GLP-1 drug prescribed to woman with eating disorder via telehealth
The ABC has learned of a young woman with anorexia nervosa who was prescribed an Ozempic-like drug through a telehealth clinic. Experts say the incident highlights the need for more oversight.
An Australian woman with a history of anorexia nervosa has been prescribed a GLP-1 drug, similar to Ozempic, through a telehealth service. This incident has raised concerns among health experts about the potential misuse of these medications and the need for better oversight. There are currently no endorsed national standards for telehealth clinics in Australia, although some are in development.
The woman, who had not been hospitalized since 2022, learned about GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs from a colleague and was targeted by an ad from a telehealth clinic on Instagram. Despite the lack of screening for eating disorders, she was prescribed the weight-loss drug during a phone consultation after lying about her health details.
Health experts have previously warned about the risks of using these drugs in individuals with eating disorders, but the woman's case highlights the urgent need for more stringent regulations and screening processes in the telehealth industry.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
