A major London hospital trust has issued a public warning after a series of AI-generated videos surfaced online falsely claiming its doctors are endorsing weight loss patches.
The videos, shared widely on social media platforms including Facebook and TikTok, appear to show two doctors wearing hospital scrubs applying patches to their stomachs and gradually losing weight. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said the content is fraudulent and misrepresents NHS clinicians.
In a statement, the trust said the videos “falsely claim a number of our clinicians are using and endorsing these products,” adding that none of the people named or shown are members of its staff. The trust confirmed it is actively working with social media platforms to have the videos removed and urged the public to report them.
The misleading clips are accompanied by captions that appear to be written by NHS staff promoting the products, further adding to their credibility. The trust stressed that NHS clinicians do not endorse or promote commercial weight loss products.
Speaking to the BBC, Dr Daghni Rajasingam, deputy chief medical officer at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said staff were “actively working” to get the content taken down. “They are fraudulent and they’re misleading. NHS clinicians would never endorse or promote commercial products such as this,” she said.
Dr Rajasingam also warned the public about the increasing sophistication of AI-generated content. “We have to be aware that AI-generated images can be very convincing,” she said, urging people to seek weight loss advice only from trusted NHS sources.
The product featured in the videos is understood to be marketed as a “natural herb” weight loss patch. The warning comes amid growing concern from health leaders about the risks of buying weight loss treatments through social media or unregulated online sellers.
A recent Ipsos poll of 2,161 adults, conducted for the Press Association, found that one in 10 people in Britain would consider buying weight loss drugs from platforms such as Facebook and TikTok or from unregistered online sellers if they were unable to obtain a prescription. While 26 per cent said they would only use weight loss injections if prescribed by a doctor, and 16 per cent would only obtain them from a pharmacy, 10 per cent said they would turn to social media or unregulated retailers.
National Pharmacy Association chairman Olivier Picard warned that demand for weight management treatments is expected to rise in the new year, increasing the risk of scams. “There is a risk of criminals trying to take advantage of this, with unscrupulous fake sellers seeking to cash in,” he said.
Mr Picard added that unregulated sellers not only break the law but can also pose serious health risks. He urged patients to seek treatment only through regulated pharmacies, either online or on the high street, noting that community pharmacies can provide safe, supported and sustainable weight management care where patients are eligible.
