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What are weight loss injections and are they safe?
Peer reviewed by Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGPLast updated by Amberley DavisLast updated 26 Sept 2023
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Weight loss injections have been used by celebrities like Elon Musk, Amy Schumer, and Gemma Collins - but are they really an option for everyone?
The UK government is testing a new scheme which could see GPs in England offering weight loss jabs to some patients to reduce obesity-related illnesses. This would mean that some so-called skinny-jabs, such as Wegovy, could be given at your local GP clinic rather than at a hospital.
Here we look at which weight loss injections are already available, which may soon be, and what having the jabs entails.
In this article:
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What are weight loss injections?
You may have seen celebrities such as Gemma Collins take to social media to promote weight loss injections and praise the "skinny jab". It may be tempting to think of these injections as a quick and easy fix to your weight problem, but in truth, they can only work if you make the necessary lifestyle changes too.
If you're considering weight loss injections, it's important to understand that this treatment is designed to address weight-related health issues. According to The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)1, this medicine is only right for you if all of the following applies:
You have a BMI (body mass index) of 35 or more - classified as obese.
You have non-diabetic hyperglycaemia - blood sugar that is above normal but below those needed to diagnose diabetes.
You are at high risk of other weight-related conditions such as strokes and heart attacks, because of other factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
When it comes to weight loss, one size certainly doesn't fit all. If you don't meet these criteria but are unhappy with your size, speak to your GP about losing weight safely. This will always involve healthy eating and regular exercise, but there are various support services that can make your weight loss journey that little bit easier.
How do weight loss injections work?
Saxenda
Saxenda - also known as liraglutide - is a weight loss medicine that you inject once a day to make you feel more full and less hungry.
This drug emulates a natural hormone found in the body that regulates your appetite, which can help you to consume fewer calories and lose weight. As with any weight loss treatment, this injection will only work if you also stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan. Studies show that Saxenda can lead to 4-6 kg of weight loss2.
Wegovy
In 2023, Wegovy - also called semaglutide - joined Saxenda and became the second injectable drug available on the NHS in England. In March 2023, NICE approved this popular US drug for the UK, concluding that it is a safe and effective weight loss treatment.
A trial for wider access
The approval from NICE is based on Wegovy only being administered by specialist hospital-based weight management services. However, NHS hospital capacity issues would limit access to around 35,000 people, when tens of thousands more could meet the eligibility criteria.
To cut NHS waiting lists and tackle obesity, in June 2023 the UK government announced a £40 million two-year pilot scheme to make Wegovy available outside hospitals. This may involve GP prescriptions and community or digital support options.
Speaking of the scheme, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "Obesity puts huge pressure on the NHS. Using the latest drugs to support people to lose weight will be a game-changer by helping to tackle dangerous obesity-related health conditions."3
Like Saxenda, Wegovy makes you feel fuller for longer by mimicking an intestinal hormone. But while Saxenda is injected daily, Wegovy is injected weekly. There's also evidence that Wegovy may be more effective for weight loss than Saxenda4. According to NICE, the new drug may help people reduce their weight by more than 10%, so long as they follow their diet and exercise plans5.
Aqualyx
There are other weight loss injections available in private practices, one of which, Aqualyx is a fat-dissolving injection that's widely available in the UK and is generally considered safe6, so long as it's administered by a trained healthcare professional.
A non-surgical alternative to liposuction, Aqualyx works by attaching to deposits of fat and gradually breaking them down until they are naturally flushed out of your body. As such, this injection can be used in a more targeted way than Saxenda and Wegovy, for example to decrease mass in your upper arms, stomach, or inner thighs.
Mounjaro
November 2023 saw another weight-loss injection receive approval for use in the UK. Mounjaro, also known as tirzeppatide, is now authorised for adults who have diabetes, who are obese, or who are overweight with related health problems such as prediabetes and heart problems7.
Like other weight loss drugs, the active ingredient in Mounjari helps you feel fuller for longer by emulating the hormone responsible for appetite. What makes this injection different is that it also alerts the pancreas to stop releasing insulin after eating and signals the liver to release less glucose (blood sugar). This helps regulate blood sugar, making it an effective management tool for diabetes management.
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How much do weight loss injections cost?
These injections come with a hefty price tag. Although it varies between health providers, Saxenda pens cost roughly between £45 and £75. The costs quickly ramp up, given that the NHS recommends three months of treatment, and people tend to get through five injectable pens each month. Aqualyx is usually administered by a professional in two to four sessions, each visit costing upwards of £300. The price of Wegovy ranges from around £200 to £300, but is available on the NHS under certain criteria. As of November 2023, the price of Mounjari is yet to be confirmed.
If you meet the criteria, Saxenda and Wegovy are now available through the NHS, and Mounjari will be soon. This is part of the NHS's bid to reduce healthcare costs attributed to weight-related health issues - projected to reach £9.7bn by 205087. However, wait times are likely to be long, and your doctor may only recommend weight loss injections when other weight loss treatments have proven ineffective.
