Fat jabs fact vs fiction – myths, benefits & side effects of ‘miracle’ weight-loss injections
Read on to find out which foods mimic fat jabs, and the other ways weight loss jabs might boost your health beyond shedding the pounds
IN a world with soaring obesity rates, fat jabs have arrived and taken the world of the rich and beautiful by storm.
The injections have allegedly helped celebrities like Elon Musk, Sharon Osbourne and even Prime Minister Boris Johnson shed the pounds.
And now, unemployed Brits could be given free weight-loss jabs under plans being drawn up by Wes Streeting.
The health secretary wants to use drugs – including Wegovy and Mounjaro – to kickstart a major back-to-work drive.
But there is a dark side to these “miracle jabs”.
UK health chiefs are investigating 20 deaths that have been reported as being potentially linked to the injections.
Several celebs, including model Lottie Moss and actor Stephen Fry, have opened up about all the horrible side effects they experienced while taking the jabs, from contorting on the floor to violent sickness.
The curiosity to try the quick fix has even driven some to turn to the black market for skinny jabs, which can leave people seriously unwell.
To help separate fact from fiction, and arm you with vital information, we asked the experts key questions on the injectables.
What are the different fat jabs?
There is one thing all fat jabs have in common — they mimic the hormone (glucagon-like peptide 1) that makes you feel full.
Wegovy is the brand name for the drug semaglutide, also found in Ozempic, approved to treat diabetes.
Dr Aishah Iqbal, a doctor and weight-loss coach who runs , tells Sun Health: “It works by increasing insulin secretion and delays gastric emptying, creating a suppression in appetite.”
Meanwhile, Mounjaro is the brand name for another medication, tirzepatide, and Saxenda contains the active drug liraglutide.
Dr Mitra Dutt, a GP from , says: “Mounjaro works by activating two hormonal receptors (GIP and GLP-1), which enhance insulin production, improve insulin sensitivity and work to decrease food intake.”
Saxenda, which contains the active ingredient liraglutide, is another weight loss jab that’s been available on the NHS since 2020.
While Mounjaro is hailed as the “King Kong” fat jabs, a new weight loss drug dubbed “Godzilla” looks set to displace it.
Containing the active ingredient retatrutide, slimmers trying the drug lost up to 29 per cent of their weight in less than a year.
By comparison, trial results showed semaglutide, known as Ozempic, could lead to 15 per cent weight loss and tirzepatide, aka Mounjaro, to 23 per cent.
'Monumental' fat jabs could level the playing field
By Lizzie Parry, Head of Health
FIRST things first, let’s just clear up which so-called ‘fat jabs’ are available on the NHS at the moment.
Chances are you’ve heard of Ozempic – the brand name has become synonymous with weight loss jabs, largely thanks to celebrities in the US rumoured to have used it.
But, Ozempic is not available on the NHS for weight loss and is only approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in the UK.
That said, Wegovy, a similar treatment that contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic, is approved for weight-loss on the NHS.
Meanwhile, Mounjaro, dubbed the ‘King Kong’ of skinny jabs – a slightly newer drug with the active ingredient tirzepatide – is also licensed for weight loss in the UK.
Both semaglutide and tirzepatide work to help people lose weight by suppressing appetite.
The causes of obesity are complex, and in many cases genetics are a major factor.
Our genes influence all sorts of things, from how much food we need to eat to feel full to how our brain reacts to food cues.
So, it really is the case that some people feel the urge to eat more often than others.
In the face of giant portion sizes, ultra-processed foods at every turn and on every menu, it can be incredibly difficult for some people – due to their genetics – to maintain a healthy weight.
That’s why these drugs could prove a game-changer. They could help level the playing field.
For those people who are genetically predisposed to being more hungry, these drugs can help realign their urge to eat to that of a person who finds it easier to stay slim.
That said, no medication comes without risk.
So, doctors need to assess each individual on a case-by-case basis to balance any risk versus the benefit for their patients.
