Wegovy, the pioneering weight loss injection, was recently given the green light for widespread National Health Service (NHS) use. It was a turning point in the battle against the ever-rising obesity rates.
Professor Alex Miras wrote on MailOnline that studies have shown how the anti-obesity medication could help patients lose up to a fifth of their weight through weekly self-administered injections.
This photograph taken on February 23, 2023, in Paris, shows the anti-diabetic medication "Ozempic" (semaglutide) made by Danish pharmaceutical company "Novo Nordisk"
Wegovy: Semaglutide Injection Approved for NHS Use
The semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, is made by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk and works by suppressing appetite. It has been involved in obesity drug research with positive results.
Professor Miras noted that the wider availability of the drug is what experts in the field of obesity treatment have long been calling for due to its potential to combat obesity-related illnesses, like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Diabetes.co.uk reports that the NHS is set to offer Wegovy to thousands of people living with obesity in England. More so, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said that the semaglutide is safe, effective, and affordable.
The anti-obesity medication is injected into the skin and mimics the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which reduces appetite and leads patients to eat less.
Although Elon Musk has stated he used "Wegovy and fasting," health professionals caution that the medicine is not a "quick fix". People will be prescribed Wegovy as part of a specialist weight control program for a period of up to two years. NICE, which approved the medicine, recommended it to be used with a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Individuals will be provided Wegovy on prescription as part of a specialized weight management service and for a maximum of two years. Individuals with a BMI of 30 or above may be eligible for the medication.
Helen Knight of NICE said that it will not be available for everyone and that their committee has made specific suggestions to guarantee that it stays a good investment for taxpayers as it can be used for a maximum of two years. Novo Nordisk also said that they welcome NICE's final recommendation for Wegovy, which is 2.4mg once a week, as an option for weight control under the NHS.
READ ALSO: New Drug Could Change the Game of Weight Loss for Obesity
How Effective Is the Semaglutide Medication?
Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk made both Ozempic and Wegovy which have been becoming popular in the US. But both medications should only be used as recommended by a doctor. Semaglutide medications may lead to adverse health effects if used improperly.
For instance, 36-year-old Kailey Wood who has been taking Ozempic for seven months after being prescribed by a New York-based doctor told BBC that she lost under 30kg and went from being obese to a healthy BMI. She suffers from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and noticed herself rapidly gaining weight despite being on a different diet.
She had high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels and was at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. She cautions people on her social media to know that semaglutide does have side effects before using the drug. She added that those who promote it as a get skinny-quick product leave a bad taste and sends a wrong message.
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