Latest news with #UKMedicinesandHealthcareproductsRegulatoryAgency
Metro
07-08-2025
- Health
- Metro
I'm proof 'Ozempic penis' exists — weight loss jabs gave me a huge boost in bed
Standing in front of the mirror, James* admired his new physique. Gone was the middle-aged spread and the gut that had been expanding rapidly since Christmas. Now, he was seeing muscles he'd never noticed before and looking at least 10 years younger. But that wasn't the best bit of his transformation. As he stood stark naked looking at his reflection, James couldn't help but notice that his penis also looked bigger than usual — and it was all down to 'miracle' weight loss drug Wegovy. The 55-year-old tells Metro: 'I'm not one to jump on celebrity fads, but I needed a little bit of an extra push. Dieting is the most painful, boring thing in the world and I'd heard a lot about Ozempic, so I did a lot of research and decided to give it a go. 'If it's good enough for Sharon Osbourne, it's good enough for me.' A semi-professional sportsman of two decades, James stepped back from competing last year, and alongside the fact he no longer had fitness targets helping him stay in shape, he found himself eating – and drinking – out of boredom. Wegovy, a brand name for semaglutide, is a GLP-1 inhibitor medication that targets the parts of the brain that regulate appetite and promotes the release of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. This makes people feel fuller, reducing hunger levels and cravings for high-fat foods. Alongside Mounjaro and Saxenda, it's one of three GLP-1 drugs prescribed by the NHS specifically for weight loss (whereas Ozempic – which uses the same active ingredient as Wegovy – is only approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes) and is also available to purchase privately through specialist pharmacies. According to the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), it can help reduce the risk of heart and circulatory disease in people living with excess weight. Wegovy is self-administered weekly with an injector pen, into the upper arms, stomach, thighs or buttocks. It's not a magic cure though. Patients still need to change their diet and reduce the amount of calories eaten to see effects, and regular exercise is also recommended. Additionally, there is evidence of weight regain when people stop using Wegovy. Common side effects of semaglutide include sickness, diarrhoea or constipation, headaches, tiredness, heartburn and bloating, while rarer problems can include gallbladder disease, inflammation of the pancreas, an increased heart rate and kidney issues. Although he was still exercising daily – clocking up an impressive 1,000km every month from cycling alone – when he stepped on the scales after a particularly indulgent Christmas, he decided things needed to change. So, six months ago, James started taking Wegovy. 'I think it's a miracle drug, to be honest,' he says. Getting rid of the dangerous visceral fat around his organs was the primary motivation for changing his lifestyle, but James admits: 'Sure, I wanted to look a little better too.' It was easy to get hold of Wegovy, which is a brand name for semaglutide and works in a similar way to Ozempic (though the latter isn't approved solely for weight loss in the UK, where it's specifically prescribed for the management blood sugar in type 2 diabetes patients). After putting his details into an online pharmacy – James admits he 'lied' on the application form to make sure he qualified – a fancy package of injectables arrived in the post. Describing the process of giving himself a jab in the stomach each week, James says: 'It doesn't hurt at all – you don't even feel it.' He began to feel the effects of the drug almost straight away though, becoming full after less food and having fewer cravings. At £160 to £260 (depending on the dose) per month, it's not cheap, but James reckons he's actually saving money overall. 'My weekly shop went down by £40 or £50 easily, and that's not including wine and Deliveroos which I spent about £80 to £100 a week on,' James explains. 'I've also saved a lot on toilet paper – I only go once a day now.' Since his first injection in February, the tech business owner claims he has lost 20% of his body weight. It's not just about dropping the kilos though, as James's blood pressure and visceral fat are both now back within a healthy range – and he's even sleeping better and not snoring. 'My body is in as good a condition as it's ever been,' he continues. 