Patterns and perceptions of weight loss injection use in Australia and the UK

Millions of people in Australia and the UK are now buying weight-loss injections like Ozempic and Wegovy from online pharmacies, compounding chemists, and other unregulated sources. This survey of roughly 1,000 people in both countries aims to find out exactly who is using these drugs, how they are getting them, and what they think about them. The problem is urgent. More than 60% of adults in both countries are overweight, and over 30% live with obesity. Lifestyle changes alone are hard to sustain, but the new GLP-1 receptor agonists can produce sustained weight loss of 10–20%. However, soaring demand has caused global shortages, driven inappropriate use, and created a patchwork of access—private prescriptions in Australia, limited NHS clinics in the UK. Without equitable access, the potential to reduce rates of 13 types of cancer and other diseases will be missed. If this research succeeds, it will give health systems and regulators a clear picture of the real-world supply chain—where people are sourcing these drugs, what support they receive, and what barriers they face. That evidence could inform policies to ensure safe, fair access rather than leaving it to online marketplaces and compounding pharmacies.