Fat jabs should not be used by holidaymakers trying to get 'beach-body ready' - Britain's top doctor warns as he praises new arsenal of drugs in battle against obesity By Shaun Wooller Published: 19:28 EDT, 13 June 2024 | Updated: 19:32 EDT, 13 June 2024 e-mail View comments Fat jabs should be used only to treat obesity or diabetes and not abused by holidaymakers trying to get ‘beach-body ready’, the nation’s top doctor has said. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, medical director at NHS England, warned the drugs can be dangerous and were not a ‘quick fix’ for people who ‘just want to lose a few pounds’. His intervention comes amid growing concern about the number of normal weight and underweight patients seeking care at A&E after the jabs caused serious side-effects.
In some cases, the users are even thought to have eating disorders. Many are young girls. It is understood Britons are obtaining jabs from private beauty clinics or online pharmacies after completing a simple questionnaire with few checks.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis (pictured), medical director at NHS England, warned the drugs can be dangerous and were not a ‘quick fix’ for people who ‘just want to lose a few pounds’ An Ozempic injection pen. The jabs are available on the NHS for patients who meet strict criteria but can also be bought privately on prescription, along with other brands The drug semaglutide, which suppresses appetite, was initially used to treat diabetes under the brand name Ozem.