Here’s a startling truth: the rise of telehealth clinics prescribing weight-loss medications like GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) is sparking serious concern among Australia’s leading eating disorder advocates. But here’s where it gets controversial—while these medications promise rapid weight loss, the lack of rigorous oversight is putting vulnerable individuals at risk, particularly those with a history of eating disorders. The Butterfly Foundation reports a surge in calls from worried patients, families, and carers, raising alarms about the potential misuse of drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro.
The issue? A significant number of patients are accessing these medications through online-only telehealth platforms such as Juniper or Mosh, which operate largely outside the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This creates a troubling gap in data collection, making it nearly impossible to track who is being prescribed these powerful drugs and under what circumstances. And this is the part most people miss—without mandatory comprehensive medical assessments, individuals with eating disorders or mental health conditions may slip through the cracks, potentially leading to dangerous outcomes.
Dr. Sarah Trobe, a clinical psychologist and director of the National Eating Disorder Collaboration, highlights the dilemma: “People with eating disorders often won’t disclose their struggles because they want access to these medications. We’re relying on the few who do come forward, but it’s clear these drugs aren’t being regulated nearly enough—not even close.”
A recent ABC report underscores the risks, detailing the case of a woman who accessed GLP-1 RAs via telehealth despite disclosing a history of disordered eating and mental health issues. Her eating disorder relapsed, resulting in hospitalization. Eucalyptus, the parent company of Juniper, was named as the clinic that issued the prescription. While Eucalyptus’s clinical director, Dr. Matt Vickers, asserts that the company screens for disordered eating and provides mandatory practitioner training, critics argue that telehealth consultations alone may not be sufficient to identify at-risk patients.
Here’s the kicker—many large clinical trials for GLP-1 medications exclude participants with mental health conditions to maintain controlled results. But what happens when someone with severe depression or an eating disorder takes these drugs? The long-term impacts remain largely unknown, leaving advocates like Dr. Trobe deeply concerned.
The Eating Disorders Alliance is urging the government to tighten regulations for doctors operating outside the MBS and to mandate comprehensive medical assessments for telehealth patients seeking weight-loss medications. “You really need to eyeball someone,” Dr. Trobe emphasizes. “It’s not just about weight—it’s about assessing physical comorbidities like fatty liver or high blood pressure. An informed care team, including a dietitian, GP, and mental health support, is essential.”
This debate raises a critical question: Are we prioritizing convenience over patient safety in the era of telehealth and rapid weight-loss solutions? What do you think? Is the current system doing enough to protect vulnerable individuals, or is more regulation needed? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation we can’t afford to ignore.
