KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 10 -- Often referred to as a 'miracle drug', glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications have seen a surge in popularity in recent years, fuelled by social media testimonials, influencer endorsements and viral before-and-after photos.

For many people, the appeal is obvious - a once-weekly injection that suppresses appetite and delivers weight loss results that typically take months of dieting and exercise.

But what began as a tightly regulated diabetes drug is now being sold - often cheaply and sometimes illegally - by unqualified providers, as GLP-1 medications are increasingly viewed as lifestyle solutions rather than serious medical interventions.

In some cases, counterfeit GLP-1 drugs are illegally marketed as au...