ENGLAND’S top doctor has warned people off using fat jabs to get “beach body ready” amid concerns slimmers are making themselves ill with drugs bought online. NHS medics say increasing numbers of people are visiting A&E due to serious side effects of weight loss injections like Ozempic . Nausea and vomiting are common while taking the jabs but they can also cause more serious gut problems.
They are supposed to be prescription-only for medical purposes but are easy to buy privately for people looking to shed a few pounds. NHS England’s medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “Drugs including Ozempic and Wegovy should only be used by people prescribed them for obesity or diabetes. “I’m worried about reports that people are misusing them – they are not intended as a quick fix for people trying to get ‘beach body ready’.
“Buying medication online without a doctor’s supervision can lead to complications and dangerous consequences.” The popularity of the jabs is booming after trials showed they cause rapid weight loss and may bring a raft of other health benefits. They work by mimicking a fullness hormone in the gut and reducing your appetite.
Private demand, including from celebs like Jeremy Clarkson and Boris Johnson , has even squeezed NHS supplies. They can be bought online for about £150 per month or even from unlicensed beauticians. Two thirds of Brits are overweight and three in 10 are obese .
Dr Vicky Price, from the Society for Acute.
