Fat jabs like Ozempic set to get official WHO seal of approval – backing use to treat obesity worldwide
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FAT jabs like Ozempic are set to get the seal of approval from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
This would back the use of slimming injections to help obese adults shed pounds for the first time.
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It marks a change in how global health chiefs are tackling obeisty
More than a billion people worldwide now live with obesity, according to the UN organisation.
In the UK alone, nearly two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese, with the number of cases continuing to climb.
The WHO's jab recommendation for treating the condition will be unveiled in August, as part of new guidelines, according to a memo seen by Reuters today.
The guidelines will also feature separate advice for children and teens who suffer from obesity, the global news agency, added.
The widely popular drugs, sold under brand names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
In the UK, Ozempic and Rybelsus are used on the NHS to treat type 2 diabetes, particularly when other treatments haven't worked.
For weight loss, the NHS offers drugs like Wegovy and Saxenda, but these are only available through specialist weight management services, and patients must be referred by their GP.
Privately, both Ozempic and Wegovy are available for weight loss, and many people access these treatments through private healthcare providers.
This is because they are not routinely offered for obesity on the NHS unless specific criteria are met.
GLP-1 drugs mimic hormones that make you feel full, squashing your appetite so you eat fewer calories and lose weight rapidly.
Julia Hartley-Brewer slams government plan for NHS to offer free 'fat jabs' to tackle obesity crisis
In clinical trials, people lost 15 per cent to 20 per cent of their body weight, depending on the drug.
They've also been shown to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
But experts have warned about serious side effects too, including stomach paralysis, pancreas inflammation, and even vision loss.
In February, The Sun revealed that 82 Brits have died after using weight-loss and diabetes jabs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. The details of why they died were not shared.
Next week, WHO experts will also decide whether to add GLP-1 drugs to their essential medicines list for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The list helps ensure life-saving drugs are available in all health systems, particularly in poorer countries, as seen with HIV drugs in 2002.
In 2023, health chiefs rejected adding obesity drugs due to a lack of long-term evidence, but now the WHO supports including them following new recommendations.
The WHO is concerned about the cost of the drugs and wants more studies on their long-term value, especially in poorer countries.
It suggests using methods like tiered pricing or pooled buying to make them more accessible.
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