A woman with a history of anorexia nervosa says she obtained a prescription for a GLP‑1 receptor agonist through an online clinic after two telephone consultations and a blood test, prompting experts to call for tighter oversight of telehealth services that prescribe injectable weight‑loss drugs.
Patient safety concerns over remote prescribing
The patient, identified only as "Kate" in reporting, told the ABC she had been hospitalised for her eating disorder in 2022 and had since been managed by a general practitioner and broader health team. She said she saw an advertisement for a telehealth clinic on Instagram, booked an online appointment and was prescribed a medication from the GLP‑1 class — drugs sold under brand names such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro — after a second phone consultation and routine blood work.
"I booked my initial consultation and after that appointment it was criminally easy to access the medications," she said.
GLP‑1 receptor agonists are proven to help with weight regulation and can improve outcomes in several obesity‑related conditions. However, clinicians and advocates warn these agents can be harmful when used by people with active or recent eating disorders, as they may exacerbate malnutrition and other complications.
Experts urge better screening and regulation
Health professionals cited in the report say the case underscores a broader problem: online clinics may not consistently screen for psychiatric vulnerabilities, including eating disorders, before prescribing potent weight‑loss medicines. In this case, the patient admitted she lied about aspects of her medical history during the telehealth consultation and that she was not screened for an eating disorder by the clinician.
Advocates have also questioned the role of targeted advertising. While direct promotion of prescription medicines to consumers is restricted in some jurisdictions, companies can run so‑called "disease awareness" campaigns that encourage people to seek medical advice — a tactic critics say can be used to steer vulnerable people toward online services and prescriptions.
Scope and stakes
The ABC report notes that in Australia more than 1.1 million people are estimated to be living with an eating disorder and that women are about twice as likely as men to be affected. Eating disorders are complex psychiatric illnesses with potentially life‑threatening medical consequences; experts say inappropriate prescribing of appetite‑suppressing agents can worsen outcomes.
| Statistic | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Estimated people with eating disorders (Australia) | 1.1 million+ |
| Relative prevalence — women vs men | Approximately 2× |
Clinicians caution that missing or incomplete assessments in telehealth settings can lead to inadequate identification of eating disorders, psychiatric comorbidities or medical instability that would ordinarily require in‑person evaluation or multidisciplinary management.
- Telehealth clinics may not be consistently screening for eating disorders before prescribing GLP‑1 drugs.
- Targeted online advertising can channel vulnerable people toward remote prescribing services.
- Experts call for clearer regulatory standards and safeguards for remote prescribing of weight‑loss medications.
Calls for policy action and clinical safeguards
Health experts featured in the story argue regulators should set stronger rules for telehealth platforms that dispense GLP‑1 medications, including mandatory screening for active eating disorders, requirements for documented multidisciplinary oversight and tighter controls on advertising that could encourage inappropriate use.
They also stress the need for education among prescribers and patients about the risks these drugs pose when used by individuals with eating disorders. For patients with complex psychiatric and medical needs, clinicians recommend integrated care involving mental‑health specialists, dietitians and primary care providers rather than one‑off remote consultations.
The account raises questions about how telemedicine growth can be balanced with patient safety. As demand for GLP‑1 therapies increases globally, regulators, clinicians and patient advocates are urging measures to prevent harm among people with histories of disordered eating who may be particularly susceptible to adverse effects from weight‑loss medications.
