During its 5th Joint Meeting held from 23–26 June 2026, the Advisory Committee on Safety of Medicinal Products (ACSoMP) and the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) reviewed the rapidly increasing global use of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, particularly for weight loss.
The World Health Organization (WHO) currently states that GLP-1 receptor agonists may be used for the treatment of adults living with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) through a conditional recommendation.[1]
The Committees highlighted with concern the growing trend of individuals obtaining these medicines outside approved indications and medical settings, including through online platforms and other informal channels. This surge in demand is heavily driven by social media and online marketing, particularly among individuals seeking weight loss who do not have obesity (BMI <30 kg/m²) and without a clinical indication or prescription from a qualified health-care professional.
GLP-1 receptor agonists have a well-established positive benefit -risk profile when used according to their approved indications and under the supervision of qualified health-care professionals. Continued post-marketing surveillance and ongoing assessment of use are important to further evaluate emerging safety signals with long term use. Additional concerns arise when these products are obtained from unregulated or unknown sources, where their identity, quality, purity and strength cannot be assured, or when they are used outside of approved conditions or without appropriate medical supervision and safety follow-up. Self-medication, lack of medical supervision, and the use of products sourced from unverified channels, including potential substandard and falsified products, expose individuals to preventable and potentially severe health risks.
The Committees strongly urge individuals considering the use of GLP‑1 receptor agonists to consult qualified health-care professionals and to obtain these medicines only through authorized, reliable sources. A qualified health-care professional can ensure that these medicines are used according to the approved indication and dose in patients most likely to benefit from these treatments and monitored carefully to ensure optimal efficacy and minimal risk of harm.
Health-care professionals, patients/consumers, public health authorities and marketing authorization holders are encouraged to report adverse events through national pharmacovigilance systems. These reports are vital to deepening understanding of the safety profile of these medicines, including following prolonged use, use in new indications or new populations not extensively studied, and use outside authorized or medically supervised settings. Such reporting supports evidence-based public health decision-making.
The Committees emphasized the importance of clear, evidence- based communication about the appropriate use of GLP-1 receptor agonists under the supervision of qualified health-care professionals, and on the risks associated with obtaining these medicines through unauthorized or informal channels.
References
[1] WHO guideline on the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies for the treatment of obesity in adults; https://app.magicapp.org/#/guideline/LrRxrL