The jab is also known as Godzilla or Triple G
A weight-loss doctor has issued an urgent warning as desperate slimmers turn to illegal “Godzilla” fat jabs circulating on social media – some of which have been linked to counterfeit factories and unregulated online sellers. As party season approaches, pressure mounts to look slimmer for family photos, work dos and festive gatherings.
But experts say that means people are being lured into buying fake versions of retatrutide – a powerful triple-hormone drug still in clinical trials and not approved anywhere in the world. Recent UK reports revealed that more than £250,000 worth of counterfeit weight-loss pens labelled as tirzepatide and retatrutide were seized in a covert Northampton factory.
Authorities have warned that social media has become a “wild west” for buyers searching for dramatic pre-Christmas results. Prof Franklin Joseph, founder of Dr Frank’s Weight Loss Clinic, says the combination of seasonal pressure and unrealistic expectations is pushing some towards dangerous, unregulated options.
“This is the time of year when people panic,” Prof Joseph said. “They want to turn up to Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve looking slimmer, and viral posts convince them there’s a quick fix.
“But these so-called ‘Godzilla jabs’ being sold online are fake, untested and potentially harmful.”
Retatrutide – nicknamed the “Godzilla” or “Triple-G” jab due to early trial results showing significant weight loss – is still strictly experimental. Yet counterfeit versions are being sold through online and social media shops, Telegram groups and private accounts, often with no medical assessment, no batch control and no legal oversight.
Prof Joseph says the festive timing amplifies the risk. “December is the perfect storm,” he explained. “People have back-to-back parties, tighter clothes, family they haven’t seen all year, and suddenly an influencer is telling them they can lose a stone in a month. It’s a fantasy – and criminals know exactly how to exploit it.”
The dangers of retatrutide
Fake jabs may contain:
- Incorrect doses
- No active ingredient at all
- Contaminated mixtures
- Other drugs entirely – including insulin, which can cause dangerous hypoglycaemia
Authorities have repeatedly warned that buying unlicensed medicines online is not only illegal but, more importantly, can carry serious health risks. People assume the biggest risk is that the jab won’t work,” Prof Joseph said. “But the real danger is what’s actually inside that pen.
“Some contain unknown chemicals, bacteria or the wrong hormone entirely. It’s simply not worth the risk for a temporary festive panic.”
Rather than chasing last-minute miracle fixes, Prof Joseph says simple, evidence-based strategies can make a big difference in the final weeks of the year: “There is no Christmas miracle jab,” he said. “But there are safe, medically-supervised treatments and sensible habits that prevent weight gain and protect your health. Don’t gamble your wellbeing for a party photo.”
