anti-obesity drugs sold online, often counterfeit, in the sights of the ANSM

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Ozampic, Wegovy, Saxenda or Victoza. They look like real medications for obesity and diabetes, but are often counterfeit products with uncertain composition. The National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) is sounding the alarm and banning the online sale of these products. Presented as anti-obesity treatments, they can be dangerous for your health.

“As soon as you actually buy them on the Internet, you don’t know what’s in them. We’re not selling you a medicine. We’re selling you an illusion that can damage your health. It can make you lose weight. The problem is that treating obesity isn’t just about losing weight, it’s about taking care of an illness.”warns Boris Hansel, head of the Nutrition Prevention unit at Bichat hospital.

These medications are normally only available on prescription for severe obesity or diabetes. Under pressure from the ANSM, sites like eBay, Cdiscount and Amazon have removed these products online. But another platform, hosted by companies based in Hong Kong, still offers them. They are being prosecuted for illegal sales and advertising.