Telehealth prescription of GLP-1 weight-loss drug to anorexia patient sparks regulatory outcry
A 25-year-old Australian woman with a history of anorexia obtained a GLP-1 weight-loss injection through an online telehealth service, prompting experts to demand tighter oversight.
Kate, a 25-year-old who was last hospitalised for anorexia in 2022, discovered GLP-1 receptor agonists through a colleague and was targeted by an Instagram advertisement from an unnamed telehealth clinic. After a brief phone interview she misrepresented her health status, underwent a blood test and was issued a prescription for a weight-loss injection similar to Ozempic. Experts such as Sarah Trobe and Trevor Steward note that screening for eating disorders is rarely performed in such settings and warn that the drugs can exacerbate nutritional deficiencies.
Independent MP Monique Ryan has urged the health minister to launch an inquiry into telehealth prescribing practices, citing conflicts of interest and lack of Medicare data. The federal government is drafting national virtual-care standards, but they are not slated for release until the end of next year. Meanwhile, the patient has discontinued the medication with help from her regular GP and is speaking out to raise awareness.
Why it matters
It shows how easy access to powerful weight-loss drugs via telehealth can endanger vulnerable patients without proper screening.
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