Non-Medical Sale of GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs Rises, UAE Expert Warns of Safety Risks
The growing popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss injections has led to a sharp rise in their sale outside traditional medical settings, raising concerns from UAE clinicians about patient safety.
Originally prescribed for diabetes and obesity under specialist supervision, GLP-1 drugs are increasingly being marketed by non-healthcare providers and through subscription-style programs. Experts warn that rapid commercial expansion is outpacing the clinical safeguards needed for safe use.
Ali Hashemi, co-founder and CEO of metabolic.health (GluCare), said the medications are highly effective when prescribed correctly, but problems arise when they’re treated as consumer products. “The issue is what happens when people treat them like a convenience product — click, pay, deliver,” he said.
GLP-1 services are now promoted through wellness clinics, online platforms with minimal oversight, and even consumer apps. In some cases, consultations consist of little more than online questionnaires with limited screening or follow-up.
Clinicians are seeing patients who experience avoidable setbacks, including doses increased too quickly, inadequate education on side effects, and lack of monitoring. Common consequences include nausea, vomiting, dehydration, fatigue, and anxiety.
Another concern is muscle loss. Rapid weight loss without attention to protein intake and resistance training can leave patients weaker and metabolically worse off despite lower body weight.
Hashemi warned the trend risks reducing obesity medicine to a commercial add-on rather than a clinical discipline. He also flagged inconsistent medication sourcing when drugs are sold outside recognized channels.
Patients considering GLP-1 treatment should ask who is prescribing the drug, how follow-up is handled, and where medication is sourced — and be cautious if answers are unclear.
