London hospital issues alert over 'fraudulent' AI-generated videos appearing to show doctors using weight loss patches

"We are aware of multiple videos circulating on social media, promoting weight loss patches, that falsely claim a number of our clinicians are using and endorsing these products. We can confirm these videos are fraudulent, and the people named and pictured are not members of our Trust staff. We are working to get these videos taken down, and encourage people to report them to the social media platform they appear on."

"This misleading claim poses risks, as it might tempt users to abandon their prescribed treatments in favour of these patches. Not only is there little evidence to support the patches' effectiveness, but switching to these patches could lead to significant setbacks. Users may regain weight and be forced to restart their weight loss treatment from scratch, potentially losing both progress and money."

"In another video, a man appears to be applying the patches, but social media users were warned it is AI-generated The online pharmacy also warns that the patches are being marketed by paid influencers, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the advertising campaigns in which consumers are seeing them. Despite being touted as a cheaper alternative to the injections, which are strictly regulated, the pharmacy warns that the patches don't actually contain any GLP-1 ingredients."

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust warned about multiple fraudulent AI-generated videos on social media that promote weight loss patches and falsely claim clinicians use and endorse them. The Trust confirmed the people named and pictured are not members of its staff and said it is working to have the videos removed while encouraging reporting to the hosting platforms. An additional video showing a man applying patches was flagged as AI-generated. An online pharmacy warned the patches are marketed by paid influencers, do not contain GLP-1 ingredients, and could tempt users to abandon prescribed, regulated treatments, risking weight regain, treatment restart, and financial loss.

Read at www.standard.co.uk