6 January 2026
They may be cheaper, but are they safe?
The Malaysian Obesity Society (MYOS) wishes to issue a public health warning regarding the increasing availability of unregulated GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and GLP-1/GIP ( co-agonist compounds sold through online shopping platforms, social media, and non-medical channels.
These products are often marketed as “weight loss injections,” “research peptides,” or “compounded alternatives” and may be sold without prescription, medical supervision, or regulatory approval. While MYOS is a proponent of evidence-based treatment of clinical obesity with obesity management medications (OMM’s), we are deeply concerned about the safety, quality, and legality of these unregulated products.
Many of these products are not registered with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), produced without good manufacturing practice oversight, distributed without appropriate cold-chain maintenance, of uncertain purity, potency, and stability. Some of these products may contain incorrect doses, contaminants, or entirely different substances from what is stated on the label.
There is risk of serious medical harm with improper intake of these medications. GLP-1/GIP–based therapies are potent prescription medications that affect appetite regulation, gastric emptying, insulin secretion, and glucagon suppression. Inappropriate or unsupervised use can lead to severe nausea, vomiting, dehydration, hypoglycaemia (especially in people with diabetes on certain medications), pancreatitis or gallbladder disease, worsening of existing medical conditions, and/or dangerous interactions with other medications
These risks are magnified when usage is not supervised and products are sourced from unverified suppliers.
Safe use of GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP therapies requires proper patient selection, dose titration, monitoring for side effects and complications. Online or unregulated sales bypass these safeguards entirely.
Certain products labelled as “Compounded”, “For research use only”, “Peptide version” do not guarantee safety or equivalence to approved medications. In many cases, these labels are used to circumvent regulation and mislead consumers.
Some parties have promoted compounded medications as lower-cost alternatives to pioneer drugs, often citing affordability and access. However, global health authorities including the World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) have cautioned against the use of unregulated and compounded weight-loss injections, highlighting concerns over safety, quality, and lack of oversight. There have been reports of compounds that did not contain the stated active molecule, leading to adverse events in end users.
The Malaysian Obesity Society
Does not endorse the purchase or use of GLP-1RA or GLP-1/GIP compounds from unregulated sources
Strongly advises the public to avoid online or non-medical sales of injectable weight-loss medications
Emphasises that obesity is a chronic medical condition that requires evidence-based, medically supervised care
Approved medications should only be prescribed by qualified healthcare professionals, obtained through legitimate pharmacies, and used as part of a comprehensive obesity management plan.
Safe and effective obesity treatment begins with informed choices. While MYOS recognises the importance of improving access to evidence-based obesity care, this must always be done within a regulated and medically supervised framework. We encourage individuals to ask questions, verify sources, and seek advice from qualified healthcare professionals before using any weight-loss medication. Protecting your health means choosing treatments that are safe, regulated, and supported by sound medical evidence.
