reported no side effects and expressed contentment with the stability the drug provided. He was honest, though, about his continued enjoyment of food and drink: "I’m quite happy to go out to dinner and sink a bottle of wine. I’m quite happy to have a dessert at dinner. It’s not rewired my brain to not like fatty foods or anything." Friends have noticed a change, often commenting that he looks healthier and more trim, but Vaizey is quick to point out that his experience does not match the dramatic stories of others who have lost several stone on these drugs. "People keep telling me I look very healthy. And well, that’s certainly true. But I read those stories about people who took Wegovy and shed four stone, but that’s not happened to me."
As these medications become more mainstream, the regulatory environment around them has grown increasingly complex. On September 1, 2025, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) issued a stern warning to pharmacies about the "inappropriate marketing messages" being used to promote weight-loss medicines. According to the GPhC, some pharmacies have encouraged patients to switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy or to other weight management drugs, and have even incentivized "bulk buying"—practices that are not only ethically questionable but also potentially unlawful.
The GPhC reminded all pharmacy professionals that prescription-only medicines must not be promoted to the public, directing them to follow guidance from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA). Jess Tye, ASA regulatory projects manager, emphasized, "Prescription-only medicines (POMs) can’t be advertised to the public. We continue to carry out extensive monitoring, investigation and enforcement work around pharmacy advertising for weight-loss POMs." She added that the ASA is actively using its Active Ad Monitoring system to identify and take action against any advertiser who breaks the rules, underscoring the seriousness with which regulators are treating these violations.
The timing of the GPhC’s warning is no coincidence. It came as price hikes for Mounjaro took effect and reports of shortages began to surface. Roz Gittings, chief pharmacy officer at the GPhC, acknowledged the strain this places on both patients and pharmacy teams: "We understand that shortages of medicines cause real challenges for both people taking medicines and pharmacy teams." The GPhC has instructed pharmacy owners, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians to maintain robust processes for identifying inappropriate requests for medicines, including multiple or bulk orders, and to ensure timely responses to customer service complaints and refund requests.
Pharmacies that have attracted the highest volume of complaints about their marketing practices have already been visited by GPhC inspectors. Dionne Spence, chief enforcement officer, urged all pharmacy professionals involved in supplying weight-loss medicines to review the recent GPhC guidance. She warned that failing to adhere to these standards could result in enforcement action—a clear signal that the regulator is prepared to act decisively.
On August 21, 2025, the MHRA weighed in with its own advisory, cautioning against switching between weight-loss jabs without medical supervision. The agency warned that such switches could increase the risk of adverse side effects or reduce the effectiveness of treatment. This advice followed a joint notice from the GPhC, MHRA, and ASA in April, which urged pharmacies to review their advertising and remove any promotions for named prescription-only weight-loss drugs.
All of this regulatory activity reflects a broader concern about the rapid rise in demand for these medications and the risks associated with their misuse. While drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy can be powerful tools in the fight against obesity, the experiences of users like Lord Vaizey—and the warnings from pharmacy regulators—underscore that there are no easy fixes. Weight loss, it seems, still requires a combination of discipline, medical oversight, and realistic expectations, even in an age of pharmaceutical breakthroughs.
As the debate continues, the UK faces the challenge of balancing access to innovative treatments with the need for public safety and ethical marketing. For now, both patients and professionals are being reminded that weight-loss jabs are not miracle cures—and that responsible use, guided by medical advice, remains essential.
