A weight loss drug dubbed “Hollywood’s worst kept secret” is to hit UK shelves within weeks.
Semaglutide – marketed as Wegovy for people who are overweight or obese – will be available in Boots pharmacies by spring, according to the chain.
Ozempic, a miracle drug with the same ingredient, is already available in the UK but is only available for type 2 diabetes on the NHS.
Patients who want to receive the miracle weight loss shot must have a BMI of at least 35 and have a weight-related medical condition such as heart disease. A transfer only takes place after consultation.
Elon Musk and Jeremy Clarkson have both publicly credited semaglutide for helping with weight loss.
Kim Kardashian is rumored to have quickly lost 15 pounds to fit into Marilyn Monroe’s iconic Happy Birthday Mr. President dress at the 2022 Met Gala.
Semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy for people who are overweight or obese, will be available in pharmacies this spring
Wegovy and Ozempic work by stimulating the body to produce a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is naturally released from the gut after meals
How does Semaglutide work?
Semaglutide acts like a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake, helping users feel less hungry.
It also slows down the movement of food in the intestines, helping users feel fuller for longer.
In addition, it signals the body to release insulin, which helps move digested sugar from the blood into cells where it can be used for energy.
Clinical studies show that those using the drug lost an average of up to 15.3kg (2 stone and 6lbs) over a 15-month period, compared to just 2.6kg (6lbs) in the placebo group.
It is given as a weekly injection directly into the stomach, thigh or upper arm.
How are Ozempic and Wegovy different?
Confusingly, semaglutide is branded as two separate drugs, both manufactured by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk.
Ozempic is aimed at patients with type 2 diabetes. It lowers their blood sugar and reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people who also have heart disease.
Sister drug Wegovy is packed with a slightly stronger dose of semaglutide and is instead aimed at people who are overweight.
Celebrities like Elon Musk, Jeremy Clarkson and Remi Bader have spoken about the “really amazing” Ozempic, which suppresses appetite and helps users feel fuller for longer
Who can get it?
Wegovy will be available in the UK from spring.
But only for adults with at least one weight-related medical condition and a BMI of 35 or more, who are classified as obese according to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.
However, in exceptional cases, people with a BMI of 30 to 35 who are also obese can also receive the drug. Patients can use the drug for up to two years.
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Wegovy has been available since 2021 for people in the US who are overweight and have at least one weight-related medical condition.
Meanwhile, the NHS regulator approved Ozempic for people with type 2 diabetes in 2019. US health chiefs gave the green light to the same group in 2017.
But private clinics in the UK can give patients the drug off-label for just under £200 a month, while it is available for free in the US.
But doctors said off-label prescribing is “highly dubious territory” because doctors are not allowed to promote drugs for a treatment outside the product’s license.
Novo Nordisk warned that it does not support off-label prescriptions, which could limit care for patients with type 2 diabetes who may be prescribed the drug.
Boots said it would prescribe and dispense the drugs. People can register their interest in the treatment online at Superdrug and Lloyds Pharmacy. A month’s supply costs £73.25, but it is unclear what price the NHS has negotiated for the treatment.
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson (left) revealed this month that he used Ozempic to lose weight. When asked in October whether eating healthier or going to the gym was the cause of his 30-pound weight loss, Elon Musk (right) cited “fasting” and “Wegovy.”
Rumor has it that Kim Kardashian used Wegovy to lose weight quickly to fit into Marilyn Monroe’s famous Happy Birthday Mr President dress at the 2022 Met Gala (pictured).
What are the side effects?
Like all medications, semaglutide is not without risk.
Users often complain of nausea, constipation and diarrhea, while some also suffer from acid indigestion, fatigue and complain that food tastes different after taking the drug.
It’s this side effect that some people attribute to their continued weight loss—making their favorite junk food taste bad.
Thyroid cancer, pancreatitis – when the organ becomes inflamed – and kidney failure are rare but serious side effects.
Patients have also warned that their face looks thin, tired and old – a side effect dubbed “Ozempian face”.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
