The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has taken action against three companies for advertising prescription-only weight-loss drugs, which is illegal.
The watchdog banned the advertisements by MedExpress, SkinnyJab and CheqUp on various social media platforms, and they have withdrawn the advertisements.
MedExpress ran an advertisement of weight-loss injections for new mothers.
The ASA said the company had used a harmful gender stereotype which suggested that women should prioritise losing weight soon after giving birth.
SkinnyJab and CheqUp were censured for exploiting insecurities around body image to promote weight-loss drugs.
In SkinnyJab's video, the founder is seen talking about weight loss injections.
The company argued that it was an educational and informative resource, but ASA said it was an advertisement.
In CheqUp's Facebook advertisement, a woman is shown looking in the mirror with the quote: "I don't want to be skinny, I just don't want to be the biggest person in the room".
Complaints to the ASA said this suggested a stigma associated with being a certain size.
The GPhC, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued an updated joint notice in September, making clear that adverts for named prescription-only medicines for weight-management are prohibited.
