- Michelle Roberts
- Health reporter, BBC News
British pharmacies intend to sell the controversial “Wegovi” weight loss injection, which is used by some celebrities, including Elon Musk, owner of Twitter.
An injection of “Wegovi”, or semaglutide, is an appetite suppressant and is given by prescription.
The drug contains the same active ingredient in Ozimbic, a diabetes drug that is said to be Hollywood’s “skinny choice”.
Experts warn that the drug is not a quick fix or a substitute for healthy eating and exercise, and it should only be taken under medical supervision.
And the British “Boots” pharmacies say that they will be able to provide the full service, in terms of prescribing and dispensing the medicine.
Pharmacies such as Superdrag and Lloyd’s have web pages where people can register their interest in Wigovy.
Like any medication, there can be side effects and risks.
Nausea or upset stomach, bloating and gas are among the most prominent of these side effects.
The Vogue website said users may experience a “skinny face” if they lose weight quickly.
Retailers did not talk regarding the cost of the service, but the NHS draft guidelines indicated that the price of four ready-to-use injections for one month was £73.25.
The guidelines also state that the drug should be taken for a maximum of two years.
What is “Wegovi” and how effective is it?
The person must be overweight or obese in order for the drug to be prescribed to him, with the knowledge of the doctor.
Some popular pharmacies will start offering the service online as soon as the drug, made by Novo Nordisk, becomes available in the UK.
image copyright Getty Images
The drug mimics the action of a hormone known as GLP-1, which makes people feel full while suppressing hunger, so they eat less.
The user can inject himself once a week using ready-to-use syringes.
During trials, semaglutide, which was conducted with a healthy diet and exercise, helped obese people lose a tenth of their body weight.
However, experts have observed that once users stop the drug, they regain most of the weight.
A Boots spokesperson said: “The drug is effective for sustained weight loss when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet, increased physical activity, and healthy lifestyle choices. It will be available on the Boots Online Doctor website, expected to launch in Spring 2023.”
“Boots’ online weight loss service provides guidance to customers who are concerned regarding the impact of their weight on their health. Customers will be able to select treatment following completing an online medical consultation form, which will be evaluated by a doctor,” he added.
He said: “Those who take the drug will be subject to the follow-up and support service provided by the Boots Online Doctor throughout their weight loss journey, and will be able to communicate directly with the advice and support department available in our pharmacy teams.”
Tom Quinn, of eating disorder charity Beat, said: “Wegovi or other weight-loss medicines should only be sold under the most stringent conditions possible, with physical and psychological medical checks to ensure patients are sufficiently healthy.
He added: “These drugs can be very attractive to people with eating disorders because they seem to offer a quick fix, but there is a very high risk of making people more unwell and instilling disordered thoughts and behaviors.”
“It is essential that people are aware of the risks of misusing medications for weight loss, and there needs to be more awareness regarding their effects,” he said.
