What to know before considering weight loss jabs, as related deaths rise

Kate Ng
·Trending Lifestyle Reporter
Updated ·7-min read
Ozempic Insulin injection pen for diabetics and weight loss.
Weight loss medications have risen in popularity - but should you actually be taking them? (Getty Images)

The number of deaths linked to weight loss and diabetes drugs has risen to 82, according to figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The figures show that 60 deaths were linked to the use of medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro for treating type 2 diabetes, while 22 were linked to using it for weight loss.

Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the MHRA, told The Times: "The decision to start, continue or stop treatments should be made jointly by patients and their doctor, based on full consideration of benefits and risks."

It comes after online pharmacies were told they must conduct a proper two-way consultation with patients before prescribing weight loss jabs, as demand for the drugs continue to soar.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which regulates pharmacies, said it was responding to concerns relating to the unsafe prescribing and supply of medicines like weight loss jabs online.

Online pharmacies will no longer be able to prescribe the drugs after an email chat, from questionnaires, or by people sending in photos of themselves. Instead, they will have to verify the person's body mass index (BMI) via a video consultation, in person, or through accessing GP or medical records.

Young woman worried while checking bank account using laptop at home. Female holding credit card paying debt. Economy concept.
As demand for weight loss drugs climbs, more people turn to online pharmacies to get their hands on the jabs without having to see a doctor. (Getty Images)

Earlier this year, The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) issued a new warning against the sale of weight loss jabs online and called for tougher rules to protect patients.

The association said it was aware that some people who have a history of eating disorders or whose body weight was already low have been wrongly prescribed the drugs, putting them at risk.

Demand for weight loss jabs continues to surge and has been spurred on by the NHS offering Wegovy to patients and will start offering Mounjaro in March 2025.

They have also become increasingly popular after a number of celebrities began using Ozempic, which is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, to lose significant amounts of weight.

In the UK, the first patients to receive Wegovy from the NHS, a medication containing semaglutide that is approved for weight loss, began taking the jabs last year.

However, the rollout has been slow, with a very small proportion of the 3.4 million patients in England who are eligible for the drug actually getting access to it. According to the BBC, the health service isn’t able to give the medication to everyone who is eligible immediately or it would "simply bankrupt the NHS".

Some people may turn to private healthcare providers in order to get their hands on the weight loss jabs. However, Britons have been repeatedly warned about the dangers of using these medications without a doctor’s supervision following serious complications experienced by some patients.

The NHS states on its website: "Never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you. These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects."

If you are considering taking weight loss jabs this year, here’s everything you need to know about eligibility, safety, and whether you should really be on them.

Waist measurement in medical practice. The nurse is using a tape measure
Patients must be assessed by their healthcare provider in order to determine if they meet the eligibility criteria for weight loss jabs. (Getty Images)

Wegovy is the brand name for semaglutide which is licensed and approved for managing obesity. It differs from Ozempic, which is another brand name for semaglutide and is used for treating type 2 diabetes. Ozempic should not be prescribed solely for weight loss.

The NHS began offering Wegovy in September 2023 as an option for weight management in line with guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

It is recommended that the medication be used in tandem with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

You are eligible for Wegovy if you meet the following criteria:

  • Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 35

  • One weight-related comorbidity (such as hypertension of cardiovascular disease)

  • Have a BMI of 30 to 34.9, provided you meet the criteria for referral to specialist weight management services

The Department for Health and Social Care adds: "Wegovy is for those dealing with obesity and weight-related problems, not for people who just want to lose some weight."

Wegovy is taken via an injection once a week. Should you meet the eligibility criteria and are prescribed Wegovy, your healthcare team will give you more information about how to take it and how to inject it.

Mounjaro is approved for weight loss and weight management in adults aged 18 and over who meet the eligibility criteria. It works by regulating a person’s appetite so they feel full, making them feel less hungry and experience fewer food cravings.

It is recommended that Mounjaro be used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

You are eligible for Mounjaro if you meet the following criteria:

  • Have a BMI of at least 30

  • Have a BMI between 27 to 30, and weight-related problems such as prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart problems

Mounjaro is available as a pre-filled injection pen that is to be injected under the skin of your stomach area, thigh or upper arm. The starting dose is 2.5mg once a week for four weeks, increasing to 5mg once a week.

According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the dose may then be increased in at least four-week intervals up to the maximum dose of 15mg per week.

Women using oral contraceptives may be advised to consider using a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom or switching to a non-oral contraceptive method for four weeks after starting Mounjaro. This is because Mounjaro may affect the efficacy of the contraceptive pill.

You can get both Wegovy and Mounjaro via a private prescription in the UK. Neither medication is available over the counter from a pharmacy, as you will need to be assessed for suitability before being given a prescription. You should also get ongoing support from the prescriber.

However, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) warned last year of a possible "explosion in the unlicensed sale of medication online" and urged people not to take the risk of buying weight loss injections without proper checks.

The NPA advised patients to speak to their GP about whether they are eligible for and should have a prescription for weight loss drugs. The warning came after the MHRA reported that nearly 50 people were hospitalised after using weight loss drugs last year.

The MHRA said prescription-only medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro are "effective and acceptably safe when used within their licensed indications", adding that there are still "risks associated with their use”.

"When appropriately used in line with the product license, the benefits of these medications outweigh the risks for patients," said the regulatory agency. "However, this benefit-risk balance is positive only for patients within the approved indications for weight management or type 2 diabetes as described in the product information."

Additional reporting by PA

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