Weight loss jabs are transforming obesity care, but is it for the better?

istock.com/Pakawadee Wongjinda

By Emma Wilkinson

GLP-1s have dramatically changed treatment, nearly overnight. But doctors warn of disjointed care and a 'societal and medical failure' if root causes of obesity go unaddressed.

Within the past couple of years, the use of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Wegovy) for weight loss has exploded.

Yet in the UK, the vast majority of GLP-1 prescribing is happening outside the NHS.

A recent study by researchers at UCL estimated that 1.6 million adults took one of the medicines between 2024 and 2025. That figure was based on a national survey, which suggested that another three million people are considering using the drugs.

People frequently ask why we need dietary advice and support programmes in the era of GLP-1s

There is no other example of a class of medicine that has grown so incredibly fast in use while still being barely available on the NHS. For those who pay out of pocket, the medicines cost hundreds of pounds a month – meaning that those who need them the most are probably the least likely to be able to access them.