Woman issues warning after using stranger’s ‘before’ photo to buy Mounjaro
A woman is speaking out after her successful attempt to buy weight-loss drug Mounjaro by using a ‘before’ image of another person.
In recent years, the use of GLP-1 medication to lose weight has reached new heights of popularity.
And of course, things really ramped up when celebrities began to use the drugs and showed fans their shocking shedding of weight.
While many people have hailed drugs like Mounjaro for its weight loss, a lot of warnings have come out about the meds.
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In January, it was reported that 500,000 people in the UK were taking popular weight-loss drugs Wegovy or Mounjaro, with the Guardian branding the latter as the ‘King Kong’ of weight loss drugs.
Mounjaro was initially authorised for weight management and weight loss in the UK in November 2023, with the four-dose KwikPen version of Mounjaro for both diabetes and weight management approved for sale soon after.
But one mum says she was able to bulk-buy three months of Mounjaro injections online despite not meeting the requirements by using a stranger’s photos.
“I saw an investigation about Mounjaro on BBC News,” Louise Hill, 47, explained.
“It worried me how easily young girls could access the injections. I just wondered: ‘Has it really improved?’
“I’ve seen this site advertised on the TV a lot - so I thought I’d try them.”
Louise explained that while she was filling out the questionnaire consultation with an online retailer, she claimed to have been three stone heavier than her current weight.
However, Louise is actually a size 12, weighing 10st 6lbs, meaning she doesn’t need the treatment, but shared that she wanted to test out whether there were pitfalls in the application process.
When her boxes were delivered, it really hit home how easy it is to buy Mounjaro, sparking fear for teens in the UK.
She said: “It’s unopened medication, obviously, but I can’t stop thinking about how dangerous it is.
“Having suffered from bulimia in my teens - this would’ve been my dream.”
Even though it was regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council in February 2025 that online pharmacies must conduct in-person video consultations to verify a person’s situation, Louise said this did not happen during her May application.
After hearing about her friends being prescribed Mounjaro even though they were under the required BMI of 30, Louise wondered if she lied about her weight, could she also be prescribed the drugs.
She claimed on her form that she was 13 stone, using a stranger’s ‘before’ photos from a local gym’s Facebook page to back it up.
She explained her process, stating: "I put in a weight just over the 30 BMI.
“I screenshot some photos from Facebook - I wasn’t asked for proof of ID or face photos, so I cropped it from the neck down.
“Gyms will post ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of their clients, who are trying to lose weight.
“I found a random photo and used her ‘before’ picture.”
Because of this, she says she was able to buy the 2.5mg jabs.
What is even more shocking is that she says she could select ‘no’ to the company informing her GP of her £125 purchase.
While waiting to see whether the pharmacy would indeed check with her GP and refund her money for the order, she claims they did no such thing (as selected on the form) and she received a three months’ supply of 2.5mg injections in April.
Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, told Tyla: “Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is approved for weight management in adults with obesity – it is not for cosmetic weight loss.
"Mounjaro (tirzepatide) should only be used when prescribed by and with supervision of a licensed healthcare professional, and prescriptions should be fulfilled and supplied by registered pharmacies or providers.
"We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional to discuss any possible side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine.”
Britt Jones