Weight loss jabs have captivated Brits since the trend began in 2021, but the excitement is about to intensify. Yesterday, news emerged that oral Wegovy, a tablet version of the skinny jab semaglutide, received approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This marks the first GLP-1 treatment licensed for weight management in tablet form in the UK, and pharmacies are already inundated with tens of thousands of requests.
Pharmacy Simple Online Healthcare has seen over 60,000 customers register their interest in the oral GLP-1 treatment in less than 24 hours, while Superdrug Online Doctor reported a 130% increase in registrations during the same period. Chemist4U adds that it already has a waiting list of more than 10,000 customers.
Why the surge in interest?
The appeal is clear: no needles required, and nearly as effective as injections, with users losing just under 14% of their body weight over 64 weeks on average. 'For some people, the idea of self-injecting can be a real barrier,' pharmacist Thorrun Govind told Metro. 'A tablet may feel less daunting. I've spoken to many people who are nervous about injections. It doesn't always stop them from having treatment, but it can create anxiety, so having an alternative option could make a meaningful difference.'
Research commissioned by Simple Online Healthcare found that 61% of people not currently using GLP-1 medications would prefer a daily pill to a weekly injection, while 83.6% of SheMed pharmacy customers expressed interest in learning more about GLP-1 pills or would consider switching from injections to an oral alternative. With 64.5% of adults aged 18 and over in England estimated to be overweight or living with obesity as of 2024, the interest in these pills is understandable.
However, the pills will only be available through private prescriptions initially. They will only be prescribed on the NHS if approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Patients could begin receiving private treatment as early as July, with prices estimated by pharmacists starting at £99 per month – around £3 per day.
Body image concerns
While pharmacist Thorrun Govind hails this medication as a 'positive development' for those struggling with obesity, it raises complications. 'Obesity is a complex health condition, and these treatments are designed for people who meet specific clinical criteria,' she explains. 'The focus should always be on improving health outcomes rather than chasing unrealistic body ideals.'
Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, previously told Metro that the widespread use of weight loss jabs, now made even easier with pills, has 'reset the visual benchmark' for what is considered 'skinny'. 'It has created a disturbing hierarchy, where even naturally slim individuals feel they must go to further extremes to maintain their status or avoid criticism,' she explained.
A TikTok trend where young women refer to themselves as 'skinny fat' – slim but not toned – compounds this issue. Although the platform has banned various hashtags associated with 'skinnytok', the algorithm continues to serve videos on how to eliminate 'skinny fat'. Dr Wylie has observed an increase in young women who are deeply unhappy with their appearance despite being fit and healthy. 'It's worrying, because this can quickly spiral into more serious conditions such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia – especially when combined with perfectionist personality traits or low self-esteem.'
Pharmacist Thorrun hopes this new weight-loss development may foster more conversation around weight management and steer people towards 'clinical approaches' rather than unhealthy methods. 'But it's crucial people receive appropriate support alongside medication, including advice on nutrition, physical activity and long-term lifestyle changes,' she adds.
How does the weight-loss pill work?
If prescribed, the pill does not need refrigeration like injections. The MHRA states the starting dose is 1.5mg once daily, escalating to 4mg, 9mg, and 25mg with a minimum duration of one month at each dose level. For those already using the 2.4mg semaglutide injection once weekly, pharmacists may advise starting directly at 25mg tablets once daily. The tablet must be taken whole on an empty stomach with a sip of water after fasting for at least eight hours. No food or drink should be consumed for at least 30 minutes after, as this can affect absorption.
'The side effects are similar to the injectable version, with nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting among the most commonly reported, particularly when starting treatment,' pharmacist Thorrun Govind explains.
Black market boom
The second major concern for pharmacist Thorrun is the ease of replicating pills illegally compared to injections. According to MHRA figures obtained by the BBC, 57 million doses of unauthorised medication have been confiscated by government agencies over the last five years. Criminals not only sell prescription-only medications but also mimic popular drugs and sell fakes to those trying to save money or who do not meet medical criteria.
'I'm concerned the pill form will make it even easier for counterfeiters who prey on vulnerable people,' Thorrun says. 'We know people working on the black market are getting very good at fake medicines. It's harder for them to make an injection look the same, but it's going to be much easier to make pills which look like the real drug than it will be to source all the things for an injection.'
