UK ASA Bans Nine Prescription-Only Weight-Loss Jab Ads Including Gemma Collins

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned nine advertisements promoting prescription-only weight-loss medications, including a video post by TV personality Gemma Collins for the digital healthcare brand Yazen. The ASA emphasized that injectable weight-loss drugs are prescription-only and cannot be advertised directly to the public, a rule that was reinforced after warnings issued in December. Collins' Instagram video, which described her weight loss success with Yazen's app and medication, was deemed to breach advertising rules by encouraging consumers to seek prescription medications. Following complaints, Collins and Yazen amended the post to remove references to prescription drugs and pledged compliance with ASA guidelines moving forward. The ASA also consulted the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which expressed concern that such ads could mislead consumers into requesting prescription medications inappropriately. Other banned ads included paid promotions from CheqUp Health, HealthExpress.co.uk, Juniper UK, and Phlo Clinic, all for promoting prescription-only weight-loss injections to the public.