The central government has instructed states and union territories to enhance oversight of how GLP-1 weight-loss medications are distributed and promoted. Regulators have been told to take action against misleading campaigns that encourage the use of these prescription drugs without medical supervision. Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel informed the Rajya Sabha that GLP-1 receptor agonists are approved only for treating Type 2 diabetes and managing chronic weight in certain patients.
These medications can only be prescribed by specialists such as endocrinologists or internal medicine doctors, according to telanganatoday.com. The approved product information includes warnings to ensure these drugs are not misused and to reduce risks from unsupervised consumption. Patel responded to questions about whether awareness campaigns were crossing boundaries in promoting weight-loss drugs.
She said the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation issued an advisory on March 10, 2026, requiring manufacturers and importers to follow strict guidelines. The directive emphasized that these drugs must be sold only for their approved uses and not promoted in ways that mislead consumers. Another advisory from March 27, 2026, instructed state regulators to monitor the entire supply chain of GLP-1 drugs more closely.
They were also told to ensure that only authorized channels distribute these medications and to act against any diversion into unregulated markets. State regulators were instructed to watch all forms of advertising including digital platforms for misleading or surrogate promotional content. They are also expected to enforce laws against objectionable advertisements and take action when violations occur.
In the UK, the Gibraltar Health Authority is considering offering oral GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, according to a report from chronicle.gi. The decision will depend on NHS guidance, licensing status, local availability and cost considerations. Dr Helen Carter, the Director of Public Health in Gibraltar, said new pill forms of GLP-1 drugs are being discussed by the authority’s Drugs and Therapeutics Committee.
She noted that these treatments have already changed how weight management is approached in the region. Previously, the focus was mainly on bariatric surgery for obesity treatment. Dr Carter said that while oral pills are now being tested in clinical trials, they won’t be available through the NHS until assessed by NICE.
She added that more drugs may become available for long-term treatment after initial weight loss phases. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the UK recently approved the first semaglutide tablet for weight management. Unlike injections, these pills do not require refrigeration, making them easier to store and use.
The GHA currently uses different GLP-1 medications for various purposes based on patient criteria. Patients must meet specific conditions such as a BMI between 35 and 40 with one comorbidity or a BMI over 40 without one. Mounjaro is currently used only for diabetes due to global stock issues, while Wegovy is used for weight management.
Currently, 438 patients in Gibraltar are prescribed Wegovy through the GHA. Dr Carter said that as more treatments become available and costs decrease, the criteria for prescribing these drugs may change. She emphasized that patients must be assessed before starting treatment and monitored during use.
She warned against self-medication, stressing the importance of medical supervision. Adverse effects are tracked through systems like the UK’s MHRA Yellow Card scheme. Deaths have been associated with GLP-1 use, especially cases involving inflammation of the pancreas called pancreatitis.
Dr Carter said that while some patients may experience weight gain after stopping treatment, this is a known risk. She also raised concerns about people severely restricting their diets while on these medications. The drugs affect hormones related to hunger and can lead to problems if essential nutrients are not consumed properly.
She noted that most deaths were associated with pancreatic inflammation rather than other complications. Researchers are also studying how GLP-1 drugs may affect testosterone levels in men, NDTV reported. Men with obesity or diabetes often have low testosterone, which these drugs might help improve.
However, experts caution against calling them testosterone boosters since their possible hormonal benefits may be due to metabolic improvements. Studies have shown that total testosterone levels increased in men taking GLP-1 drugs, particularly those with obesity or diabetes. The effect on free testosterone was less consistent and may not reflect the same benefits.
One study compared liraglutide with testosterone therapy in men with functional hypogonadism. Both treatments led to increases in testosterone levels over time. Liraglutide also raised hormones like luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone involved in natural reproductive signaling.
Testosterone replacement therapy can suppress the body’s own hormone production, which may affect fertility. Early research suggests that GLP-1 drugs might influence male fertility through hormonal changes, though more studies are needed. The relationship between GLP-1 therapy and reproductive health remains an area of ongoing investigation.
IMAGE: ANUPRIYA PATEL MINISTER OF STATE OF FAMILY AND HEALTH. Photo: Shabu naqvi / Wikimedia, taken 2016-09-12, CC BY-SA 4.0