Weight loss drugs have been the talk of the town recently, thanks to a wave of celebs who’ve admitted using them to slim down.
But some of the nasty side effects we’ve read about have left many of us wondering if it’s all good to be true.
While Ozempic in particular was designed to treat type 2 diabetes, it’s been adopted by A-listers as a weight loss tool as it suppresses appetite.
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However, the UK is, of course, a far cry from Hollywood, and the drug is not approved for this slightly more controversial use across the pond.
Speaking on This Morning, Dr Sara Kayat discussed the recent hype the medication has experienced, before running viewers through the equivalents that are available in the UK.
“What I find interesting about Ozempic is, in England, it’s actually not a weight loss drug,” she explained.
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“It’s a drug for type 2 diabetes. But we’ve heard so much about it because in the US, they do use it for weight loss, and there have been lots of celebrities that have said that they’re using it - Amy Schumer, Elon Musk, Rebel Wilson.
“So there are a whole load of celebrities out there, and people obviously see these celebrities on TV and think, ‘Wow, that’s a huge transformation.’”
As for why it’s not approved for weight loss in the UK, Dr Kayat added: “It works by helping to regulate your appetite and reduce cravings and hunger. But in the UK, it’s only supposed to be used for type 2 diabetes, and that’s in order to try and protect the resources for the type 2 diabetics.”
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While Ozempic isn’t approved for weight loss in the UK, Dr Kayat explained how there are three similar drugs that have the green light:
Orlistat
Dr Kayat described orlistat as the ‘OG’, as it came onto the market way back in 2010, with branded versions including Alli and Orlos.
It’s available in capsule form on prescription from your doctor, although you’re able to buy it at a lower dose from a pharmacy, with the NHS saying you can only use the drug if a doctor or pharmacist ‘thinks it’s the right medicine for you’.
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“Orlistat will usually only be recommended if you've made a significant effort to lose weight through diet, exercise or changing your lifestyle,” the NHS explains.
Even then, it is only prescribed if you have either:
- A body mass index (BMI) of 28 or more, and other weight-related conditions, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes
- A BMI of 30 or more
Saxenda
Saxenda, or liraglutide, is an injectable medicine used for adults with ‘excess weight (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems or obesity (BMI ≥30), and children aged 12-17 years with a body weight above 132 pounds (60 kg) and obesity to help them lose weight and keep the weight off’, its website says, adding that the drug ‘should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity’.
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According to the NHS, you can only take liraglutide if it’s prescribed for you by a ‘specialist weight management service’.
“A doctor might recommend that you take one of these medicines if diet and exercise changes have not worked on their own,” it says.
You'll only be prescribed liraglutide if all of the below apply:
- You have a BMI of 35 or more, or you have a BMI of 32.5 or more and you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin
- You have non-diabetic hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar)
- You're at high risk of heart problems such as heart attacks and strokes, for example because you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or high cholesterol
Wegovy
Like Ozempic, Wegovy is just a branded name for semaglutide, which works by making you feel fuller and in turn less hungry. However, while Ozempic is designed for diabetes, Wegovy is specifically billed as ‘weight loss prescription medicine’.
The NHS says you'll only be prescribed semaglutide if you have health problems due to your weight and you have a BMI of either:
- 35 or more, or 32.5 or more if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin
- 30 to 34.9, or 27.5 to 32.4 if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin, and you meet other criteria to be treated by a specialist weight management service
Dr Kayat also said there is one more drug that’s due to become approved in the UK - Mounjaro, which is the brand name for tirzepatide.
It's currently approved to treat diabetes, but is not yet available as a weight loss treatment within the NHS.
However, NHS England has proposed rolling the drug out for weight loss management, a change that would be phased.
Jess Hardiman