UK tourists warned over taking skinny jabs before travelling to Spain, Greece, Portugal

People using Ozempic to get beach body ready for summer have been warned. NHS doctors have urged people NOT to use skinny jabs and weight loss shortcuts to get prepared for a summer holiday abroad, where you'll be hitting the beach in June, July and August.

The stark warning of "life-threatening complications" comes just weeks before millions jet off on summer holiday. NHS England’s medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “Drugs should only be used by people prescribed them for obesity or diabetes.

“I’m worried about reports that people are misusing them – they are not intended as a quick fix for people trying to get ‘beach body ready’. Buying medication online without a doctor’s supervision can lead to complications and dangerous consequences.”

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The most popular European Union destinations for UK holidaymakers and tourists remains Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal and France. Dr Vicky Price, from the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “I and many other colleagues are very concerned about the increasing numbers of patients we are seeing with complications from new weight loss drugs they have purchased online.

“Sadly we are seeing serious, life-threatening complications including inflammation of the pancreas and alterations in blood salt levels in these patients who were not aware of the risk they were taking. There is a need for urgent regulation and control of access for weight loss drugs online to avoid more patients becoming unwell.”

Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.” London GP and founder of wellgoodwellbeing.com, Dr Zoe Watson, said: “Your body naturally produces an appetite regulating hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1.

“These jabs work by regulating your appetite, which can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight.”