A woman who wanted to slim down before her holiday ended up seriously ill after buying weight-loss jabs online. Emma Dyer, 40, was tempted to try weight-loss injections but, after paying £85 for the treatment, she says it was the “worst decision” she has ever made

Emma was left collapsed on her bathroom floor being violently sick after finding it 'shockingly easy' to order weight-loss jabs online. She says no proof of identity, weight, BMI or any medical history was required.

“I just thought, everyone’s doing it. It felt safe because it’s so normal now,” said Emma who works for a cleaning company in Nottingham.

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When Emma’s weight loss treatment arrived, she says the instructions were unclear and poorly printed, leaving her confused about how to take it. “The instructions were really vague and hard to follow. I had to go on YouTube to work out what I was meant to do,” she said.

Emma believes the lack of clarity contributed to her taking the medication incorrectly, including not understanding that she should have started on a low dose. After initially feeling fine, Emma says her condition rapidly deteriorated.

“It was Easter Sunday and I became violently ill. I couldn’t keep anything down. I was throwing up constantly. I collapsed on the bathroom floor and was covered in vomit,” she said.

Emma says she was bedridden for five days, unable to eat, drink or even lift her head from the pillow. “I was so weak. I couldn’t even sit up. I thought I was a goner,” she said.

The experience became even more frightening when she began vomiting blood. “I threw up blood. I honestly thought that was it,” Emma said.

Emma says she was too ashamed to tell her family the truth about what had happened and initially lied, claiming she had a stomach bug. “I didn’t want to tell my mum. I just said it was sickness and diarrhoea because I was embarrassed,” she said.

Emma also says she had previously experienced anorexia and now believes she should never have been able to access prescription medication without proper checks or safeguarding. She says she feels she was not an appropriate candidate for the medication and believes she did not need it.

“I was probably about ten stone. I didn’t actually need these drugs. But I just wanted to lose weight so badly,” she said. Emma claims she contacted the provider after her reaction but says she received no support, reassurance or accountability. "They didn’t want to know. No refund, no responsibility. It felt like they just wanted a sale,” she said.

“You’re left to your own devices. When it goes wrong, you’ve got no one to speak to. It’s terrifying,” she said.

Despite her experience, Emma says she would not completely rule out weight-loss drugs in the future, but only if it was supplied with proper clinical oversight and ongoing support. “I wouldn’t rule it out completely. But I would only do it through someone who actually checks you properly and supports you throughout. I’d want to know I’m being looked after,” she said.

Emma is now urging others to be cautious and to ensure any treatment is accessed through regulated providers, with professional guidance before, during and after treatment. “These drugs are everywhere now. It makes people think they’re completely safe. But you don’t know how your body will react. People need proper checks and proper support,” she said.

Emma’s story comes as research from Well Pharmacy suggests millions may be willing to cut corners by avoiding health checks and advice in pursuit of fast weight loss. A new survey by the independent pharmacy chain found nearly half of adults say speed matters more than safety when it comes to losing weight, while nearly four in 10 say they would accept disruptive side effects if the pounds came off quickly.

Well Pharmacy says weight-loss medication should only ever be accessed through regulated pharmacies or licensed clinics, where treatment is overseen by a qualified healthcare professional and includes screening, monitoring and follow-up.

Mital Thakrar, Head of Private Services at Well Pharmacy, said: “Weight-loss medication shouldn’t be treated as a quick fix and it is not suitable for everyone. What’s worrying is how many people appear willing to rush in without research and consideration. These medicines should always be part of a clinically supported programme. That means full screening, understanding a patient’s wider health, monitoring side effects and supporting people through every stage of their journey.

"We keep in touch with our patients throughout their weight-loss journey, to make sure they are losing weight at a healthy pace and to support them in managing any side effects. It’s also important to make lifestyle changes to ensure weight loss is sustainable and results last.”