Am I eligible for Ozempic, and how do I get it? Our experts answer all your questions about the weight-loss drug

Weight loss drugs are praised by everyone from politicians to Hollywood’s finest.

Actress Rebel Wilson revealed they helped her maintain her slimmer figure, while Oprah Winfrey said their arrival “feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift.”

But while the use of Ozempic – a brand name for the drug semaglutide – appears to be ubiquitous, there are strict criteria for getting hold of such treatments in the UK.

So, are weight loss shots right for you, and if so, how can you get them? Here are some questions to think about…

How much weight can I expect to lose?

The drugs mimic glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, a hormone released by the intestines when you eat. It turns off hunger signals in the brain and stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.

You should follow a low-calorie diet and exercise regularly while taking the drug. The combination results in an average of 15 percent weight loss within 16 months.

Am I eligible for reimbursement through the NHS?

Originally intended as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, NHS guidance says Ozempic should not be prescribed solely for weight loss, to protect the supply for diabetes patients.

However, Wegovy – another brand of semaglutide – is available on the NHS, but only for people dealing with problems caused by obesity, and not just for those wanting to lose some weight.

Weight loss drugs mimic glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone released by the gut when you eat. It turns off hunger signals in the brain and stimulates the pancreas to release insulin

Your doctor may recommend semaglutide, given by injection once a week, if diet and exercise don’t work on their own, you have health problems caused by your weight, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and you have a BMI of 35 or higher (although this may differ per ethnic minority).

A similar slimming drug available on the NHS is liraglutide (also known by the brand name Saxenda), which requires daily injections. To be eligible, all of the following conditions must be met: You must be at least 75 years old; have a BMI of 35 or above; have high blood sugar levels; and be at high risk of heart problems – for example, because you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

What about a private prescription?

Even privately, you can only get Wegovy with a review, a prescription and ongoing support. Private doctors can exercise more discretion when it comes to your BMI, but they must still take national advice into account.

When it comes to Ozempic, many private doctors follow the same principle: they don’t prescribe it just for weight loss, but some are willing to prescribe it to non-diabetics.

If you pay for your NHS prescriptions, Wegovy and Saxenda cost the standard £9.90 per pack of four or five pre-filled pens. Privately, a four-week supply of Wegovy can start at £169, while a six-week supply of Saxenda costs around £230.

How long can I use it?

If you take Wegovy, you will be assessed after six months and will usually not continue until you have lost at least 5 percent of your body weight in six months.

Under current guidelines, semaglutide is only available on the NHS for a maximum of two years. However, this does not apply to private prescriptions and some experts expect that many patients will continue taking it for life, with two-thirds returning to their starting weight a year after stopping.

Martin Whyte, a senior lecturer in metabolic medicine at the University of Surrey, points out that the use of long-term drugs for conditions such as diabetes and asthma is ‘never questioned… obesity is no different’. But he adds that semaglutide is ‘a treatment, not a cure. Major efforts are needed to prevent obesity – at a societal level’.

Why wouldn’t it be for me?

It is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Many people have also reported fatigue and headaches.

What if I can’t get it?

The standard NHS advice is to reduce your food intake by 600 calories per day to lose weight at a sustainable rate of 0.5 to 1kg per week (for most women this means consuming no more than 1,400 calories per day ). Adults are also recommended to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.

Other options include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and, for people with severe obesity (a BMI of 40 or more), bariatric surgery, but only if all appropriate non-surgical measures have been tried.