You can also get it on private prescription in high-street pharmacists like Boots and through pharmacies in Patient Access if you meet the criteria.
Are weight loss injections safe?
Saxenda is considered to be safe and is well-tolerated by most people98. Several clinical trials have also shown Aqualyx to be safe when administered correctly by a trained professional109, although there is less research for this drug than Saxenda.
However, like all medicines, there are possible side effects to consider.
Possible side-effects of Saxenda
The most commons side effects110 include:
There are a few documented cases of long-term and severe adverse reactions. These include:
Gallbladder problems.
Liver or kidney problems.
Increased heart rate.
Serious allergic reactions - symptoms may include swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat and a very quick heartbeat, breathing or swallowing difficulties, or a severe rash. At worst, anaphylaxis.
It is not known if this medication can cause thyroid tumours or thyroid cancer, but medicines that work like Saxenda have caused these conditions in studies with rats. For this reason, you shouldn’t take this injection if you or someone in your family has ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)10.
There are several other health conditions and medications that can make the Saxenda weight loss injection unsafe for you to take. Your healthcare expert will be able to advise if this is the case.
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General health and lifestyle
Obesity and weight loss
If you are obese or overweight, you have an increased risk of developing various health problems, including cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Even a modest amount of weight loss can help to reduce your increased health risks. The best chance of losing weight and keeping the weight off, is to be committed to a change in lifestyle. This includes eating a healthy diet and doing some regular physical activity.
by Dr Doug McKechnie, MRCGP
Possible side-effects of Wegovy
The most commons side effects11 include:
Nausea/ vomiting.
Diarrhoea/ constipation.
Stomach pain.
Headache.
Tiredness (fatigue).
Stomach flu.
Heartburn.
There are a few documented cases of long-term and severe adverse reactions. These include:
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
Gallbladder problems.
Kidney problems.
Increased heart rate.
Depression/ suicidal thoughts.
Serious allergic reactions - symptoms may include swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat and a very quick heartbeat, breathing or swallowing difficulties, or a severe rash. At worst, anaphylaxis.
For people with type 2 diabetes - there are additional risks of low blood sugar and changes in vision.
As with Saxenda, it is not known if Wegovy causes thyroid tumours or thyroid cancer, and so avoid this drug if you or someone in your family has ever had MTC or MEN 2. As other health conditions and medications may make Wegovy unsafe for you, always follow your healthcare expert’s advice.
Possible side-effects of Aqualyx
The most common side effects usually clear within a few days. These include12:
Redness of the skin.
Bruising.
Swelling.
Skin lumps - usually associated with incorrect application.
The only serious adverse effects that have been reported are scarring and skin necrosis - where skin tissue dies resulting in a permanent visible dark mark13. These cases are very rare, but it should be noted that experts believe we need more studies of Aqualyx to fully understand exactly how safe and effective this drug is.
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Three key safety tips
1. Don't neglect diet and exercise
Remember, weight loss injections aren't miracle drugs - only by reducing your calorie intake, following a nutritious diet, and increasing your physical activity will you achieve a healthy body weight. It's these major lifestyle changes that will help you to keep the weight off and reduce your risk of weight-related health conditions.
2. Choose a trusted healthcare provider
In the UK, there have been reports of unregulated imports of weight loss injections and non-medically qualified practitioners. This weight management technique is only safe if carried out by a qualified and trained professional. The new government pilot to make Wegovy available outside hospitals, although a less closely regulated approach, will look at using other healthcare professionals - like GPs - and doesn't condone administration by non-medical practitioners.
What to look for in a provider:
Medically qualified clinicians - for example, doctors or dentists have done extensive studies in anatomy and physiology.
Additional specialist training in aesthetics.
Reputable products - when asked where they source this medication, your provider should be able to name a trustworthy UK pharmacy.
Suitable insurance - your provider should have insurance specific to carrying out aesthetic procedures.
3. Disclose your medical history
A trustworthy provider should always do a thorough check of your medical record and ask questions to determine if weight loss injections are a suitable and safe treatment path for you. You should disclose any current or previous medical conditions and medications that you have taken.
Further reading
A. Talathi and P. Talathi: Fat busters: lipolysis for face and neck.
GOV.UK: New drugs pilot to tackly obesity and cut NHS waiting lists.
NICE: NICE recommended weight-loss drug to be made available in specialist NHS services.
GOV.UK: MHRA authorises diabetes drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for weight management and weight loss.
Public Health England: Health matters: obesity and the food environment.
Ponzani: Long-term effectiveness and safety of liraglutide in clinical practice.
Toro and Rauso: Skin necrosis following adipocitolitic solution injections.
Article history
The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
26 Sept 2023 | Latest version
17 Oct 2022 | Originally published
Authored by:
Amberley Davis
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