People admit to not taking the drugs properly and many say they don’t get the support they need
Two-thirds of people on a popular weight loss medication rely on social media for advice as they feel ‘left to their own devices’, a study has found. New research from online pharmacy Phlo claims there’s a significant gap in day-to-day support for GLP-1 users in between clinical appointments.
GLP-1s are medications that mimic the natural GLP-1 hormone that regulates blood sugar and curbs appetite and are used to treat diabetes and aid weight loss. Phlo’s survey found almost three-quarters of people taking GLP-1s in the UK find it difficult to manage their treatment and fully understand their progress in between appointments.
65% turned to social media for reassurance and guidance, while 90% users say they trust all GLP-1 information they find on social media. Almost a third of the 1,000-people-wide study are said to be seeking answers on online forums, 29% on YouTube, and a fifth on TikTok.
This is despite clinicians’ warning that social media can be a poor substitute for medical advice on GLP-1s, with studies finding that information online can be incomplete or misleading, particularly around side effects and safe use.
More than a third rely on calendar reminders or phone alarms and a quarter use notepads or diaries to track their doses. The informal tracking methods have proven unreliable for many users, with more than half saying they’ve missed or delayed a dose.
Nearly a quarter even admit to only taking a dose when they feel that the effects are wearing off, rather than following the clinically recommended weekly schedule. Four in ten admit they have switched off phone alarms and forgotten, while the same proportion say they have misplaced or failed to update their notes.
Many also rely on partners, friends or family for reminders – despite clinical guidance recommending medication is usually taken at the same time each week.
Phlo have now launched BrightTrack to bring structure to the GLP-1 journey by tracking doses, monitoring symptoms, understanding progress, and providing clinicians’ advice.
Phlo aims to bring key health data into one place so users can spot patterns, build consistent routines and feel more confident managing their treatment.
NHS GP and private health consultant Dr Sara Kayat said: “It’s common for people on their GLP-1 journey to feel unsupported between appointments. Naturally, questions can come up day-to-day but not all providers offer an easy way to address them in the moment.
“Many people end up managing symptoms and progress on their own, turning to social media for reassurance or to sense-check symptoms or dosing. From a medical perspective, consistency plays an important role.
“Missed or delayed doses can inhibit the medication’s effectiveness, making it harder for people to build routines, monitor changes in appetite or symptoms and feel confident in their progress. “
BrightTrack is free to all GLP-1 users via The App Store and Google Play.
