A growing number of people turning to blockbuster GLP-1 drugs for weight loss are choosing to take them at tiny, unregulated doses, with one in seven American users now microdosing the medications, according to new data.
The 2025 survey from the health tracking app Evidant, which found that 12 percent of American adults are using GLP-1s, reveals a significant sub-trend: 14 percent of those users are microdosing. The practice, which involves taking doses far lower than those approved by regulators, is being propelled by celebrity endorsements and aggressive marketing from telehealth firms.
Celebrity Influence and Telehealth Promotions
Actress Rebel Wilson, the Chief Wellness Ambassador for telehealth giant Noom, has been a prominent advocate. “I’m a big fan of Noom’s philosophy that small steps can lead to big change… Noom’s Microdose GLP-1 Program follows the same idea: small doses that deliver big results,” Wilson has stated publicly. Other high-profile figures include Bravo host Andy Cohen, who said a microdose “kickstarted something” for him, and model Brooks Nader, who admitted to microdosing a GLP-1 drug, calling it her “crutch” and noting her modelling career “skyrocketed” after she lost 30 pounds using the medications.
Companies like Noom are capitalising on this demand, offering programs that pair microdosed, compounded GLP-1 injections with behavioural coaching apps. Noom’s “Microdose GLP-1Rx Program” starts at $119 for the first month. The company states it partners with an FDA-regulated facility that adheres to manufacturing standards and emphasises sterility.
The Unregulated World of Compounded Microdoses
This commercial drive is focusing on what experts call a dangerous grey market. Microdoses are typically created as “compounded drugs” – custom-made by licensed pharmacists who split larger, FDA-approved doses into smaller ones. However, these compounded versions are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, meaning they bypass rigorous checks for safety, effectiveness, or quality.
The FDA is now taking action to curb their use. The agency stated last week that companies are only permitted to make and sell compounded GLP-1s when there is a shortage of the approved drugs, and it confirmed there is currently no such shortage. In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) similarly cautions against unassessed dosing strategies, stating GLP-1 medicines are not authorised for non-standard or cosmetic use.
Medical experts warn the risks are severe and multifaceted. “I don’t recommend using compounded versions of these medications because they’re untested – both in their effectiveness and their safety,” said Dr. W. Scott Butsch, Director of Obesity Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic’s Bariatric and Metabolic Institute.
Dr. John Cleek, an obesity medicine specialist at Novant Health, echoed the concern, stating, “Most people usually aren’t okay with injecting themselves with a random unknown drug. But that’s essentially what you’re doing if you use a compounded GLP-1 drug.” He and others warn that these custom mixes may contain undisclosed or dangerous additives that could interact with other medications.
The dangers are not just theoretical. Drugs not produced in a sterile environment can lead to bacterial infections. Furthermore, measurement errors when splitting doses can lead to accidental overdose. Brown Health reported a nearly 1,500 percent increase in calls related to accidentally overdosing on injected weight-loss drugs in 2023.
There is also no scientific evidence that microdosing works for weight loss. Brand-name GLP-1 medications underwent extensive clinical trials, but microdosing is based solely on anecdote. Dr. Butsch also dismisses the idea that microdosing helps avoid side effects like nausea, explaining that a reduced dose may cause the drug to leave the system too quickly, causing side effects to return with each new dose instead of improving over time as they typically would with a steady, prescribed regimen.
The UK Context and Lifestyle Alternatives
In the UK, GLP-1 drugs are prescription-only and licensed for specific medical conditions, primarily type 2 diabetes and weight management in individuals meeting strict National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria. The NHS faced significant supply shortages between 2023 and 2025, partly driven by off-label demand, though these were reported resolved by early 2025. Access remains tightly controlled, with NHS prescriptions costing the standard charge, while private treatment can cost between £150-£300 per month for medication alone.
Against this backdrop, many specialists argue that for many, the complex risks of microdosing are entirely unnecessary. They stress that foundational lifestyle changes should be the first and primary strategy, especially for those seeking to lose smaller amounts of weight.
“The wider problem with microdosing is that weight-loss benefits don’t outweigh the risks,” doctors note. Dr. Katy Williams, a bariatric medicine specialist at University of Missouri Health Care, advises, “Work on your lifestyle first. Your doctor or a weight loss specialist will absolutely be able to find places where you can make meaningful lifestyle changes that can result in five to 10 pounds of weight loss.” This is particularly relevant for those trying to lose less than 5 percent of their body weight.
Experts also highlight another often-overlooked risk of GLP-1 use generally: the loss of lean muscle mass, which can constitute up to 15-40 percent of the weight lost. This underscores the importance of a managed approach incorporating adequate protein and resistance training, far removed from the unmonitored experiment of microdosing a compounded drug.