Doctor issues serious warning over 'most powerful' weight-loss jab as fears it's becoming 'new steroids' grow

A doctor has shared a warning about the new wave of weight loss jabs, as a new medication has been dubbed the 'Godzilla of weight loss'.

GLP-1 medications are more in demand than ever, with drugs including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro becoming household names, but they're not without side effects and risks.

Originally designed as medication to treat Type 2 diabetes, the jabs are now frequently used by celebrities like Meghan Trainor, Amy Schumer, Greg Davies and more to achieve new slimline figures.

Now, Wegovy has become available on the NHS to those who meet strict requirements.

This new jab is known as Retatrutide, with experts predicting it will far surpass the current wave of jabs.

It promises to target three different hormone receptors which will suppress appetite and increase fat burning, whereas the others target just one or two hormone receptors.

Retatrutide is currently entering phase three of clinical trials, and people are counting down the days until it's up for grabs.

A doctor on TikTok has issued a stern warning that more isn't always more.

Dr Chris Raynor said: "Retatrutide is still in clinical trials, meaning real-world crash test results aren't in yet. Unlike established medications or surgeries, the downside can hit where you least expect - your overall durability and function.

"Here is a fact. More advanced doesn't always mean better.

The extra receptors targeted by these new triple agonists add complexity and possible side effects. Start by challenging flashy marketing and influencer advice and stick to regulated channels."

'Absolutely following the pattern of steroids'

Unfortunately, some people are so desperate for results that they're taking matters into their own hands and trying to get their hands on them early from some dodgy websites.

Dr Luke Turnock, a performance-enhancing drugs expert at the University of Lincoln, told The Sun: "In terms of distribution and prominence in gym culture, ‘reta’ is absolutely following the pattern of steroids.

“It may be one of the most ­prevalent enhancement drugs out there right now.

“Not only are gyms full of 'reta' users, but it is also being sold by various beauty clinics, beauty pages, and social media accounts.”

“Retatrutide is still an experimental medicine so may have long-term risks that are not yet fully understood," he added.

“Even if it does pass all clinical trials, the illicit market product will still have risks because purity is uncertain and doses recommended by sellers may be risky to use.”

These dodgy sellers are exploiting a legal loophole that exists because Retatrutide isn't licensed yet.

This means they can sell it for 'research purposes only', however some TikTok users have been banned from the platform for selling it.

As it stands, marketing unlicensed medication for human consumption is highly illegal.

'Sick all day every day'

The temptation was too much for one woman, who ordered the unregulated version to try.

She told the Daily Mail: "The dose was too much for me. All the familiar Mounjaro side-effects kicked back in and I felt sick all day every day from the moment I woke up in the morning to the moment I went to sleep.

"I tried everything to get rid of the nausea but it was relentless. Some days I had to work from my bed because I felt so ill. I persevered for three more weeks, but in the end I had to give up."

Elsewhere, Professor Ania Jastreboff, the lead investigator on the trial at Yale School of Medicine, added: "Obesity is a chronic disease, and people living with obesity deserve treatment options that match the complex biology of their neurometabolic disease.

"It was impressive to see that every dose of retatrutide resulted in clinically meaningful weight reduction for nearly all participants, and people with severe obesity on the highest dose lost on average 30 percent of their body weight over two years.

"Importantly, treatment with retatrutide not only resulted in robust weight reduction, but also in clear improvements in assessed cardiometabolic health measures.

"For patients I see in clinic, retatrutide may potentially be a highly impactful future tool to treat their obesity and transform their health trajectory."

LADbible Group has contacted Wegovy, Mounjaro and Eli Lilly for comment.