'I've got muscles in my forearm I never knew were there, I've lost fat and my muscles have come out. And my thighs look ridiculous.' Some men have claimed that taking GLP-1 injections hasn't just helped them lose inches from their waist, but has also added inches to their manhood — and even improved their performance in bed. The phenomenon, which has been dubbed 'Ozempic penis' on forums like Reddit, may be due to reduced fat around the pubic region which can make the penis appear larger. Dr Nidhi Kansal, an internal medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, tells Daily Mail these welcome side effects may also be caused by increased testosterone levels as a result of weight loss. Obesity in men has been linked to low testosterone, which can make you feel tired, lower your sex drive and impact erection quality, potentially making the penis look smaller. Losing weight (through medication or otherwise) can naturally boost the hormone, with a recent Endocrine Society report revealing a 20% rise in men being treated for obesity with GLP-1 medication. His confidence has been boosted too; a far cry from 'hibernating' at home and feeling self-conscious about his 'gut'. James (who is single and says he's 'blessed' to have never been married), adds: 'I look in the mirror and think, 'F*** me, I look good' these days.' Others have been equally complimentary about the newfound spring in his step too, and his exes remarking 'wow' when they see him now is a welcome consequence. Some people find their sex drive drops on semaglutide, as it can decrease the amount of dopamine (the pleasure neurotransmitter) released by more than just eating. Not for James, though, who says he's having 'better sex' as a result of the drug. 'If you have an impulsive drive for sex, it would affect that,' he explains. 'But I have a normal sexual appetite, so actually it's made me enjoy sex more because I'm not as self-conscious of my body and I've got more energy.' Apparently, Wegovy has also made an impact down below, and any fears people might have about it causing penis shrinkage are unfounded. 'If anything, my penis looks bigger, because you lose body fat around it and your overall mass gets smaller,' James says with a smile. 'It's like when you shave your bush and it makes it look bigger.' Nonetheless, he doesn't feel it's made him more attractive to women, as he believes they 'aren't interested in men's bodies.' 'They're interested in cars and money,' says James. 'The moral of the story is, you can be fat as long as you've got a big wallet and a nice car. You'll still attract women.' While he has managed to avoid the vast majority of potential side effects these weight loss drugs can cause, from diarrhoea to dizziness, James admits there have been some other downsides. His transformation meant he needed to buy a whole new wardrobe, and he finds he gets much colder now, needing to wear thermals and multiple layers in June. And while James did notice his face becoming more sallow as he lost weight, he leaned into the image overhaul and decided to have fillers, which 'made a massive difference' to counteract the telltale 'Ozempic face'. Wegovy impacts your appetite, but you won't go off your food altogether. James says: 'I eat normally – low GI cereal with fruit for breakfast and a protein shake for lunch; I gave up my lunchtime bagel. Dinner is normally a salad of some type with chicken, maybe pitta and hummus. 'On Sunday I had a sausage and a burger, as well as a bottle of wine with friends. Before I would have thought, 'that burger was great', and have a second one. I don't do that now.' You'll likely want fewer fatty foods while taking Wegovy, but it's important to balance eating in a caloric deficit with ensuring you get the nutrients you need. Like many users, James tends not to tell people he's taking Wegovy, as some consider it 'cheating' – a viewpoint he refutes. Instead, he thinks it should be made universally available for free or cheap. 'I think it's a tool, much like you can use anything as a tool,' he says. 'It's impossible to succeed without training and working out and eating more healthily. Yes, I perhaps wanted a bit of a quick fix. But it hasn't been a quick fix.' More Trending After reaching a plateau, James is now looking to come off the medication. But is he worried he'll revert back to his old ways once he does? 'I don't know,' he admits. 'I don't want to be on it for the rest of my life, but it was almost impossible for me to lose the weight I wanted to lose without it. It's like a little guardian angel on your shoulder saying 'Don't eat that!'.' View More » This article was first published on August 8, 2024. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Coronation Street star Kimberly Hart-Simpson receives support as she shares diagnosis MORE: Chloe Ayling: 'The email that made me realise why people doubted my kidnapping' MORE: Buried alive: How 33 men survived being trapped underground for 69 days Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Business Standard
