New ‘crucial' fat jabs guidance issued for the NHS – are you affected?
JABS UPDATE New 'crucial' fat jabs guidance issued for the NHS – are you affected?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
FAT jabs are not a 'quick fix' and patients must be followed up for at least a year to keep the weight off, the NHS watchdog has warned.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) told clinics to offer more follow-up appointments and aftercare.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
2RD5P46 photo of Mounjaro Weight Loss Pen
Credit: Alamy
More than 1.5million Brits are thought to be taking weight loss injections such as Wegovy and Mounjaro.
Most are on private prescriptions where many do not receive help with diet and exercise alongside the medication.
Studies suggest people start re-gaining weight within two months of stopping the jabs, and often put it all back on within two years.
Professor Jonathan Benger, chief medical officer at Nice, said: 'Successful weight management doesn't end when medication stops or when someone completes a behavioural programme.
'The transition period after treatment is crucial.
'People need structured support to maintain the positive changes they've made.
'This new standard makes sure services provide that vital continuity of care.'
Check-ups to prevent weight regain
The standard issued to NHS clinics tells them how to look after patients taking weight loss injections.
They must get action plans for staying healthy at home and at work, have regular check-ins and have community support available.
Dr Rebecca Payne, head of standards at Nice, said: 'Weight management is a long-term journey, not a short-term fix.
'The evidence is clear that advice and support for maintaining weight after stopping medicines can help prevent weight regain.'
Sun Health Explainer: Fat jabs
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.'
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
36 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
New cancer treatment that slashes risk of death by a quarter gives fresh hope to thousands in ‘major step forward'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WOMEN with advanced womb cancer have been given fresh hope with the approval of a new drug. The treatment, which can slash the risk of death by 26 per cent, was given the green light for widespread NHS use. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, has been licensed to treat advanced or recurring endometrial cancer Credit: Alamy Just 15 per cent of women live for five years if they have been diagnosed with advanced endometrial cancer - a cancer which usually starts in the lining of the womb. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has now made a treatment, called pembrolizumab, available on the NHS in England for people with advanced or recurring endometrial cancer. The drug can slow down cancer growth and improve survival odds, health officials said. NICE estimates that around 2,100 women will benefit from the treatment each year. It said that its approval of the treatment marks a "major step forward" in treatment for women with this type of cancer. Pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda and made by Merck Sharp and Dohme, is an immunotherapy drug. This is a type of treatment that mobilises the body's own immune system to fight cancer. The drug is delivered in a drip alongside chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel and can be given to patients for up to two years. According to NICE, clinical trials show the combination of treatments reduced the risk of death by 26 per cent compared to chemotherapy alone. The drug combo can also slow down cancer progression, the regulator added. Cervical cancer warning signs you should NEVER ignore, with Doctor Philippa Kaye Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: "For people with advanced endometrial cancer, this innovative combination offers a powerful new treatment option. "It marks a major step forward, and we're pleased to recommend it as part of our commitment to getting the best care to people, fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer." Around 9,700 women are diagnosed with endometrial cancer - also known as womb or uterine cancer - each year, making it the most common gynaecological cancer in the UK, according to NICE. The disease is most common in older women. Womb cancer symptoms Cancer of the womb is often called uterine or endometrial cancer. Symptoms include: Bleeding after the menopause Bleeding that is unusually heavy or persistent between periods Abnormal vaginal discharge (this might be pink) Anaemia High platelet count High blood sugar levels Stomach pain Swollen tummy Bloating Change in bowel or bladder habits A new cough Being overweight or obese is one of the biggest risks of womb cancer, according to Cancer Research UK. Other risk factors include age (most women diagnosed are aged 75 to 79) as well as being on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and having diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Having too much of the hormone oestrogen is thought to raise your risk of womb cancer, according to the Eve Appeal. Fat cells in the body store oestrogen, even after the menopause and obesity has been linked to womb cancer because of its effect on oestrogen levels. It's not always possible to prevent womb cancer, but some things are thought to reduce your risk, like maintaining a healthy weight. Source: Cancer Research UK Its most common symptom is abnormal bleeding from the vagina, that is heavier than usual and occurs between periods or after menopause. It can also cause pink-tinged vaginal discharge, as well abdominal pain, bloating and a change in bladder or bowel habits. Helen Hyndman, lead nurse at the charity Eve Appeal's information service Ask Eve, said: "Primary advanced or recurrent womb (endometrial) cancer has a huge impact on the quality of life for those diagnosed. "It is great news that this new treatment has been approved. "It will offer hope, a better quality of life and improve outcomes for those affected."
The Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Sun
New cancer treatment that slashes risk of death by a quarter gives fresh hope to thousands in ‘major step forward'
WOMEN with advanced womb cancer have been given fresh hope with the approval of a new drug. The treatment, which can slash the risk of death by 26 per cent, was given the green light for widespread NHS use. 1 Just 15 per cent of women live for five years if they have been diagnosed with advanced endometrial cancer - a cancer which usually starts in the lining of the womb. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has now made a treatment, called pembrolizumab, available on the NHS in England for people with advanced or recurring endometrial cancer. The drug can slow down cancer growth and improve survival odds, health officials said. NICE estimates that around 2,100 women will benefit from the treatment each year. It said that its approval of the treatment marks a "major step forward" in treatment for women with this type of cancer. Pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda and made by Merck Sharp and Dohme, is an immunotherapy drug. This is a type of treatment that mobilises the body's own immune system to fight cancer. The drug is delivered in a drip alongside chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel and can be given to patients for up to two years. According to NICE, clinical trials show the combination of treatments reduced the risk of death by 26 per cent compared to chemotherapy alone. The drug combo can also slow down cancer progression, the regulator added. Cervical cancer warning signs you should NEVER ignore, with Doctor Philippa Kaye Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: "For people with advanced endometrial cancer, this innovative combination offers a powerful new treatment option. "It marks a major step forward, and we're pleased to recommend it as part of our commitment to getting the best care to people, fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer." Around 9,700 women are diagnosed with endometrial cancer - also known as womb or uterine cancer - each year, making it the most common gynaecological cancer in the UK, according to NICE. The disease is most common in older women. Womb cancer symptoms Cancer of the womb is often called uterine or endometrial cancer. Symptoms include: Bleeding after the menopause Bleeding that is unusually heavy or persistent between periods Abnormal vaginal discharge (this might be pink) Anaemia High platelet count High blood sugar levels Stomach pain Swollen tummy Bloating Change in bowel or bladder habits A new cough Being overweight or obese is one of the biggest risks of womb cancer, according to Cancer Research UK. Other risk factors include age (most women diagnosed are aged 75 to 79) as well as being on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and having diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Having too much of the hormone oestrogen is thought to raise your risk of womb cancer, according to the Eve Appeal. Fat cells in the body store oestrogen, even after the menopause and obesity has been linked to womb cancer because of its effect on oestrogen levels. It's not always possible to prevent womb cancer, but some things are thought to reduce your risk, like maintaining a healthy weight. Its most common symptom is abnormal bleeding from the vagina, that is heavier than usual and occurs between periods or after menopause. It can also cause pink-tinged vaginal discharge, as well abdominal pain, bloating and a change in bladder or bowel habits. Helen Hyndman, lead nurse at the charity Eve Appeal's information service Ask Eve, said: "Primary advanced or recurrent womb (endometrial) cancer has a huge impact on the quality of life for those diagnosed. "It will offer hope, a better quality of life and improve outcomes for those affected."
Western Telegraph
an hour ago
- Western Telegraph
Treatment for advanced womb cancer ‘major step forward'
Just 15% of women live for five years if they have been diagnosed with advanced (stage four) endometrial cancer – a cancer which usually starts in the lining of the womb. The treatment, pembrolizumab, can slow down cancer growth and improve survival odds, health officials said. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) estimates that around 2,100 women will benefit from the treatment each year. It said that its approval of the treatment for the NHS in England marks a 'major step forward' in treatment for women with this type of cancer. The treatment, also known as Keytruda and made by Merck Sharp and Dohme, is an immunotherapy drug and is delivered in a drip alongside chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel and can be given for up to two years. Nice said that clinical trials show the combination of treatments reduced the risk of death by 26% compared to chemotherapy alone. The treatments can also slow down cancer progression, it added. 'For people with advanced endometrial cancer, this innovative combination offers a powerful new treatment option,' said Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice. 'It marks a major step forward, and we're pleased to recommend it as part of our commitment to getting the best care to people, fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer.' Around 9,700 women are diagnosed with endometrial cancer each year, Nice said, making it the most common gynaecological cancer in the UK. Helen Hyndman, lead nurse at the charity Eve Appeal's information service Ask Eve, said: 'Primary advanced or recurrent womb (endometrial) cancer has a huge impact on the quality of life for those diagnosed. 'It is great news that this new treatment has been approved. 'It will offer hope, a better quality of life and improve outcomes for those affected.' Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England's national clinical director for cancer, said: 'Getting this treatment to many more NHS patients as quickly as possible will help thousands of women live longer, allowing them to spend more time with loved ones and give them a better quality of life. 'Thanks to the NHS's Cancer Drugs Fund, it is now being fast-tracked into routine use, with treatment available to more patients from today.'
