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The General Pharmaceutical Council has warned there is a need for “stronger governance, enhanced clinical safeguards and greater transparency” in the provision of weight loss services from pharmacies.  

Publishing an analysis of pharmacy inspection reports and concerns raised with the regulator between January 2024 and December 2025, the regulator said standards are “not always consistently met” when it comes to pharmacy weight loss services.

Seventy-seven pharmacies inspected in that timeframe (five per cent of the total) were providing weight management medicines or services, with 106 out of 2,002 individual standards marked as failed across these businesses. 

The most commonly failed standards were around risk management and premises safety.

Online pharmacies accounted for 49 per cent of concerns raised, while community pharmacies accounted for 26 per cent. Frequently cited issues included prescribing practice, advertising, dispensing practice and unlawful supply. 

Concerns relating to prescribing practice included supplying GLP-1s to individuals with a history of eating disorders, the absence of BMI or weight verification and pharmacies requesting patients take picture of themselves in “tight-fitting clothes to demonstrate body weight. 

GPhC chief executive Roz Gittins said: “Weight management medicines and services are a rapidly evolving area of practice, and public interest in these treatments continues to grow. 

“Our review will help pharmacies and prescribers understand what is working well and where improvements are needed. Sharing learning from our inspections and concerns allows us to promote good practice and support continuous improvement across the sector.

“This is about more than compliance. By strengthening governance, enhancing clinical safeguards and improving transparency, pharmacy teams can ensure that the services they provide are safe, reliable and person-centred.”