Weight loss drug approved for NHS use

As reported by the BBC, a weight loss jab that has gained popularity in the US has been approved for use by the NHS in England

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) concluded semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, is safe, effective and affordable. Delivered via an injection into the skin, the drug makes people feel fuller and more satisfied, so they eat less.

Based on evidence from clinical trials, NICE says semaglutide could help people reduce their weight by over 10%, if implemented alongside nutrition and lifestyle changes.

It will be recommended for use by people with at least one weight-related health condition, as well as those who have a body mass index (BMI) which puts them near the top of the obese range.

BMI is calculated by dividing an adult’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in metres.

Those who are lower on the obese BMI range – a BMI between 30 and 34.9kg/m2 – could also be offered the drug if they have a weight-related health condition. NICE lists these as someone who is pre-diabetic, has type two diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or obstructive sleep apnoea.

Once-weekly injections of Wegovy will have to be prescribed by a specialist, and an individual will only be able to take the drug for a maximum of two years.

Semaglutide is also found in the diabetes medicine Ozempic, but, unlike Ozempic – which is intended for those with type 2 diabetes – Wegovy is recommended specifically for weight loss.