The dangerous side effects of Ozempic-like fat jabs revealed – as major crackdown announced
WEIGHT-loss jabs are taking the world by storm, with a staggering half a million of us now using them.
The injections have allegedly helped celebrities including Sun columnist Jeremy Clarkson, Sharon Osbourne, Elon Musk and ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson to slim down.
But worrying data has revealed a huge rise in the number of people hospitalised after taking the medication.
Nearly 400 users have ended up in A&E since the drugs were introduced in 2019. There was a sharp rise towards the end of last year, with 118 cases in October and November alone.
Side effects reported to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency also increased by 19 per cent and included nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures and pancreatitis, which can be fatal.
A small percentage of patients have fallen into comas after going into hypoglycemic shock.
While more than 500,000 of us use “skinny jabs”, it’s thought only five per cent have them prescribed, with others buying them online.
This has prompted a tightening of restrictions on their sale, with video or face-to-face chats now mandatory.
The General Pharmaceutical Council this week said too many people are pretending to be obese to get weight-loss jabs.
So are these injections really wonder drugs?
To help you separate fact from fiction, we asked Dr Helen Wall, resident GP on BBC Breakfast and senior partner at a health centre in Bolton, and Dr Aishah Iqbal, a weight-loss coach from Mind Over Diets, to answer key questions on the “miracle” jabs.
WHAT TYPES ARE THERE?
WHETHER it’s Wegovy, Mounjaro or Saxenda, all jabs have one thing in common — they mimic a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1.
“Wegovy is the brand name for semaglutide, a drug used initially for type 2 diabetes but now also used for weight management,” Dr Iqbal tells Sun on Sunday Health.
“It delays gastric emptying, creating a suppression in appetite, making you feel fuller for longer. Ozempic is another brand name for semaglutide. While it’s licensed for weight loss in the US, it is strictly meant to be prescribed for diabetes control in the UK.
“Mounjaro works in the same way but uses tirzepatide, while the active ingredient in Saxenda is liraglutide.”
Trial results showed Wegovy could lead to 15 per cent weight loss, and Mounjaro to 23 per cent.
WHERE CAN I GET THEM?
THESE drugs are available on the NHS, but only in restricted cases, such as for patients with type 2 diabetes.
“Otherwise you have to go through a specialist weight-loss service and you will need to meet certain criteria — having a BMI over 35 or a BMI over 30 and other health conditions like heart disease or type 2 diabetes,” Dr Iqbal says.
“It’s a tight process, prompting people to look elsewhere.”
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
SOME scientists have hailed the jabs as “miraculous”. And they can be life-changing for people who are obese, have serious health problems or are heading towards bariatric surgery.
“Short-term benefits include improved self-esteem, confidence and mental health,” Dr Wall says. “People often find they are better able to run around after their children, and joint issues and back pain improve.
Patients also significantly reduce their risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, heart attack and cancers linked to obesity, like bowel and womb.”
DO THE RESULTS LAST?
IN short, no. In many cases, people regain weight within 12 months of stopping the medication, trials show.
“A lot of people with obesity have other issues and as well as medication. They have to change their lifestyle and address their psychological relationship with food,” Dr Wall says.
ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
NAUSEA, vomiting, constipation and abdominal pain are the most commonly reported side effects.
In trials, three quarters of patients given a 2.4mg weekly dose of semaglutide experienced gastrointestinal discomfort.
“For some people, this only lasts a couple of weeks, and others don’t get symptoms at all,” Dr Wall says.
“Rarer but more serious consequences include pancreatitis, which can lead to hospitalisation and, in the worst cases, death.”
Research by Massachusetts Eye and Ear hospital discovered a link between semaglutide and an eye condition, which can cause blindness.
Doctors found people with type 2 diabetes taking the drug were four times more likely to be diagnosed with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), and those who were overweight or obese were seven times more likely to develop it.
A separate study by Washington University showed patients taking weight-loss jabs had an increased risk of 19 illnesses, including arthritis, and damage to the gut and kidneys.
The risk of pancreatitis — a life-threatening swelling of the pancreas — was doubled.
Anecdotally, some users have complained of sagging skin and sunken eyes, dubbed “Ozempic face” on social media, while others have reported severe hair loss.
The packaging also mentions gallbladder problems, kidney failure and depression as potential side effects.
Dr Wall adds: “The drugs are still relatively new and more things may come out the more they are prescribed. Only time will tell.”
WHAT IF I GET SIDE EFFECTS?
IF you can tolerate them, be patient.
“Give it time and often these symptoms improve,” Dr Wall says. “But if you have severe pain or significant vomiting, seek medical advice as these drugs can have serious consequences.”
IS IT SAFE TO BUY ONLINE?
MANY online pharmacies sell weight-loss jabs.
“If they are qualified to prescribe, that’s fine,” Dr Wall says.
“The worry is lots of these companies aren’t doing their due diligence.
“Currently, all you have to do is fill out an online form with your weight and BMI. But people can put in what they want and no one checks.
“The drugs are also popular on the black market and some people aren’t getting the drug they think they are. Never buy them from a beauty salon.”
ARE THEY GOOD FOR A SHORT-TERM FIX?
“IF you are a normal weight or even slightly overweight, then remember the risks are very real,” Dr Wall says.
“These are serious medications. It might sound like a quick fix but you won’t maintain the weight loss unless you look at the reasons you got to this point in the first place.
“It’s definitely not something you should take for aesthetic reasons or before a holiday.”
I STILL WANT TO TRY THEM
SPEAK to your GP and ask if there’s a specialist weight management service in your area.
“Whether or not you qualify will vary depending on where you live,” Dr Wall says.
“If you do, you will get the full package — not just the injections, but emotional support and lifestyle and dietary advice, which is key to keeping the weight off long-term.
“If you don’t qualify, you may want to access the jabs privately.
“I’m not against that as the NHS does not necessarily cater for everyone. However, pick a provider who is registered and fully qualified, such as a pharmacist, private GP or weight-loss clinic.
“Don’t just pop your BMI into a Facebook search and get syringes delivered the next day. That isn’t safe.”