A breakthrough weight loss drug is now available on the NHS as part of a pilot scheme.
For as long as time itself, people have searched for the quickest way they can lose weight.
With countless different (and often ridiculous) diets available to try, drinks that equate to a whole meal, the list goes on.
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A new weight loss injection has been found to lead to up to a 15 percent reduction in body mass in clinical trials, when it's used alongside changes in diet, physical activity and behavioural support.
The weight loss jab is called Wegovy, and will be prescribed via specialist NHS weight management services alongside a reduced calorie diet, starting from September 4.
Alex Guevara, a paramedic who has used the drug, talking to GMB said: “For me it's been hugely beneficial, really life-changing I would say.
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"It's not just the weight, it's the lifestyle improvements that come with that and the reduction in health conditions."
According to Wegovy, common side effects of the jab include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, headache, tiredness, upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, gas, stomach flu, and heartburn.
Those eligible for the drug will have a BMI over 30, or more than 27 and at least one weight-related chronic or long-term condition.
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The NHS was given the go-ahead with this jab earlier this year, but its guidance said it should be used for a maximum of two years.
The Government announced a budget of £40 million to launch this pilot to expand access to weight-loss jabs, tackling obesity in the UK.
The Health Survey for England in 2021 found that over 25 percent of adults in the UK are obese, and a further 37 percent are overweight but not obese.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the jab could be a 'game-changer'.
He continued: “Obesity puts huge pressure on the NHS.
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“Using the latest drugs to support people to lose weight will be a game-changer by helping to tackle dangerous obesity-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer – reducing pressure on hospitals, supporting people to live healthier and longer lives, and helping to deliver on my priority to cut NHS waiting lists.”
However Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the drug, has confirmed that the jab is currently in short supply, and expects it 'to be constrained for the foreseeable future'.
Nevertheless, an NHS spokesperson has said that around 50,000 eligible patients in England could be prescribed Wegovy via the NHS.
Novo Nordisk also said: “We are closely monitoring Wegovy demand and are working with regulators and providers to ensure people living with obesity can have access to and remain on treatment.”
Featured Image Credit: PA/Tim Boyle/Getty ImagesTopics: Drugs, Rishi Sunak, NHS