Weight loss pills have been hailed by everyone from politicians to Hollywood’s finest.
Actress Rebel Wilson revealed they helped her maintain her slimmer figure, while Oprah Winfrey said their arrival ‘feels like a relief, like redemption, like a gift’.
However, although the use of Ozempic – a brand name of the drug semaglutide – may seem ubiquitous, there are strict criteria to get hold of such treatments in the UK.
So are weight loss pills right for you, and if so, how can you take them? Here are some questions to consider…
Oprah Winfrey said the arrival of weight-loss drugs ‘feels like relief, like 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 from the gut when you eat. It turns off hunger signals in the brain and stimulates the pancreas to release insulin – a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.
You will need to eat a calorie-reduced diet and exercise regularly while taking the medicine. The combination results in an average reduction of 15 percent of body weight within 16 months.
Am I entitled to it on the NHS?
Originally conceived as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, NHS guidance says Ozempic should not be prescribed for weight loss alone, to protect the supply for diabetes patients.
However, Wegovy – another brand of semaglutide – is available on the NHS, but only for people dealing with problems caused by obesity, not just those who want to lose some weight.
Weight loss drugs mimic glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone released from the gut when you eat. It turns off hunger signals in the brain and stimulates the pancreas to release insulin
Your GP may recommend semaglutide, given by 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 drug available on the NHS is liraglutide (also known by the brand name Saxenda), which requires daily injections. To qualify, all of the following must apply: You must be up to 75 years old; have a BMI of 35 or more; you have high blood sugar; and be at 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 only with a rating, a prescription and ongoing support. Private doctors may use more discretion when it comes to your BMI, but they still need to take national advice into account.
When it comes to Ozempic, many private doctors follow the same principle of not prescribing it only for weight loss, but some are prepared to prescribe it for non-diabetics.
If you pay for your NHS prescriptions, Wegovy and Saxenda cost the standard £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 is around £230.
How long can I take it?
If you take Wegovy, you will be given a review 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 a maximum of two years. However, this does not apply to private prescriptions, and some experts predict that many patients will be on it for life, as two-thirds regain their original weight a year after stopping.
Martin Whyte, associate professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Surrey, points out that the long-term use of medication 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. Major efforts are needed to prevent obesity – at the societal level’.
Why wouldn’t it be for me?
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 headaches.
What if I don’t make it?
Standard NHS advice is to reduce your food intake by 600 calories a day to lose weight at a steady rate of 0.5 to 1kg per week (for most women this means consuming no more than 1400 calories per 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 nonsurgical measures have been tried.
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