In people who live with severe obesity, the likelihood is that the benefits will outweigh the risks, especially if they have other health issues like diabetes or heart disease.
For those of a healthy weight, it’s more likely the risks will outweigh the benefits, experts warn.
Common side effects include vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, gallstones, and less common but more severe risks include acute pancreatitis.
While these drugs really could prove monumental in helping to shrink the nation’s waistline, it is vital that they come with support and education to help improve people’s diet and lifestyle, putting movement and exercise at the heart of any prescription.
Retatrutide acts on three different receptors in the brain, “turbocharging” calorie burning while dulling hunger pangs.
Existing weight-loss jabs only suppress appetite, whereas the new treatment also speeds up metabolism.
The new drug is still undergoing clinical trials so it’s not yet known if it will be made available on the NHS.
Is it safe to use fat jabs to slim down before a holiday or wedding?
Ian Budd, pharmacist forand MyBMI, says: “Using injectable weight-loss medications for cosmetic reasons or without a medical need is not recommended and can be potentially harmful.
“They are not a quick fix or a way to lose a few pounds before a holiday.
“Misuse of these medications can lead to serious health consequences and should be avoided.”
Dr Iqbal adds: “They are for the management of chronic obesity, so they may not be the first step to take if your weight gain has been more recent or over a shorter period of time.”
How much weight can you expect to lose with fat jabs?
With Wegovy, you can expect to see 15 per cent weight loss on average. That is a 31lb weight loss for a person weighing 15st, taking them to 12st 11lb.
Mounjaro is more effective, reducing weight by 20 per cent. And Saxenda is the least effective, with five per cent weight loss, on average.
They are not a quick fix or a way to lose a few pounds before a holiday
Ian Budd, pharmacist for Chemist4U and MyBMI
Dr Dutt says: “Based on clinical trials, 96 per cent of people were able to lose more than five per cent of their body fat using Mounjaro.
“In similar trials, 84 per cent of people lost more than five per cent of their body weight on Wegovy, and 60 per cent on Saxenda.”
Can you get the jabs on the NHS?
Eligiblity hinges on having a body mass index of 30-35 (obese category), coupled with weight-related health issues such as hypertension or type 2 diabetes.
Dr Iqbal explains: “You need to be referred to the NHS specialist weight management service, usually by your GP.”
Mr Budd says: “Access to these medications on the NHS may be considered only in exceptional cases where other weight-loss interventions have been unsuccessful.”
Criteria for a private prescription depends on the healthcare provider. He says: “In some cases, the criteria may be similar to NHS guidelines, while in others, it may be more relaxed.”
Privately, the jabs cost anywhere from £150 to £260 a month.
Can you buy fat jabs over the counter?
Fat jabs aren’t available over the counter, you need to have a prescription to take them.
Aside from getting a prescription via the NHS, you also have the option for paying for a private prescription.
Your eligibility will still need to be assessed by a pharmacist or GP, according to .
How long do you have to take the jabs for?
Mr Budd says: “In general, these medications are used for a limited period, usually up to 12 weeks.”
Websites touting “15/20 per cent weight loss” refer to clinical trials in which patients were given fat jabs for more than a year.
The NHS website says patients’ prescriptions are continued past three to six months only if a minimum of five per cent body weight reduction has been achieved.
Mr Budd says: “After discontinuing injectable weight-loss medications, appetite may gradually return to normal, the extent of which can vary.”
Although fat jabs appear to be a “magic fix”, Dr Iqbal adds: “These medications should be used alongside lifestyle changes such as dietary changes and exercise.”
What are the potential side effects and risks?
Mr Budd says: “Common side effects may include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, headache and dizziness. The frequency and severity of side effects can vary, and some people may experience none at all.
“Long-term effects of injectable weight-loss medications are still being studied, and the safety profile of these medications over extended periods is not yet fully understood.”
Other side effects reported include vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, flatulence and acid reflux.
Positive research studies show evidence that semaglutide can reduce the risk of heart failure, heart attack, stroke, addiction, Parkinson’s and even Alzheimer’s.
