The Gray Market for Weight-Loss Drugs: America's Underground Obesity Solution

In Missouri, Amy Spencer finds herself at the forefront of a burgeoning trend, what she refers to as the "wild west" of obesity medications. Every week, she injects herself with weight-loss drugs that mix various active ingredients, some of which are contending in clinical trials but not yet officially sanctioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Spencer, a pioneering figure in this unorthodox method, is among many Americans turning to the so-called "gray market" for these medicines, purchasing cheap active ingredients from unverified sources in China. This practice has drawn criticism from established drugmakers, like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, who argue it is both dangerous and against the law.

Though the cost of a homemade dose averages $50 monthly—a fraction of the regulated price—safety concerns mount as substances often labeled for "research purposes only" bypass formal scrutiny. Despite official admonitions, forums online flourish with users swapping advice on sourcing, buying, and testing these controversial drugs.

(With inputs from agencies.)