FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Minority Quality Forum Launches “Health Not Hype” Campaign During Obesity Care Week to Warn Patients About Risks of Compounded GLP-1 Drugs

Washington D.C. [March 6, 2025] — The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) today announced the launch of its “Health Not Hype” campaign during Obesity Care Week to raise awareness about the growing public health risks associated with compounded GLP-1 medications and to help patients make informed decisions about obesity treatment.

GLP-1 receptor agonist medications have transformed care for millions of Americans living with obesity and related chronic conditions. However, a rapidly expanding marketplace of compounded versions of these medicines—often marketed online and through telehealth platforms—has introduced new safety concerns for patients seeking affordable or faster access to treatment.

Recent reports indicate that more than 8,000 Maryland residents may have experienced adverse health effects related to compounded GLP-1 products in 2024. Maryland Poison Control has reported a more than 1,500 percent increase in calls related to compounded GLP-1 medications since 2020. State and federal policymakers are increasingly responding to the issue, including new legislation introduced in Kentucky following a case in which a patient suffered acute liver failure requiring a transplant after taking a compounded weight-loss medication.

“These medicines represent one of the most significant breakthroughs in obesity treatment in decades,” said Gary A. Puckrein, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Minority Quality Forum. “But the explosion of compounded alternatives being sold online has created a dangerous information gap for patients. Health Not Hype is about making sure people understand the difference between medically supervised, FDA-approved therapies and unregulated products that may put their health at risk.”

Compounded drugs are custom-prepared medications mixed by pharmacists or physicians for individual patients when clinically necessary. Unlike FDA-approved medications, compounded drugs are not reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration for safety, quality, or effectiveness before they are marketed. Health authorities have warned that some compounded GLP-1 products may contain incorrect doses, different chemical formulations, or additional ingredients whose safety and effectiveness have not been established. Studies and safety reports have linked some of these products to dosing errors, severe side effects, hospitalizations, and other adverse outcomes. Federal regulators have also begun to increase enforcement actions against companies promoting compounded GLP-1 drugs with misleading claims about safety and equivalence to approved medicines.

The Health Not Hype campaign will deliver evidence-based information to patients, caregivers, clinicians, and community leaders through a national communications initiative led by NMQF’s Center for Communications and Public Affairs and the ForYourHealth.News platform. The campaign will include patient education resources, expert interviews, collect patient stories, social media outreach, educate policymakers, and work with patient advocates and community organizations. The campaign is particularly important for communities of color and other populations that often face barriers to accessing specialty care and safe medications.

“Patients deserve access to effective obesity treatment—but they also deserve transparency about what they are putting in their bodies,” said Adjoa Kyerematen, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs. “Our goal is to replace hype with trusted health information so patients can work with their doctors to choose safe, evidence-based therapies.”

The campaign launched during Obesity Care Week, a global awareness initiative focused on improving access to evidence-based obesity treatment and combating stigma around the disease. More information about the Health Not Hype campaign and patient education resources is available at www.healthnothype.org.

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Media Contact:
Adjoa Kyerematen
Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications
National Minority Quality Forum
akyerematen@nmqf.org | (202) 220-8505

About NMQF:
Founded in 1998, the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is a United States-based health care research, education, and advocacy organization whose mission is to reduce patient risk and advance health equity by ensuring optimal care for all. NMQF utilizes data and research to support and mobilize healthcare organizations, leaders, policymakers, and patients in advocating for biologically-aligned care that reduces hospitalizations, disabilities, and deaths while promoting high-quality, long lives, particularly for the most vulnerable. For more information, visit www.nmqf.org.