High street pharmacies such as Boots and Lloyds are set to begin stocking a new weight loss jab.
The injection - marketed as a "game changer" in the nation's battle against obesity - works by suppressing the appetite.
Figures show the UK is the most obese nation in Europe with more than 35 million people classed as either overweight or obese.
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But now, as reported by Leicestershire Live, the NHS and pharmacies will be able to prescribe the new weight-loss injection Saxenda in a bid to tackle the obesity crisis.
How does the weight-loss jab work?
Saxenda works by mimicking a hormone that is normally released after eating a filling meal called GLP1.
By posing as the hormone, the injection suppresses your appetite, meaning you will hopefully eat less.
Saxenda is injected once a day under the skin, recommended to be administered to the abdomen, the front of your thighs or your upper arm.
It gets to work almost immediately and people could see the effects within two weeks.
When combined with a low fat food plan and moderate levels of activity, users of Saxenda could expect to lose five per cent of their body weight over three months.
However, it is important to stress that Saxenda is a weight-loss aid and not a cure that works without major dietary and lifestyle changes.
How to get weight-loss jab at pharmacies
To get access to the weight-loss jab at the likes of Boots and Lloyds Pharmacy, you have to meet certain criteria that changes depending on the individual.
In most cases you have to be 30 or above on the Body Mass Index scale and have tried other methods of losing weight before being accepted for Saxenda.
You can apply online, where you will be asked questions just like a traditional appointment at you GP.
The questionnaire asks you about your medical history and symptoms.
Your answers help their experts assess your suitability for treatment.
If accepted, you can pick up your jabs in store or have them delivered for free to your home.
Saxenda comes in a 3ml pre-filled injection pen, with a single pen lasting 17 days and a pack of three covering 4.5 weeks.
A pack of three pens costs £150, while a pack of five is priced at £240.
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