There were concerns that the jabs were linked to both thyroid cancer and suicide but more recent studies have challenged these claims.
How can you be sure that you are buying your jabs from a reputable place?
An influx of skinny jabs on the black market has resulted in people becoming sick and even risking death.
Mr Budd says: “There’s no way to know what you’re putting into your body.
There’s no way to know what you’re putting into your body
Ian Budd, pharmacist for Chemist4U and MyBMI
“If someone is offering you weight-loss medications with no questions asked, that’s a huge red flag and you should avoid them at all costs.”
He says a legitimate prescriber will have their credentials listed in registers provided by the General Medical Council or General Pharmaceutical Council and pharmacies should be registered with the GPhC.
Are there any products that give the same effect?
Supplement products may be touted as having the same effect as Ozempic.
Rachell Hipkiss, a nutritional biochemist, says: “Two particular products keep popping up. Berberine, hailed as ‘nature’s Ozempic’ on TikTok, is a bioactive compound. Glucomannan (Konjac) is a root vegetable native to China.”
But neither have the same clinical research backing their effects.
Foods that help manage appetite, helping you feel fuller for longer, include oats, avocados, eggs and nuts.
What ELSE you could try…
Like fat jabs, there are some foods that Canadian scientists claim could mimic the GLP-1 hormone.
It’s worth giving all of these a go – oats, avocados, eggs, nuts and plenty of vegetables.
… and what to avoid
You should always be cautious of extravagant claims you will see on social media, such as that over-the-counter supplements including Glucomannan and Berbering, are “as good as Ozempic”.
The other surprising ways weight loss jabs can boost your health
Whether it’s wild before-and-after pictures flooding social media or the feral gossip each time a celebrity posts a snap of themselves appearing to look far slimmer than before.
And now, we’re being faced with a barrage of studies claiming the jabs might be good for more than just shedding the pounds.
Most recently, scientists said the medicines could be the cancer hope of the future, and after early studies suggested they could reduce the risk of tumours, for example.
Other experts have said the fat-blasting jabs can silence snoring by treating an underlying health condition called sleep apnoea.
This happens when your breathing stops and starts while you are asleep, causing people to gasp, snore and wake up spluttering during the night.
Medications like Wegovy could affect cognitive disorders and even ward off Alzheimer’s.
The thought stems from a that followed people with type 2 diabetes for five years.
The scientists found those on weight loss jabs were less likely to develop dementia compared to those not on the drug.
Meanwhile, some women have reportedly become pregnant unexpectedly after taking semaglutide jabs.
This has led to some doctors in the US prescribing the medicine to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the leading causes of infertility in women.
Many people with the condition are overweight and found to have higher levels of testosterone, which is usually thought of as a ‘male hormone’.
Researchers reckon weight loss drugs could help regulate hormones in people with PCOS and so reduce symptoms and complications.
As people get older, they tend to shed muscle and gain body fat, which feeds into conditions often seen in older adults, such as frailty and loss of muscle mass and strength.
There are some trials happening now which are looking into whether drugs such as semaglutide can slow this process down.
As it turns out, weight loss jabs can crush drug cravings in the same way they stop the urge to eat.
The jabs are known to promote feelings of fullness and, it seems, dampen the reward associated not only with food but also drugs.
A Penn University study found liraglutide was as good as a fortnight in rehab for people addicted to painkillers.
The skinny jab could also cut your risk of a heart attack, according to researchers.
Being a healthy weight can slash your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases like strokes and vascular dementia.
That’s because carrying excess weight can lead to fatty substances building up in your arteries, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) warns.
Meanwhile, French researchers reported the jabs could modestly slow down the advancement of Parkinson’s.
The , published in The New England Journal of Medicine, involved 156 people with early Parkinson’s disease who were randomly assigned to take the drug — lixisenatide -or a placebo and followed for a year.
During that time, Parkinson’s symptoms like tremor, stiffness, slowness and balance worsened in those taking the placebo but not in those taking the drug.