Experts say weight-loss jabs can help in the fight against obesity but exercise and diet matter more.
“As a country we’re eating more, eating less healthily and exercising less,” Wes Streeting told the Telegraph in October. “Our widening waistbands are placing significant burden on our health service, costing the NHS £22 billion a year.”
Streeting has introduced the idea of administering weight-loss jabs to those unemployed and overweight to get them back into work. Some of the latest generation of weight-loss drugs such as tirzepatide or semaglutide could potentially be prescribed for those who are struggling to get back into work.
One of the most popular weight-loss drugs is Ozempic, which is a brand name for semaglutide. Its primary use is to help manage blood sugar levels in patients who have Type 2 diabetes, it does this by mimicking the effects of the hormone GLP-1, which helps make people feel fuller for longer.
Not only could these injections benefit those taking it, but the economy too, Streeting argued: “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.”
According to the NHS’s latest Health Survey for England, in 2022, 29% of adults in England were classified as obese, while 64% were deemed to be overweight.
There is a growing concern over how people use such treatments. Experts warn those using the drug that it is not a quick fix of any sort and is not a substitute for eating well and exercise. But the common use of it is not unheard of.
Many celebrities as well as influencers have admitted to using the drug for its weight loss side effects. In April 2024, the actress Rebel Wilson, in an interview with the Sunday Times, said: “Someone like me could have a bottomless appetite for sweets, so I think those drugs can be good.”
But what does this mean for those who are primarily seeking the drug for its weight loss side effects?
“Everyone wants a quick fix nowadays; everyone wants instantaneous results. People will go for what is the easiest option,” said Aldons Carlo, an Endocrine Clinical Nurse Specialist. He explains that Streeting’s approach isn’t necessarily a bad one, just an approach that needs to be regulated.
“Word of mouth as well as media outlets play a key role in this, then everyone floats towards Ozempic. It creates an effect leading to companies and private institutions giving it this a sense of commercialism.”
This raises questions about whether it is really cost-effective, given that a patient per month could cost between £250-£500. There are also concerns that suppliers cannot cope with the demand.
“In terms of costs it’s not good for the NHS because of the supply-demand issue. There’s less supply, high demand so the pharmaceutical companies will then probably increase their prices and the NHS will then have to pay more,” Aldons told us.
“There have already been reports of about a few months ago when it started to boom in the news, and people have complained that they can’t get a hold of it, because there in nothing left. People hoard it, especially those who can afford it.”
There are a lot of questions still to be answered about the drug, especially in terms of understanding how it works: “I know people who are doing research into this, there are things that it could do to your body in the long term that we probably don’t even know about yet,” Aldons explained.
“Nearly one in three children face a future of food related ill health, so they’re at risk of developing things like heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.”
Anisah Rahman
The lack of access to Ozempic in turn could foster the emergence of an illegal market for the drug: “There are illegal Ozempics, that are not real just labelled as Ozempic and sold online illegally, which can be really dangerous.”
A woman who was illegally sold a weight loss drug on social media told BBC News that she ended up vomiting blood and being rushed to A&E. Recent reports have warned the public that unregulated sources have a risk of supplying drugs that could contain toxic ingredients.
The use of the drug however, has also helped restored confidence in those who use it. “I did have some concerns but as soon as I saw results, I felt better. The first few weeks you feel tired and very quickly start to not think about food so much,” Joshua Lewin, who uses Ozempic, told us.
What many fail to consider in their approach to attempting to tackle this issue is the role our environment plays in our eating and exercising habits.
Registered dietitian Aslinur Limerer believes that banning fast-food adverts could cause a real difference in how kids as well as adults approach foods.
“Kids are constantly surrounded by ads that make fast food look super exciting. Whether it’s a catchy jingle, bright colours, or even their favourite cartoon characters, it’s all designed to make them want that burger or those fries. Without that constant exposure, kids might not be asking for fast food as much, and parents might not feel that pressure to give in.”
Aslinur says she feels the government should take on a more active role in regulating how unhealthy foods are marketed. “The fact is, advertising is powerful, and it’s designed to create cravings, even when we’re not hungry. For kids, who are still learning about food and health, these ads can shape their preferences in ways that might last into adulthood.”
This supports the government view that stricter rules to protect kids from being bombarded with ads for sugary, fatty, or highly processed foods would help tackle the issue early in life.
Aslinur adds that this is not unheard of and is possible, “In Chile, they’ve taken strong steps to reduce the exposure of junk food marketing to kids by banning characters like Tony the Tiger or mascots from sugary cereals, and it’s been shown to work.
“Beyond advertising, the government could also enforce clearer nutritional labelling so consumers can make better decisions without having to decode the packaging. Transparency is key here — if people can easily understand what they’re eating, it might encourage healthier choices.”
If drugs such as Ozempic become widely used, there’s a real risk that public perceptions of obesity could shift in unhelpful ways.
“Right now, we’re focusing on promoting the idea that managing weight is about adopting a healthier lifestyle—eating better, moving more, and prioritizing overall well-being, rather than just focusing on the number on the scale,” Aslinur said.
“If people start viewing these medications as a quick fix, it might send the wrong message: that you don’t need to make any lifestyle changes and can rely on a pill or injection instead.”
It seems that Streeting brings emphasis to treatment more than prevention. But how can we bring the primary focus to prevention?
Anisah Rahman, a representative of Bite Back, addressed the issue of the inaccessibility of healthy, nutritious food in neighbourhoods, especially those in underprivileged areas.
She told the House of Lords that junk food companies spend millions of pounds on aggressive marketing tactics to subconsciously influence children’s food choices, through marketing choices of bright colours and cartoons to make the products more enticing to younger audiences, even when the companies claim they don’t target children.
“Nearly one in three children face a future of food related ill health, so they’re at risk of developing things like heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. But also, there’s real postcode lottery where children from the most disadvantaged areas, they’re twice as likely to be affected,” Anisah said.
“For example, Kilburn versus West Hampstead, I think that’s the easiest example that I can give you, if I’m turning left into Kilburn, what we see is, every other storefront is a fried chicken shop, you can expect to see convenience stores, burger joints, fast food shops. There’s an abundance of unhealthy options. If we turn into West Hampstead, we see a lot more of those niche restaurants that serve food that is a lot healthier.”
There is a lack of marketing and promotion of healthier food options, making it seem as though eating well is a luxury, rather than an accessible choice, especially in lower-income areas.
In response to recent stories about Streeting’s plans, the Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement to the Financial Times: “The government is urgently tackling the obesity crisis head on –shifting our focus from treatment to prevention – to ease the strain on our NHS and helping people to live well for longer.”
Featured image by Elena Leya via Unsplash.