One woman said she was hospitalized for an eating disorder after a telemedicine provider approved weight loss medication that her primary care physician had refused.
Despite her complaints after being discharged from the hospital, she was subsequently sent marketing promotions and discount codes by the same company known as Juniper.
Juniper continued to send Mr. Munch marketing promotions and discount codes. (Supplied)
In 2023, Claire Munk said she turned to telemedicine provider Juniper on the recommendation of a friend to lose weight after her GP refused to prescribe drugs like Ozempic because of her history of eating disorders.
Munk completed Juniper’s online questionnaire, revealing a history of mental health conditions including an eating disorder, severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Nevertheless, based on her body mass index, she was prescribed weight loss drugs without a video consultation, relying solely on her online answers.
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Juniper doctors can prescribe Ozempic-style medications such as Wigovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
It is part of EUC Management, also known as Eucalyptus, with operations in Australia, the UK, Germany and Japan.
Under the same umbrella, Pilot Inc. offers similar treatments for men, while Juniper Inc. targets women.
A recent Juniper ad was screenshotted in January 2026. (Provided by: Facebook)
Munch said the next few months were the worst years of her life, as her eating disorder returned after she took weight loss pills.
“I was extremely unwell…I spent about five months in the hospital all that year.”
she said.
She said that while the drug was not the direct cause of her hospitalization, it was a trigger and caused a series of related health problems.
ABC does not suggest that Juniper broke any laws.
Munch (left) and a friend in the hospital. (Supplied)
Apology followed by promotions and discount codes
After finally recovering, she contacted Juniper and expressed concerns about the prescription process.
She said she received a call within a week from Dr. Matt Vickers, the company’s clinical director, who apologized and told her he would conduct a root cause analysis of the incident.
“They offered to refund me the money I spent on drugs, and it was credited to my bank within a day,” she said.
However, after a few months, I started receiving discount codes and promotional emails encouraging me to re-register.
Juniper is a telemedicine company that held a Black Friday sale in November. (Supplied)
“I was really angry and upset…I felt like they hadn’t learned anything,” she said.
”It was manipulative and abusive and I didn’t want to go through this.”
“I had unsubscribed and had everything.”
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In a letter to Ms Munk, Dr Vickers said she would like to “again apologize for the unexpected negative experience” she endured after her first contact with the service.
She outlined some changes the company made in response to her complaint.
This included improved staff training and mandatory video calls between consultations, in line with best practice and Australian Medical Regulation Authority Medical Commission guidelines that came into force in September 2023.
In a statement to the ABC, Dr. Vickers said he could not comment on individual cases, but said Juniper is “committed to patient safety and regularly reviews our clinical and operational safety measures to ensure optimal patient care.”
“This includes mandatory training on patient risk factors and a separate audit process to monitor risks such as eating disorders,” he said in a statement.
“We are also continually reviewing our marketing processes to reduce the risk of communications reaching patients who do not need to receive them.”
But Munk remains concerned that not enough is being done. Receive ads on her social media algorithms.
This is an issue that the Eating Disorders Alliance has recently expressed concern about.
communication breakdown
Dr Michael Wright, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said Mr Munch’s case highlighted a lack of communication between some telehealth providers.
“There’s a real problem with these single conditions and online providers.”
he said.
“As a GP my first priority is patient safety and that should come before access and convenience.”
He said telemedicine had grown in popularity since the pandemic and could become “convenient”, but the RACGP was becoming increasingly concerned about some providers, such as Juniper.
“I think it’s very important that other health care providers, who in many cases operate outside of Medicare, are held to the same standards,” he said.
“These drugs are really effective and certainly have an effect, but they’re not suitable for everyone and certainly have some serious side effects.”
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Dr Terry Lynn South, RACGP, who specializes in obesity management, said weight loss drugs were important but still relatively new.
“It’s still early days where we need to look at this field and better understand these drugs, especially with regard to long-term use,” she said.
She believes Munk’s experience is likely one of many, as weight loss drugs become more widely available and more patients are asking how to get them.
“It’s terrible. It really hurts her feelings. Her experience is traumatic.”
she said.
“You can imagine how downtrodden she was.”
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The ABC contacted Federal Health Minister Mark Butler, who worked with the Therapeutic Goods Agency (TGA) to respond.
A spokesperson said in a statement that while there is no evidence of an increase in eating disorders associated with GLP-1 drugs, the Department of Health, Disability and Aging is aware of some reports.
The TGA has received five reports of eating disorders associated with GLP-1 therapeutics.
Three were related to semaglutide (two in 2023 and one in 2025), one to dulaglutide in 2018 and one to exenatide in 2012.
Exenatide is not currently registered with the TGA.
“The Department is aware that the Butterfly Foundation receives calls from people wishing to discuss GLP-1 drugs.”
said the spokesperson.
The Butterfly Foundation is a national charity for Australians suffering from eating disorders.
The TGA statement said it recognized “the national importance of ensuring all Australians have access to appropriate support and services for eating disorders at an affordable price”.
“TGA is in discussions with state and territory health departments and regulatory bodies, including AHPRA, to strengthen the integration of prescribing platforms and primary care,” the statement said.
Advertising remains a ‘major concern’
Munk said she is still often targeted with ads for weight loss pills on her social media feeds, but she actively tries to avoid them during her recovery.
“I keep a close eye on my social media, so if anything related to dieting or anything like that comes up, I make a quick move.”
she said.
She said that kind of advertising can be “very exciting” while she’s recovering and surrounded by a great team.
ABC recently reported on Juniper’s Black Friday sale. After the company advertised a discount code through marketing emails.
The Eating Disorders Academy of Australia and New Zealand, along with the Eating Disorders Families Association of Australia, have previously raised concerns that such marketing could target people who do not need the medication.
Juniper sent a variety of “Black Friday” sale content to patients. (Supplied)
Dr. South said the problem persists, with some telemedicine companies exploiting loopholes to circumvent strict advertising laws.
“We are concerned that all kinds of marketing around obesity management and weight, through social media and some algorithms, may actually be targeting vulnerable people,” she said.
“It is alarming and worrying that despite some checks and balances, marketing is coming at us.
“Some of these companies are finding direct-to-consumer advertising.”