In the 90s and 00s, slimming clubs were packed with people looking to shed the pounds.
Flash forward to today however, and Weight Watchers has filed for bankruptcy while weight loss jabs like Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsu have exploded in popularity.
Now, for the first time, GPs are allowed to prescribe them.
The mass rollout is expected to see around 220,000 people with the ‘greatest need’ receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, through the NHS over the next three years.
Until now, people could only access the drug through a special weight loss service. It was originally only given for those with diabetes, but GPs in England will begin to prescribe it to people who are clinically obese and suffering from other health problems.
However, health secretary Wes Streeting warned weight loss jabs shouldn’t be seen as a quick ‘cosmetic’ fix, adding: ‘These are serious medicines and should only be used responsibly and under medical supervision.’
So if you’re considering weight loss jabs, we’ve compiled everything you need to know, as well as a look at the biggest pros and cons…
How do weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro work?
Administered as weekly jabs, these drugs – often called GLP-1 agonists – mimic the hormones our bodies release when we eat to help diabetics manage insulin levels.
But alongside regulating blood sugar, they also help with reducing appetite (so you feel less hungry throughout the day) and increasing feelings of fullness (so you eat less when you do).
How do you get a prescription for weight loss drugs in the UK?
From Monday, GPs in England will have the power to prescribe Mounjaro to people with a body mass index (BMI) score of over 40 who also have at least four other health problems linked to obesity.
These include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnoea.
Alternatively, patients can still seek a consultation with a specialist weight management service and ask to be prescribed this kind of treatment.
This can be done through the NHS or privately, with the likes of Superdrug and Boots offering prescriptions online.
Estimates suggest around 1.5 million people in the UK are already on weight loss drugs, while around 29% of the adult population in the UK is obese.
The pros of weight loss jabs
Metro asked Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, about the biggest pros and cons of weight loss injections. In terms of their benefits, here’s what she had to say:
Weight loss
Unsurprisingly, weight loss drugs help you lose weight — but the amount is impressive, with studies showing patients typically see at least a 10% to 15% weight reduction.
‘This can be transformative, especially for those with long-standing obesity where lifestyle interventions alone have failed,’ says Dr Wylie.
Reduction in obesity-related health issues
Dr Wylie explains: ‘Weight loss of this magnitude is associated with a meaningful drop in the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnoea, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
‘There’s also early evidence suggesting improved cardiovascular outcomes, even independent of weight loss. And for patients with pre-diabetes, these medications may delay or prevent progression to full-blown diabetes.’
Improved quality of life and mental health
Beyond the physical benefits, Dr Wylie says the ‘positive impact on self-esteem and mood’ caused by weight loss ‘can create a virtuous cycle, making it easier to stay engaged with other aspects of health promotion, such as physical activity and social participation.’
Support for patients who feel stuck
According to Dr Wylie, the helping hand these jabs provide can be a major boost for those who feel they’ve ‘tried everything’ without success.
She adds: ‘As GPs, it’s empowering to have another tool to offer that feels both compassionate and effective.’
The cons of weight loss jabs
Despite their benefits, there are a number of things to consider before taking weight loss drugs – including possible short-term and long-term side effects. Here’s a look at what Dr Wylie considers the biggest downsides:
Side effects
‘Gastrointestinal side effects are common, particularly during dose escalation,’ she says, noting that these can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation.
Dr Wylie also adds than in rare cases, ‘there’s a risk of pancreatitis or gallbladder issues.’
What is ‘Ozempic face’?
Weight loss drugs aren’t something to mess around with – one side effect colloquially termed ‘Ozempic face’ is symbolic of that. But what is it? And what are the dangers of taking semaglutide incorrectly?
This phenomenon refers to sagging, ageing and lacklustre appearance of the facial skin and structures,’ according to Dr Adil Sheraz, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson.
He said: ‘The face has a layer of fat that essentially stretches the skin. Ozempic results in rapid weight loss and does so very effectively. This, of course, will lead to rapid loss of subcutaneous (under the skin) facial fat.
‘The overlying skin however will not be able to shrink at the same rate, resulting in a sagging, droopy and wrinkled appearance.’
Dr Paul Jarrod Frank, a dermatologist in New York thought to have coined the phrase, told the New York Times he’s started seeing Ozempic face ‘every day’ since these drugs hit the mainstream.
He said: ‘A 50-year-old patient will come in, and suddenly, she’s super-skinny and needs filler, which she never needed before. I look at her and say: “How long have you been on Ozempic?” And I’m right 100 per cent of the time.’
This isn’t necessarily specific to Ozempic. As Dr Sheraz explains, this change in facial features can occur with any type of rapid weight loss.
There are other potential complications to look out for too: Ozempic-style weight loss drugs were recently linked to symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation, as well as an increased risk of vision loss.
More worryingly, at the end of last year, the government issued a warning after 10 people died and 68 were admitted to hospital as a result of using the injections.
More than 7,000 reports of illness associated with the drugs had also been made, leading the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to publicly state they should not be used for ‘unauthorised indications such as aesthetic weight loss’.
Long-term use
Unless you overhaul your habits, the results you see while taking these medications won’t last long afterwards.
‘Once stopped, weight regain is common unless there’s been a concurrent and sustainable lifestyle change,’ says Dr Wylie.
Costs
Only ‘very specific patient groups’ are entitled to weight loss jabs on the NHS, and ‘privately, these medications are expensive, often over £200 a month.’
If you go private, it’s important to seriously whether you can afford to keep your prescription going for long enough to see results.
A version of this article was originally published in May 2025
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