The NHS could consider offering weight-loss medications at pharmacies as part of a multi-million pound pilot scheme to combat obesity in Britain. Among these weight loss jabs is Wegovy.
Since July 2024, Wegovy has been approved to help lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people with circulatory and heart diseases, those with a BMI of more than or equal to 27, and those struggling to lose weight.
But what is this “skinny jab”, how does it work, and what are its side effects?
What is Wegovy?
In technical terms, Wegovy is the brand name for a drug named semaglutide. It is also sold under the name Ozempic.
The medicine is dispensed via a pre-filled injector pen which can be injected under the skin in the upper arms, stomach, thighs, or buttocks.
A trial run by Novo Nordisk, a Danish company that also manufactures Ozempic, found in 2021 that when Wegovy was used for 15 months with lifestyle support from a professional, patients lost on average 15 per cent of their body weight.
In comparison, those in the study who were given placebo injections only lost 2.4 percent of their body weight.
Nick Finer, honorary clinical professor at the National Centre for Cardiovascular Prevention and Outcomes at University College London, said: “The efficacy of semaglutide is a true game-changer for the medical treatment of obesity, a chronic disease that shortens life through its many complications.”
Semaglutide has received various high-profile celebrity endorsements, with figures such as Twitter boss Elon Musk claiming to have used the drug. A Twitter user asked Mr Musk last October how he remained “fit, ripped, and healthy”, to which he replied “fasting” and “Wegovy”.
How does Wegovy work?
Wegovy works through appetite suppression. It does this by mimicking a hormone named glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) that is normally released after eating.
This makes patients feel full, reducing hunger and cravings for fatty or sugary foods.
The injectable also reduces blood sugar by promoting the release of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. It is for this reason that it is often used to treat type 2 diabetes.
This is different from Zepbound and Mounjaro which are the brand names for tirzepatide.
Who can use Wegovy?
Wegovy has been prescribed to those with weight-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or clinically diagnosed obesity.
Injections like Wegovy may be coming to pharmacies soon and will be able to be bought at a prescription price following a short pharmacy consultation.
Does Wegovy have any side effects?
Wegovy can cause some side effects. The most common side effects of semaglutide are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Other side effects, though far rarer, include gall bladder disease, kidney, and pancreas issues.
It is important to remember that Wegovy has only been used as a treatment for obesity for around two years, so its long-term effects are still being studied.
Ozempic has been reported to offer slightly more unusual side effects, such as Ozempic feet.
