Millions of unemployed Brits will get FREE fat-loss jabs as they’re ‘holding back the economy’, Health Secretary says
UNEMPLOYED Brits could be given free weight-loss jabs under plans being drawn up by Wes Streeting.
The Health Secretary wants to use drugs including WeGovy and Mounjaro to kickstart a major back-to-work drive.
Mr Streeting admitted that "widening waistbands" are putting a huge strain on the NHS.
But he said that fat jabs could provide a two-pronged solution, both easing pressure on the ailing health service and encouraging the unemployed back into work.
This morning Sir Keir Starmer backed the move, suggesting jabs could help boost the nation's health and economic growth.
The PM told BBC Breakfast: "I think these drugs could be very important for our economy and for health.
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"This drug will be very helpful to people who want to lose weight, need to lose weight, very important for the economy so people can get back into work.
"We've got to reduce the pressure on the NHS.
"So this will help in all of those areas."
It comes as the government last night confirmed that pharmaceutical giant Lilly will invest £279 million into developing new drugs and treatment in the UK.
Writing in , the Health Secretary said: “Our widening waistbands are also placing significant burden on our health service, costing the NHS £11bn a year – even more than smoking.
"And it’s holding back our economy.
“Illness caused by obesity causes people to take an extra four sick days a year on average, while many others are forced out of work altogether.”
A five-year trial run by Lilly, assessing the impact of weight loss drugs on the unemployed, is set to take place in Greater Manchester.
However, despite promising results from similar such trials, Mr Streeting warned that Brits must continue to take “healthy living more seriously”.
He added that the “NHS can’t be expected to always pick up the tab for unhealthy lifestyles”.
'Monumental' fat jabs could level the playing field
By Lizzie Parry, Head of Health
FIRST things first, let’s just clear up which so-called ‘fat jabs’ are available on the NHS at the moment.
Chances are you’ve heard of Ozempic - the brand name has become synonymous with weight loss jabs, largely thanks to celebrities in the US rumoured to have used it.
But, Ozempic is not available on the NHS for weight loss and is only approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in the UK.
That said, Wegovy, a similar treatment that contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic, is approved for weight-loss on the NHS.
Meanwhile, Mounjaro, dubbed the ‘King Kong’ of skinny jabs - a slightly newer drug with the active ingredient tirzepatide - is also licensed for weight loss in the UK.
Both semaglutide and tirzepatide work to help people lose weight by suppressing appetite.
The causes of obesity are complex, and in many cases genetics are a major factor.
Our genes influence all sorts of things, from how much food we need to eat to feel full to how our brain reacts to food cues.
So, it really is the case that some people feel the urge to eat more often than others.
In the face of giant portion sizes, ultra-processed foods at every turn and on every menu, it can be incredibly difficult for some people - due to their genetics - to maintain a healthy weight.
That’s why these drugs could prove a game-changer. They could help level the playing field.
For those people who are genetically predisposed to being more hungry, these drugs can help realign their urge to eat to that of a person who finds it easier to stay slim.
That said, no medication comes without risk.
So, doctors need to assess each individual on a case-by-case basis to balance any risk versus the benefit for their patients.
In people who live with severe obesity, the likelihood is that the benefits will outweigh the risks, especially if they have other health issues like diabetes or heart disease.
For those of a healthy weight, it’s more likely the risks will outweigh the benefits, experts warn.
Common side effects include vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, gallstones, and less common but more severe risks include acute pancreatitis.
While these drugs really could prove monumental in helping to shrink the nation’s waistline, it is vital that they come with support and education to help improve people’s diet and lifestyle, putting movement and exercise at the heart of any prescription.
The Health Secretary also cautioned against adults using the jab to achieve the "perfect" body.
He said: “I think the drugs can make a really big impact in terms of getting weight under control.
“Some encouraging signs around prevention of cardiovascular disease, big killers, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, there is really big potential there.
“Where I think we’ve just got to be careful, though, is that we don’t see these drugs as an excuse not to do the right thing in terms of our diet, nutrition, exercise, or to use them as cosmetic drugs for the Instagram perfect body.”
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Studies of patients taking the Mounjaro jab found they shed more than a fifth of their body weight in eight months.
“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 people started noticing it helped suppress their appetites, stopping them from eating as much and helping them shed the pounds.
Novo Nordisk then 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.
Despite being approved for use, the 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 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."