Committee publication · Correspondence · 28 January 2026
Correspondence from Advertising Standards Authority- Update on weight loss prescription only medicines
From: Health and Social Care Committee
Inquiry: Food and Weight Management
Summary
The Advertising Standards Authority updates Parliament on enforcement against illegal advertising of weight-loss prescription-only medicines. The ASA banned ads by Chequup, SkinnyJab, and MedExpress for promoting POMs on social media, and found two advertisers exploited body image insecurities, particularly targeting new mothers. The authority emphasises continued monitoring and partnership with MHRA and GPhC.
Key findings
- ASA banned ads by Chequup, SkinnyJab, and MedExpress for illegally promoting weight-loss prescription-only medicines on social media this week
- MedExpress ad encouraged new mothers to prioritise weight loss despite breastfeeding contraindications and exploited body image insecurities
- Chequup ad exploited people's insecurities by suggesting stigma around body size
- Nine rulings against companies promoting weight-loss POMs were published in July following enforcement notice
- ASA employs tech-assisted monitoring, partnership with MHRA and GPhC, and swift enforcement to ensure advertiser compliance
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Advertising Standards Authority, Layla Moran MP, Grace Curley, Chequup, SkinnyJab, MedExpress, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, General Pharmaceutical Council
Notable line
“Ads that play on personal insecurities like body image are completely unacceptable. They can create unnecessary anxiety, reinforce harmful stereotypes, and risk encouraging the unsafe use of powerful prescription medicines.”
Key Quotes
“… weight-loss drugs that are prescription-only medicines (POMs) should only be prescribed by a qualified medical professional”
“We found the ad by MedExpress encouraged new mothers to prioritise losing weight by using weight-loss medication, exploited their insecurities about body image and perpetuated pressures for them to conform to body image stereotypes.”
“Ads that play on personal insecurities like body image are completely unacceptable. They can create unnecessary anxiety, reinforce harmful stereotypes, and risk encouraging the unsafe use of powerful prescription medicines.”
“The combination of proactive monitoring, rulings, and partnership working with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