Pharmacies can now prescribe a 'game-changer' weight-loss jab to tackle obesity.
The UK is one of the most obese nation in Europe, with more than 35 million people - a majority of the country's population - either overweight or obese.
Obesity can lead to life-threatening conditions like heart disease, breast cancer, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
READ MORE: Two types of food to cut down on in your diet if you want rapid weight loss
More than 60% of adults in England are at risk of developing chronic health problems due to their weight, according to an NHS report.
UK-wide NHS costs attributable to overweight and obese individuals are projected to reach £9.7 billion by 2050, according to government statistics.
Cutting those pounds can prove tricky, but more treatments are becoming available, offering new ways to shed excess weight, in combination with a balanced diet and moderate exercise, Leicester Live reports.
Among those is a weight-loss injection the NHS, and now pharmacies, can prescribe.
How does the weight-loss jab work?
Saxenda works by mimicking a hormone called GLP1, which is released after eating a filling meal.
By posing as the hormone, the jab suppresses your appetite, hopefully meaning you eat less.
The drug is injected under the skin once a day.
It's recommended to administer it to the abdomen, the front of your thighs or your upper arm. It starts working almost immediately and you should see the effects within two weeks.
Users should expect to lose 5% of their body weight over three months if they combine it with a low-fat food plan and moderate levels of activity.
When combined with a low fat food plan and modern levels of activity, users of Saxenda should expect to lose 5 percent of their body weight over three months.
It's important to remember that Saxenda is a weight-loss aid, not a cure that works without major dietary and lifestyle changes.
How to get weight-loss jab at pharmacies
You must meet certain criteria to access the Saxenda weight-loss jab at chemists like Boots or Lloyds Pharmacy.
The criteria changes depending on the individual, but you must have a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider, and in most cases, you must be 30 or older, on the Body Mass Index (BMI) scale, and have tried other weight-loss methods.
You can apply for a quick online consultation here, where you will be asked questions about your medical history and symptoms, just like in a GP appointment.
Your answers help Saxenda's experts assess your suitability for treatment.
If accepted, you can collect 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.