07-07-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Biocon gets MHRA UK approval for marketing Denosumab biosimilars 'Vevzuo' & 'Evfraxy'
Biocon said that Biocon Biologics has received marketing authorisations from UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for Vevzuo and Evfraxy, biosimilars of Denosumab. Vevzuo is authorized for the prevention of skeletal related events (pathological fracture, radiation to bone, spinal cord compression or surgery to bone) in adults with advanced malignancies involving bone. Vevzuo is also authorized for the treatment of adults and skeletally mature adolescents with giant cell tumour of bone that is unresectable or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity. Evfraxy is authorized for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men at increased risk of fractures. In postmenopausal women this significantly reduces the risk of vertebral, non-vertebral, and hip fractures. Furthermore, Evfraxy is authorized for the treatment of bone loss associated with hormone ablation in men with prostate cancer at increased risk of fractures. In men with prostate cancer receiving hormone ablation, this significantly reduces the risk of vertebral fractures. Evfraxy is also authorized for the treatment of bone loss associated with long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy in adult patients at increased risk of fracture. Clinical data showed that both Denosumab biosimilars have comparable safety and efficacy to the reference product. In Europe, the European Commission (EC) recently granted marketing authorisation for Biocon Biologics Denosumab biosimilars, allowing their commercialization in all European Union (EU) member states and the European Economic Area (EEA). Biocon is a global biopharma company dedicated to improving affordable access to therapies for chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. The companys consolidated net profit surged 154.2% to Rs 344.50 crore on a 12.8% jump in net sales to Rs 4,358.10 crore in Q4 FY25 over Q4 FY24. The scrip fell 1.29% to currently trade at Rs 375.25 on the BSE.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Women on blockbuster weight loss drugs warned to use effective contraception
Pregnant women should not take weight loss drugs, the UK's medicines regulator warned amid concerns that people are using the so-called 'skinny jabs' in unsafe ways. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also said women should not take weight loss drugs if they are breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant, because there isn't enough safety data to know whether the medicine could affect their baby. 'Anyone who gets pregnant while using them should speak to their healthcare professional and stop the medicine as soon as possible,' the agency said. Meanwhile, all women taking the jabs should ensure they are using a form of contraception that works, the MHRA said. Related Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy could help serious liver condition that has no cure-all treatment One of the drugs, Mounjaro, may make birth control pills less effective, so the agency says women taking the jab should also use a non-oral form of contraception, like an implant or intrauterine device (IUD). 'Obesity reduces fertility in women. So, women with obesity taking GLP-1 drugs are more likely to get pregnant than before they lost weight,' Dr Channa Jayasena, a reproductive endocrinology researcher at Imperial College London, said in a statement. 'Women are advised to do all they can to prevent pregnancy while taking [these] drugs,' Jayasena added. Related France won't pay for weight loss drug Wegovy. What about other European countries? In the UK, women already receive these warnings when they get their prescriptions for the blockbuster jabs, which include Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, and Victoza as well as Mounjaro. The drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by mimicking hormones that help regulate appetites and make people feel full for longer. They have been approved to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Related Why are 1 in 10 French women still smoking during pregnancy despite the health risks? But the MHRA issued the reminder Thursday due to concerns that the drugs' growing popularity means women are buying them illegally online or at beauty salons, without seeing a doctor. 'Skinny jabs are medicines licensed to treat specific medical conditions and should not be used as aesthetic or cosmetic treatments,' Dr Alison Cave, MHRA's chief safety officer, said in a statement. 'They are not a quick fix to lose weight and have not been assessed to be safe when used in this way,' she added.
