Study finds limited oversight in online GLP-1 prescribing
Yale researchers found many websites prescribed GLP-1 drugs after questionnaires, with few requiring video or phone visits with a clinician.
By Priya Raghavan · Science Reporter
2 min read
Many online sellers prescribed GLP-1 drugs to a simulated patient with little direct medical review, according to a Yale University School of Medicine study published in JAMA. The findings raise questions about how quickly some websites are supplying widely used weight-loss and diabetes medicines.
Ashwin K. Chetty and colleagues at Yale tested 49 websites from August through December 2025 using a patient profile designed to meet criteria for a GLP-1 prescription, according to the study. The researchers used a “secret shopper” approach, meaning the websites were assessed as if a real patient were seeking medication.
Of the 49 websites, 45 issued a prescription, the researchers reported. Thirty-four sent the medication by mail.
The study found that direct contact with a clinician was often not required. According to the researchers, 13 websites required a video visit with a clinician, while three required a phone call.
Many sites relied on online intake forms instead, the Yale team reported. The authors said those questionnaires may fail to gather clinical and social history that can affect whether a drug is appropriate or safe for a patient.
Fast approvals, limited contact
The study said many prescriptions were approved within five minutes or less. That happened even in some cases where required photographs had not been submitted, according to the researchers.
GLP-1 receptor agonists have become widely sought through online platforms, and the authors said those services can broaden access. Their concern, as described in JAMA, is that some sites appear to put rapid prescribing ahead of more complete care.
The authors also pointed to compounded GLP-1 products as an area of concern. They warned that limited clinician involvement in prescribing, particularly for compounded versions, could raise the chance of medical or financial harm.
The study did not report that every online provider used the same process. It found wide variation across websites, with some requiring clinician contact and others issuing prescriptions based largely on submitted forms.
The paper, “Online Prescribing of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists,” was published in JAMA by Chetty and co-authors. Its DOI is 10.1001/jama.2026.9131.
This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.