Online trade 'It just feels like it is price led'

After Andy King was told he was not eligible to receive weight-loss jabs on the NHS, he turned to the internet to order them privately.

- Nicola Davis

After Andy King was told he was not eligible to receive weight-loss jabs on the NHS, he turned to the internet to order them privately. But before long, he was inundated with promotions.

"Every other ad on my social media feed is an offer to have a Black Friday deal on the drugs," he said. In a video call with the Guardian, King, a 59-year-old leisure management consultant and coach, demonstrated what happens when he looks for such medications.

Opening a search engine, he typed three words: "Weight loss drugs." The results were myriad, with links to high street pharmacies offering the jabs, together with prices and discounts.

"Weight Loss Injections - Black Friday - Save £20," the first result read, with a link to Lloyds Pharmacy. Below, an ad from Superdrug read: "Multiple weight loss treatments available. New customers get 10% off with code..."

"It's just full of price-led offers for the drug," said King.