NHS 'weight loss jab' now available - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Life The NHS-approved ‘ weight loss jab’ is now available at Boots – but is this a good thing By Georgia Green - March 8, 2022 A ‘weight loss jab’, that was previously only available on the NHS is now available to buy at Boots and Lloyds Pharmacy stores across the UK. The injectable medication, called Saxenda, was first introduced in the UK in 2017 as a private prescription, but has recently been made available on the NHS, too. Getty Images ‘It is injected once a day and works by mimicking a hormone called GLP1, which is usually released after you eat to let you know that you’re full’ said Dr Shirin Lakhani. ‘In doing so it curbs your appetite so that you eat less calories.’ Now stocked at Boots, this makes the weight loss jab more readily available for people who could benefit from it, however this doesn’t mean it is instantly available over the counter. An online consultation will be carried out first, and applicants will need to meet a certain criteria, such having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above, and they must have previously tried other methods to lose weight. Saxenda (liraglutide 3mg) always needs to be prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider and Boots Saxenda prescriptions are issued by a doctor, and collected in store. They’re not cheap either – a pack of three pens costs £150; a pack of five is £240. Getty Images It’s certainly not a case of popping to Boots for a jab if you want to lose a few pounds. ‘Weight-loss jabs such as these are by no means a miracle overnight ‘cure’, and they are designed to be combined with a low-fat eating plan and moderate activity. Crucially, the key to their success is for them to be offered alongside ongoing support from a trained practitioner in order to make sure that they work effectively to help the patient lose weight,’ says Dr Lakhani. ‘From what I’ve seen with my patients, weight-loss injections and ongoing support goes hand in hand, and both are vital to ensure both the safety of the patient as well as the success of the injection. Getty Images ‘Whilst users of the jab should expect to lose approximately 5% of their body weight in the first three months of having the injection, this would be more achievable and better sustained with ongoing education and support with regards to healthy eating and exercise.’ She added: ‘Saxenda is not recommended for people who are breastfeeding or have certain health conditions such as liver and kidney problems. Common side effects include nausea, bloating and constipation. There are also some rare but serious side effects so patient monitoring is key. ‘Obesity is a serious problem that needs to be addressed, and providing greater access to possible treatments is in many ways a good thing. However, I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to have ongoing support and monitoring not only to ensure the safety of the patient but also the effectiveness of the treatment.’ RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Everything we know about The Crown season 5 Aldi s exercise equipment is on sale with up to 50% off The best Halloween events for 2022 across the UK Popular in Life The You magazine team reveal their New Year s resolutions December 31, 2021 Susannah Taylor The TLC tools your body will love January 23, 2022 How to stop living in fear February 6, 2022 Susannah Taylor My pick of the fittest leggings February 27, 2022 Women’ s Prize for Fiction 2022 winner announced June 17, 2022 These BBC dramas are returning for a second series June 30, 2022 Susannah Taylor gives the lowdown on nature s little helper – CBD April 17, 2022 The baby names that are banned across the world April 27, 2022 The Queen has released her own emojis May 26, 2022 Sally Brompton horoscopes 27th June-3rd July 2022 June 26, 2022 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved