The TV star is in hot water for promoting prescription weight-loss injections — here’s why.
Gemma Collins is known for being transparent about her weight-loss methods, and spoke to L360 last year about her dedication to the fibre-first diet, which helped her to drop two dress sizes.
But it seems that her latest weight-loss endeavour has come under fire by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), as a recent Instagram post of hers — promoting the prescription-only weight-loss drug Yazen — has been banned.
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It’s illegal to advertise prescription-only medication, and as a result the ASA has banned nine different adverts for the medication.
Pharmacies aren’t allowed to mention or feature weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic and Mounjaro, in any advertising, nor can they use claims such as ‘obesity treatment’ or ‘weight-loss jab’.
But what is Yazen? And is this new weight-loss medication safe to be taking? We spoke to Dr Dan Marsh and Dr Mo Akhavani, founders of The Plastic Surgery Group, to find out.
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What is Yazen?
“Yazen is a Swedish digital healthcare brand that offers a doctor-supervised weight-loss programme,” explains Dr Dan Marsh. “It combines prescription medication and lifestyle coaching.”
Who’s eligible for prescription weight-loss medication?
“In the UK, prescription weight-loss medications like semaglutide (Wegovy) or liraglutide are in general available to adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related health condition like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure,” says Dr Mo Akhavani.
He adds that lower BMI thresholds may be considered for eligibility for individuals from certain ethnic minority groups, due to their increased risk of obesity-related health problems.
The doctors both confirm that “more people than ever” are taking weight-loss medication, so it’s vital to ensure that these services are being sourced from qualified and experienced medical practitioners.
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Is Yazen good or bad? Here’s what reviews are saying
The weight-loss medication has mixed reviews online.
There seems to be a lot of positivity around the app’s support system, with one reviewer on Trust Pilot writing: “The care team is attentive and kind. They give clear instructions and answer questions in a timely manner.”
But another user warns others to “not let the marketing fool you”.
They wrote: “I am happy if people have success with this programme, but I just see it as a well-thought-out cash grab.”
The user went on to explain that Yazen requires a “lifelong subscription” as the doctors tell you that “the weight will come right back if you discontinue the medication”.
So, is Yazen safe overall?
“All prescription medication comes with associated risks,” says Dr Marsh.
“But the key to safety is ensuring that it’s prescribed by a qualified and experienced medical practitioner who’s fully aware of all your medical history and needs.”
Dr Akhavani adds: “As with all industries, tough regulation is the key to maintaining optimal safety. It’s only through this and increased awareness and education that the public will be better equipped to make their own decisions.”
Feature image: Alamy
