New figures show more than 45 million Britons are overweight or obese
Paramedics are facing an avalanche of weight-loss treatment emergencies, with an ambulance being dispatched nearly every five hours, new figures show.
Freedom of Information data gleaned from 14 ambulance services in the UK show almost 9,395 serious and potentially deadly adverse effects linked to weight loss drugs and treatments were logged from 2020 - 2026.
This is the equivalent to one call-out every five hours, 35 minutes.
These include dangerous black-market treatments ranging from illegal "skinny jabs”, fat-dissolving injections and Brazilian butt lifts (BBL's).
The news comes as figures show more than 45 million Britons are overweight or obese, while an estimated 1.6 million people have used licensed weight-loss jabs over the past year, there is still huge demand for slimming treatments.
Experts warn demand is also fuelling a deadly black market in counterfeit medicines and unregulated cosmetic treatments promoted on social media.
The figures include incidents linked to weight-loss injections, Brazilian butt lifts, fat-dissolving injections and the controversial weight loss jab 'Lemon Bottle'.
Lemon Bottle is increasingly being marketed online as a "fat-melting" injection despite regulators warning there is no evidence it works.
The product, widely advertised on social media and sometimes sold for as little as £50 a treatment, has been described by the General Pharmaceutical Council as something that could "cause serious harm."
Experts are also increasingly alarmed by “liquid” Brazilian But Lifts, where fillers rather than surgery are used to enlarge the buttocks.
Government-backed watchdog Save Face says it has helped more than 500 women suffering complications, from such interventions which also include breast enhancements, hip fillers, lip and facial fillers, and skin whitening drips.
Over half developed sepsis and 39 per cent needed corrective surgery.
Campaigners have been calling for tougher laws following the death of mother-of-five Alice Webb, believed to be the first person in Britain to die after a liquid BBL procedure.
Meanwhile counterfeit slimming medicines are flooding into Britain.
Freedom of Information data shows 18,316 illegal or unregulated weight-loss and diabetes medicines were seized at UK borders between January 2024 and June 2025 - around 34 every day.
And earlier this year the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency carried out its largest-ever seizure of illegal weight-loss medicines after raiding a Northamptonshire country estate, recovering around 12,000 doses of unlicensed weight loss drugs.
Dr Kathryn Basford, of online doctor service ZAVA, said: "With obesity prevalent across the UK, impacting millions of Brits, in combination with societal pressures to fit beauty standards, we are seeing many Brits turn to dangerous procedures and unregulated or even counterfeit products to get results."
She added: "It is vital that those seeking help with their weight speak to their GP or a qualified healthcare practitioner before starting treatment to ensure their treatment is safe, regulated and will be administered correctly and with care."
Dr Basford warned against buying slimming medicines from online marketplaces.
She said: "Obtaining weight-loss medications outside of licensed healthcare organisations is extremely risky."
She added: "Using these unregulated products can lead to serious health complications, so it's vital that people only use medications prescribed and dispensed by qualified healthcare professionals."
The research was based on Freedom of Information requests sent to UK ambulance services asking for incidents involving terms including "Brazilian Bum Lift", "Lemon Bottle", "fat dissolving injection" and "weight loss injection".
