People considering weight-loss medicines such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have been urged to compare providers carefully, after research suggested some patients may be paying more than £400 above what they need to for their tablets or injections.
A study by medication provider CheqUp found that six in 10 people had paid for a weight-loss product they later regretted buying. Respondents cited misleading, unsuitable or inaccurate advice among the reasons for their dissatisfaction, with many spending hundreds of pounds on treatments they ultimately wished they had avoided.
On average, participants spent £870 on weight-loss treatments, but said they regretted £415 of that total. Among younger people trying to lose weight, the average regret reached £470 from overall spending of £732—more than half of what they had paid.
‘Not always the safest’
Lisa Tookey, chief executive of CheqUp, said shoppers should not assume the lowest price represents the best choice. She said: “When people are unsure who to trust, price quickly becomes the deciding factor.
“However, when it comes to prescription medication, the cheapest option is not necessarily the safest. Patients should check that a qualified clinical team has assessed their treatment, the provider is legitimate and ongoing support will be available if questions or concerns arise.
“That combination of clinical oversight and genuine human guidance can help people make safer, more informed decisions.” The UK weight-loss market has also expanded recently, with several pills now available alongside injectable treatments.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved a tablet version of Wegovy in June 2026, followed by approval for the Foundayo pill in August. Neither is currently available through the NHS because both still require assessment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, meaning they can only be obtained through private prescriptions for now.
Take care what advice you get
Consumers seeking weight-loss guidance on social media have been advised to remain especially cautious. TikTok was identified as the leading source of poor advice, with one-third of people who encountered bad information saying they found it on the platform.
More than one in four people surveyed had paid for weight-loss medication or treatment from a provider they were not confident was fully legitimate.
