Advertising ban on prescription weight-loss medications sparks controversy

In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has taken significant measures against the advertisement of prescription-only weight-loss medications due to growing concerns over public safety and the unregulated promotion of these drugs. The ASA ruled against a series of advertisements, totaling nine complaints, which prominently featured well-known personalities such as Gemma Collins. These rulings clarified that all injectable forms of weight-loss medication must not be advertised publicly, reinforcing the need for strict adherence to advertising regulations surrounding prescription medicines. The ad scrutinized involved an Instagram post by Collins promoting a weight-loss service called Yazen, which, although not explicitly urging medication use, referenced prescription drugs. The ASA received complaints challenging the appropriateness of the advertisement, leading Yazen to amend their post and commit to future compliance with the advertising code. Collins expressed her commitment to advertising ethics, admitting responsibility for the promotion. Additionally, the ASA banned ads from CheqUp, which previously conveyed misleading messages about obtaining prescription medication without proper medical consultation. Both CheqUp and Yazen claimed that they believed their advertisements conformed to the current industry practices in the weight-loss sector, but the ASA emphasized the critical importance of following the codes governing medical advertising. This crackdown is part of a broader initiative by the ASA and other healthcare regulatory bodies to ensure that the advertising of prescription-only medicines is strictly regulated to protect consumers. The ASA's efforts followed an alarming discovery of around 1,800 ads potentially violating these regulations, underscoring the scale of the issue. The regulation bans named weight-loss medications, including popular drugs like Wegovy, Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Saxenda, and prevents the promotion of claims such as