Weight Loss Jabs: Hundreds of thousands of people getting in to debt just to lose weight
In 2026, it’s not just your BMI being assessed, it’s your bank balance
Last updated 16 hours ago
A staggering 1.6 million people in the UK are using weight-loss injections, with 40% getting into debt to afford them.
Thousands of people spending hundreds a month they don’t have. Two in five users are already in the red just to stay on the jab. The average owed? £1600.
Nearly half admit to putting the cost onto credit. Others are draining savings. Maxing out overdrafts. Some even dip into emergency funds.
Every pound lost on the scales is being replaced by pounds added to what they owe.
The allure of reduced food cravings, improved self-esteem, and enhanced health benefits continues to motivate people despite the financial burden.
Listen to reporter Micky Welch's investigation 👇
Weight-loss jab users are engaging in dodgy practices to cut costs
As the costs can be sky high a lot of people will do all they can to make their dose and not their bank balance stretch.
Golden Dosing is where you extract the tiny amount left from injection pens, micro-dosing means you give yourself smaller amounts and some even take medication vacations - a few days or weeks off here and there. But healthcare professionals warn these risky behaviours could compromise safety and effectiveness.
The UK's medicines regulator has flagged concerns over unlicensed GLP-1 drugs on the Great Market, with these counterfeit products posing potential dangers.
Research reveals around 1 in 5 people turn to untested alternatives, while one in four buy from unlicensed sellers due to financial pressures.
Dr. Kieran Seyan from Lloyds Pharmacy Online highlighted alarming trends driven by price pressures and social media influence:
"Price pressures combined with social media influence are driving dangerous behaviours, and patients should only use providers properly registered with appropriate regulatory bodies."
UK demand for weight-loss medication continues to grow
The demand for weight-loss injections varies across the UK, with new data indicating that since September 2023, over 500,000 patients have started using them, collectively losing more than 4.2 million kg.
Find out how many are using them where you are:
North East - About 1 in 93 people use them.
North West - About 1 in 112 people
Yorkshire and the Humber - About 1 in 131 people
South East - About 1 in 134 people
West Midlands - About 1 in 139 people
East of England - About 1 in 141 people
East Midlands - About 1 in 149 people
South West - About 1 in 153 people
Greater London - About 1 in 177 people
Nationally – About 1 in 140 people
Scotland - About 1 in 128 people
Wales - About 1 in 143 people
Buy Now Pay Later schemes to come under new regulation
Buy Now, Pay Later schemes have surged across Britain during the cost-of-living crisis, they often only take a few clicks to obtain, there's quick approval rates and often no immediate interest.
But when it’s used to fund ongoing medical treatment, there's a real risk of people getting into huge debt.
Starting from 15th July 2026, new rules by the Financial Conduct Authority will require these providers to obtain authorisation and perform affordability checks.
Disputes can be escalated to the Financial Ombudsman Service, and firms must offer support to customers facing financial challenges.
The BNPL sector, valued at over £13 billion, includes usage by nearly 11 million UK adults as of May 2024.
Consumer groups like Which?, StepChange Debt Charity, and Citizens Advice have welcomed the changes, though affordability remains a concern.
Weight-loss injections are effective and can be transformative for users
Weight-loss injections are transforming lives, offering benefits beyond weight reduction for those with obesity and related health conditions.
Kelly from Sunderland lost four stone using these treatments but continued to incur high monthly costs to sustain them.
"I was using installments to pay for it. I couldn't justify spending all that money in one go."
"I know quite a few people who've had to come off the injections because of the price. I don't understand why they're so expensive."
Studies show that users experienced around a 15% reduction in body weight over a year, improving health factors like blood pressure, sleep disorders, and insulin resistance.
There's potential for reducing risks of heart attacks and strokes and aiding women with polycystic ovary syndrome in menstrual cycles and fertility.
Are weight-loss jabs worth the cost?
But behind the before and after photos, there’s another reality. Credit card statements. Overdraft alerts. Payment reminders.
The thousands now checking their bank apps as often as their scales. Most are asking the same question:
"If this is the only thing that’s worked…what happens if I can’t afford it anymore?"
Because the real cost of weight-loss injections in 2026 isn’t measured in pounds lost. It’s measured in interest charged. In minimum payments.
It’s measured in pounds owed.