Weight loss drugs have been hailed by everyone from politicians to Hollywood A-listers.
Actress Rebel Wilson revealed they helped her maintain her slimmer figure, while Oprah Winfrey said their arrival “feels like a relief, like a redemption, like a gift.”
Although the use of Ozempic (a brand name of the drug semaglutide) may seem ubiquitous, there are strict criteria for accessing such treatments in the UK.
So, are weight loss shots right for you, and if so, how can you get them? Here are some questions to consider…
Oprah Winfrey said the arrival of weight-loss drugs “feels like a relief, like a redemption, like a gift.”
How much weight can I expect to lose?
The drugs mimic glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1, a hormone released by the gut when we eat. It deactivates hunger signals in the brain and stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.
While taking the drug, you will need to follow a low-calorie diet and exercise regularly. The combination produces an average reduction of 15% in body weight over 16 months.
Am I eligible to get it on the NHS?
Originally intended as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, NHS guidance says Ozempic should not be prescribed solely for weight loss, to protect supplies to diabetes patients.
However, Wegovy – another brand of semaglutide – is available on the NHS, but only to people suffering from problems caused by obesity, not just those who want to lose some weight.
Weight loss medications mimic glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone released by the gut when we eat. It deactivates hunger signals in the brain and stimulates the pancreas to release insulin.
Your GP might recommend semaglutide, given as an injection once a week, if diet and exercise have not worked on their own, you have health problems caused by your weight, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and you have a BMI of 35 or more (although this may vary for ethnic minorities).
A similar weight loss medication available on the NHS is liraglutide (also known by the brand name Saxenda), which requires daily injections. To be eligible, all of the following must be true: you must be up to 75 years old; have a BMI of 35 or more; you have high blood sugar levels; and have a high risk of heart problems, for example, because you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
What about a private prescription?
Even privately, you can get Wegovy just with an evaluation, a prescription, and ongoing support. Private doctors may be more discreet when it comes to your BMI, but should still take national recommendations into account.
When it comes to Ozempic, many private doctors follow the same principle of not prescribing it solely for weight loss, but some are willing to prescribe it to non-diabetics.
If you pay for your prescriptions on the NHS, Wegovy and Saxenda cost £9.90 per pack of four or five pre-filled pens. Privately, a four-week supply of Wegovy can start at £169 and a six-week supply of Saxenda costs around £230.
How long can I take it?
If you take Wegovy, you will be reviewed after six months and will usually only continue if you have lost at least 5 percent of your body weight in six months.
Under current guidelines, semaglutide is only available through the NHS for up to two years. However, this does not apply to private prescriptions and some experts anticipate that many patients will continue to take them for life, with two-thirds regaining their initial weight a year after stopping them.
Martin Whyte, associate professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Surrey, points out that the long-term use of medications for conditions such as diabetes and asthma “is never questioned…obesity is no different.” But he adds that semaglutide is “a treatment but not a cure.” Great efforts are needed to prevent obesity, at a social level.”
Why wouldn’t it be for me?
It is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Many people have also reported fatigue and headache.
What happens if I don’t get it?
Standard NHS advice is to reduce food intake by 600 calories a day to lose weight at a sustainable rate of 0.5 to 1kg per week (for most women, that will mean consuming no more than 1,400 calories a day ). Adults are also recommended to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week.
Other options include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and, for those with severe obesity (a BMI of 40 or more), bariatric surgery, but only when all appropriate non-surgical measures have been tried.