The NHS has approved a weight loss jab after it gained popularity in the US - but experts have warned that it could be a “gateway to eating disorders”.
Prescription drug Wegovy, also known as Semaglutide, has been labelled safe, effective and affordable by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Patients on the NHS in England will inject themselves weekly using a pen and the drug works by making people feel fuller and more satisfied, so they eat less.
Health professionals have stressed that it must not be used as a replacement for healthy eating and exercise, and can only be offered to those who hit a certain criteria.
This comes as celebrities such as Elon Musk claim to have used the drug, with many in Hollywood referring to it as “the skinny shot”.
But what is Wegovy and how does it actually work? Here's everything you need to know.
How does the jab help you lose weight?
According to MedlinePlus, Wegovy is used alongside an individualised low-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise program to help with weight loss in obese or overweight adults who may also have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol.
The health website writes: “It works by helping the pancreas to release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high.
“Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy.”
It added: “Semaglutide injection also works by slowing the movement of food through the stomach and may decrease appetite and cause weight loss.”
The breakthrough drug suppresses the appetite through mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is released after eating.
Semaglutide is also found in the diabetes medicine Ozempic, which is prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes - whereas Wegovy is recommended specifically for weight loss.
A clinical trial of around 2,000 volunteers saw their weight drop by 12 percent on average after 68 weeks by using semaglutide alongside supervised weight loss coaching.
Another study highlighted the side-effects of nausea and diarrhoea but these were typically mild-to-moderate in severity and subsided with time.
Who is eligible for Wegovy?
The drug is restricted to adults with at least one weight-related condition and a body mass index (BMI) score of at least 35, while those with a score of 30 and over may also be able to access it in some cases.
These conditions include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, prediabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea and heart disease.
NICE explains that the jab “can only be prescribed for a maximum of two years within a specialist weight management service” involving input from several professionals.
The health institute adds that it should be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which makes both Ozempic and Wegovy, says the products should only be used as recommended by a doctor.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “For some people losing weight is a real challenge which is why a medicine like semaglutide is a welcome option.
“It won’t be available to everyone. Our committee has made specific recommendations to ensure it remains value for money for the taxpayer, and it can only be used for a maximum of two years.
“We are pleased to finally publish our final guidance on semaglutide which will mean some people will be able to access this much talked about drug on the NHS.”
Wegovy could be a “gateway for eating disorders”
Confidence coach, Victoria Spence, 28, from Manchester, was diagnosed with anorexia and orthorexia in her late teens, has raised concern about the jab 'becoming a gateway for eating disorders' while it has the potential to make things worse for those already struggling with disordered eating.
"For people already struggling with an eating disorder, this drug will, without a doubt, exasperate the problem," she told the Mirror.
"When you're in that vulnerable headspace, you can become desperate, and I can only imagine the desperation heightens for those with eating disorders that are not visible.
"Then there are the people who might develop an eating disorder by taking a drug like this.”
A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk said: "Novo Nordisk welcomes the final Nice recommendation for Wegovy (once-weekly semaglutide 2.4mg), as an option for weight management within the NHS.
"We are working to make Wegovy available in the UK as soon as possible."