Euronews
05-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Annual births in Japan fall for 16th straight year
The number of newborns in Japan is decreasing faster than projected, with the number of annual births falling to another record low last year, according to new government data. The Health Ministry said 686,061 babies were born in Japan in 2024, down 5.7 per cent from the previous year and the first time the number of newborns fell below 700,000 since records began in 1899. It's the 16th straight year of decline, and about one-quarter of the peak of 2.7 million births in 1949, during the postwar baby boom. The data in a country of rapidly ageing and shrinking population adds to concern about the sustainability of the economy and national security at a time it seeks to increase defense spending. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has described the situation as "a silent emergency". He has promised to promote a more flexible working environment and other measures that would help married couples to balance work and parenting, especially in rural areas where family values tend to be more conservative and harder on women. Japan is one of a number of east Asian countries grappling with falling birth rates and an ageing population. South Korea and China, for example, have fought for years to encourage families to have more children. And on Wednesday, Vietnam scrapped decades-old laws limiting families to two children in an effort to stem falling birth rates. The Health Ministry's latest data showed that Japan's fertility rate – the average number of babies a woman is expected to have in her lifetime – also fell to a new low of 1.15 in 2024, from 1.2 a year earlier. The number of marriages was slightly up, to 485,063 couples, but the downturn since the 1970s remains unchanged. Experts say the government's measures have not addressed a growing number of young people reluctant to marry, largely focusing on already married couples. The younger generation is increasingly reluctant to marry or have children due to bleak job prospects, a high cost of living, and a gender-biased corporate culture that adds extra burdens for women and working mothers, experts say. A growing number of women also cite pressure to take their husband's surname as a reason for their reluctance to marry. Under Japanese law, couples must choose a single surname to marry. Japan's population of about 124 million people is projected to fall to 87 million by 2070, with 40 per cent of the population over 65. Pregnant women should not take weight loss drugs, the UK's medicines regulator warned amid concerns that people are using the so-called 'skinny jabs' in unsafe ways. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also said women should not take weight loss drugs if they are breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant, because there isn't enough safety data to know whether the medicine could affect their baby. 'Anyone who gets pregnant while using them should speak to their healthcare professional and stop the medicine as soon as possible,' the agency said. Meanwhile, all women taking the jabs should ensure they are using a form of contraception that works, the MHRA said. One of the drugs, Mounjaro, may make birth control pills less effective, so the agency says women taking the jab should also use a non-oral form of contraception, like an implant or intrauterine device (IUD). 'Obesity reduces fertility in women. So, women with obesity taking GLP-1 drugs are more likely to get pregnant than before they lost weight,' Dr Channa Jayasena, a reproductive endocrinology researcher at Imperial College London, said in a statement. 'Women are advised to do all they can to prevent pregnancy while taking [these] drugs,' Jayasena added. In the UK, women already receive these warnings when they get their prescriptions for the blockbuster jabs, which include Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, and Victoza as well as Mounjaro. The drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by mimicking hormones that help regulate appetites and make people feel full for longer. They have been approved to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. But the MHRA issued the reminder Thursday due to concerns that the drugs' growing popularity means women are buying them illegally online or at beauty salons, without seeing a doctor. 'Skinny jabs are medicines licensed to treat specific medical conditions and should not be used as aesthetic or cosmetic treatments,' Dr Alison Cave, MHRA's chief safety officer, said in a statement. 'They are not a quick fix to lose weight and have not been assessed to be safe when used in this way,' she added.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Women on blockbuster weight loss drugs warned to use effective contraception
Pregnant women should not take weight loss drugs, the UK's medicines regulator warned amid concerns that people are using the so-called 'skinny jabs' in unsafe ways. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also said women should not take weight loss drugs if they are breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant, because there isn't enough safety data to know whether the medicine could affect their baby. 'Anyone who gets pregnant while using them should speak to their healthcare professional and stop the medicine as soon as possible,' the agency said. Meanwhile, all women taking the jabs should ensure they are using a form of contraception that works, the MHRA said. Related Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy could help serious liver condition that has no cure-all treatment One of the drugs, Mounjaro, may make birth control pills less effective, so the agency says women taking the jab should also use a non-oral form of contraception, like an implant or intrauterine device (IUD). 'Obesity reduces fertility in women. So, women with obesity taking GLP-1 drugs are more likely to get pregnant than before they lost weight,' Dr Channa Jayasena, a reproductive endocrinology researcher at Imperial College London, said in a statement. 'Women are advised to do all they can to prevent pregnancy while taking [these] drugs,' Jayasena added. Related France won't pay for weight loss drug Wegovy. What about other European countries? In the UK, women already receive these warnings when they get their prescriptions for the blockbuster jabs, which include Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, and Victoza as well as Mounjaro. The drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by mimicking hormones that help regulate appetites and make people feel full for longer. They have been approved to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Related Why are 1 in 10 French women still smoking during pregnancy despite the health risks? But the MHRA issued the reminder Thursday due to concerns that the drugs' growing popularity means women are buying them illegally online or at beauty salons, without seeing a doctor. 'Skinny jabs are medicines licensed to treat specific medical conditions and should not be used as aesthetic or cosmetic treatments,' Dr Alison Cave, MHRA's chief safety officer, said in a statement. 'They are not a quick fix to lose weight and have not been assessed to be safe when used in this way,' she added.
