What is in the ‘Skinny jab’ weight loss injection? Ozempic and Wegovy explained
IT’S no secret that celebrities have been losing weight with the "skinny jab".
From Elon Musk to Sharon Osbourne, Rebel Wilson, Oprah Winfrey and Amy Schumer - dozens of Hollywood celebrities have opened up about their experience on the jabs. But what is it, exactly?
What is a 'skinny jab' weight loss injection?
Skinny jabs are daily or weekly injections which result in weight loss.
Most of them work in the same way - by reducing hunger, which results in less calories consumed and overall lose weight.
The jab can be prescribed for people who are overweight or obese.
There are different weight loss injection brands which have similar results.
Specific ingredients depend on which type you use.
Ozempic
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Ozempic is arguably one of the most well-known names, though it isn't actually a weight loss injection.
It was originally designed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes before scientists discovered it also caused weight loss.
A prescription of Ozempic on the NHS is only possible in certain circumstances; most notably if you’re living with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide.
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Taken as a once-weekly injection, it increases the levels of hormones called incretins, which helps your body produce more insulin when needed, while suppressing the amount of glocose produced by the liver.
Wegovy
Wegovy also contains semaglutide.
It works by mimicking the action of the hormone GLP-1 which is released from the fut after a meal.
The hormone feeds back to the brain and makes you feel full.
Wegovy is made by the same company behind Ozempic for specific weight loss purposes.
Mounjaro
Mounjaro is another brand of weight loss injection which contains the active ingredient tirzepatide.
This was also originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Tirzepatide also helps you feel fuller for longer which makes it an effective obesity treatment when used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Saxenda
Liraglutide is a drug sold under the brand name Saxenda, and is authorised it the UK to help with weight loss.
A GLP-1 drug like Ozempic and Wegovy, it mimics the hormone released by your brain when you eat and dampens hunger pangs.
How are weight loss injections administered?
It is advised to inject skinny jabs into the stomach using the pen-like device it comes in.
This makes it possible to administer at home.
How do weight loss injections work?
Skinny jab works by making you less hungry, meaning you eat less calories.
The drug was originally created to help people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
It can now be prescribed for weight management and works by stabilising your blood glucose levels which decreases your appetite.
How long do you use skinny jabs for?
Skinny jab may be prescribed for different amounts of time depending on what your goals are such as how much weight you want to lose and in what time period.
It was previously reported that prescriptions would be limited to two years.
How much do skinny jabs cost?
The cost of weight loss injections depends on how much of the drug you are purchasing and which brand.
You can purchase Skinny jab on Lloyds pharmacy online which will set you back £149 for the starter pack and the maintenance pack is £239.
Each pack should last a month.
You can also find Mounjaro on Simple Online Pharmacy for £159 for a month supply.
You will need a prescription to obtain Ozempic or Wegovy.
What are the side effects of the skinny jab weight loss injections?
A review in 2017 said that the side effects of Skinny jab tend to be gastrointestinal.
This can include nausea, diarrhoea, stomach pain and constipation.
Other side effects could be more serious and lead to long-term complications.
Which celebrities have endorsed the skinny jab weight loss injections?
Weight loss injections have been promoted by several celebrities.
Holly Hagen previous spoke out about using Skinny jab herself.
Gemma Collins and Kerry Katona have also endorsed the drug in the past.
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
What you should know about Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda and Mounjaro
Weight loss jabs are a hot media topic at the moment, with hundreds of success stories sharing how they helped them shed the pounds.
In March 2023, the NHS announced it would make Wegovy, a drug made by Danish firm Novo Nordisk, available on prescription to thousands of obese Brits.
It contains the drug semaglutide, which is said to have helped reality star Kim Kardashian and Twitter boss Elon Musk lose weight.
Wegovy, which helped a third of people reduce their weight by 20 per cent in trials, is now available from pharmacies like Boots.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less calories and therefore lose weight.
To do this, an ingredient found in the fat-busting drug, known as Semaglutide, mimics the role of a natural hormone, called GLP-1.
GLP-1 is part of the signalling pathway that tells your body you have eaten, and prepares it to use the energy that comes from your food.
London GP and founder of , Dr Zoe Watson, said: “Your body naturally produces an appetite regulating hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1.
“These jabs work by regulating your appetite, which can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight.”
Aren’t they diabetes drugs?
Semaglutide, the active drug in Wegovy, was originally sold under the name Ozempic specifically for diabetes patients.
But they started noticing it helped suppress their appetites, stopping them eating as much and helping them shed the pounds.
So Novo Nordisk developed Wegovy, which contains the same chemical but at higher doses specifically to aid weight loss.
Wegovy is not prescribed for diabetes patients.
Can I get them?
Wegovy is offered on prescription to obese adults given specialist weight loss treatment.
The NHS currently also offers a similar drug called Saxenda, or liraglutide.
Both are only available on Tier 3 and Tier 4 weight management services, which means you have to be referred to weight management clinics led by experts.
GPs can’t prescribe them on their own either, Dr Watson said.
The jabs have to be taken as part of an overall programme to help with lifestyle changes and psychological support to get the best effect from the medication prescribed.
But despite being approved for use, supply of Wegovy on the NHS has been postponed indefinitely because of a surge in worldwide demand.
Supply was also halved in the US because of the skyrocketing demand.
Are there any risks?
Like all medicines, the jabs do not come without side effects.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, thyroid tumours, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
What other options are there?
Mounjaro (brand name for tirzepatide) also came onto the market in early 2024.
Like Wegovy, tirzepatide stems from a drug originally designed to treat diabetes.
The weekly injection helped overweight people drop more than two stone in 18 months.
It is available with to order with a prescription online from pharmacies including Superdrug and LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor.
It works in a similar way to Wegovy and Saxenda, but is more effective.
Dr Mitra Dutt from says: “Based on clinical trials, 96 per cent of people were able to lose more than five per cent of their body fat using Mounjaro. In similar trials, 84 per cent of people lost more than five per cent of their body weight on Wegovy, and 60 per cent on Saxenda.
“Mounjaro works by activating two hormonal receptors (GIP and GLP-1), which enhance insulin production, improve insulin sensitivity, and work to decrease food intake."
Are weight loss injections available on the NHS?
Yes, you are able to get the weight loss injections on the NHS.
You have to meet a series of strict criteria to even be considered as a candidate.
You will need to be above a certain BMI, usually 30 to 34.9, and not be eligible for any other treatments.
How much weight can you lose using the 'Skinny jab' injection?
It has mostly been reported that someone using weight loss injections tend to lose 15% of their weight on average in a one year period.
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However, some people may see that they lose up to 30% of their body weight.
This is over a one year period of using the drug and can vary brand to brand.