Joe Harker
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Over half a million Brits have been taking weight loss drugs, with the NHS able to offer prescriptions of certain new medications.
The main drugs which get prescribed for this are Wegovy and Mounjaro, but the name everyone seems to know in this regard is Ozempic.
They've really exploded in popularity in recent months, as it's turned out that a whole host of famous faces have actually been taking them in order to stay in shape.
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However, plenty of people taking it are unlikely to know exactly how it works or what options are on the table, as it turns out you can't actually get prescribed Ozempic for weight loss in the UK.
Ozempic is a brand name for something called Semaglutide which is primarily used for managing blood sugar levels and treating type 2 diabetes.
There are other drugs which contain semaglutide such as Wegovy (which actually contains more than Ozempic), while other weight loss drug Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which is also used to treat type 2 diabetes.
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While Wegovy is available on the NHS for weight loss and Mounjaro likely will be, Ozempic is not, but that hasn't stopped celebs and others to still take it for that purpose.
Ozempic is meant to be taken as a weekly injection which helps the body produce more insulin by mimicking a naturally produced hormone.
Taking Ozempic helps slow down your digestion, making you feel fuller and thus reducing your hunger, which in turn can help with losing weight. If you're not as hungry, then you'll ideally eat less, and lose weight as a result.
Dr Holly Lofton explained that most people taking Ozempic for weight loss will likely lose some weight within the first month, but it will be between eight and 12 weeks before they see more pronounced effects.
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It's not something you can just inject yourself with and call it a day though; the changes in eating habits and lifestyle it'll likely result in are the real change.
Dr Eric Williamson said that patients who took drugs containing semaglutide over a 68-week period and altered their diet and exercise as a result had typically experienced a reduction in body weight of between 15 and 20 percent.
Some of those who've been on it for longer have said it's not a magic bullet for weight loss, but they have seen noticeable results.
Pretty much all medication comes with the risk of side effects, though that doesn't make them common.
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The most common side effects of Ozempic are feeling nauseous, vomiting, and getting diarrhoea, and there are a number of other ill feelings in the gut which could be side effects of taking the drug.
Weight loss is technically a side effect of Ozempic, since it's not prescribed on the NHS for that purpose.
By nature of the drug, it can cause low blood sugar, while people have also noticed the appearance changes that result from rapid weight loss.
A number of the rich and famous have tried Ozempic, and not all have found it to be for them.
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James Corden said he stopped taking the drug after he found it 'didn't really work' for him, explaining that he realised a lot of his eating wasn't because he was hungry, so suppressing his hunger didn't end up helping much.
Jeremy Clarkson said taking the drug made him 'sick a lot', but he'd had more success since switching over to Mounjaro.
Someone who had a similar experience to Clarkson was Amy Schumer, who said taking Ozempic left her 'bed-ridden' and she had also switched to a different weight loss drug.
More positive on Ozempic was Sharon Osbourne, who said she'd lost 42lbs after she started taking it.
Back in January 2025, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) issued a warning against those seeking these weight loss jabs without a prescription.
"Obesity is one of the biggest challenges facing our country and pharmacies want to play their part in helping patients lose and maintain a healthy weight" they said in a statement.
"Weight-loss injections can play an important role in efforts to tackle obesity when prescribed as part of a carefully managed treatment programme for patients who are most in need of support.
"However, we are concerned that the current regulations allow some patients to inappropriately access weight-loss injections without proper consultation or examination of historical medical records."
According to Ashley Cohen of the NPA, these weight loss jabs are meant for people with a BMI over 30, but many are using them as a get-skinny-quick medication, unaware of the potential consequences it could have on your body.
Always speak to your doctor before seeking out prescription medication.