BRITAIN has gone fat jab crazy — with sales of Wegovy soaring by more than 2,000 per cent in the past month.
Dieters are stocking up on the weight loss drug amid a surge in people trying the injections for the first time and after rival Mounjaro hiked its prices by 170 per cent.
More than a million Brits are estimated to be buying them privately, with thousands more getting them on the NHS.
Weight loss programme CheqUp said it had seen a spike in interest from people wanting to switch, as well as an uptick in those using the jabs for the first time.
It sparked a 27-fold — or 2,660 per cent — surge in WeGovy sales on Wednesday this week, compared with last month’s daily average.
Sales of the drug’s lowest dose also soared by 2,212 per cent, which CheqUp said reflected more people turning to fat jabs due to increased awareness and a focus on health as summer ends.
It comes after The Sun revealed the price of Mounjaro — dubbed the “King Kong” of fat jabs — could soon soar for UK users, after US manufacturer Eli Lilly announced it was hiking wholesale prices by 170 per cent from September 1.
About 625,000 are now expected to switch to Wegovy, after its manufacturer Novo Nordisk confirmed it will not be raising its prices.
Those paying for private Mounjaro prescriptions will be hit when a typical script costing £150 to £200 rockets to more than £300 if costs are passed on by chemists.
Wegovy costs around £85 per month for the lowest dose, while the highest dose is priced at £160.
CheqUp boss Toby Nicol said: “We now confidently expect Wegovy to become the most popular weight loss treatment in the UK in the very short-term.
“Our sales of Wegovy in the last week since the price rise of Mounjaro was announced have surpassed all expectations.
“The extraordinary growth in Wegovy adoption has been seen across every dose of the medication, from existing Mounjaro patients switching to higher doses of Wegovy, right down to new patients starting their weight loss journeys on the lowest dosage for the first time.
“This underlines that this isn’t just switching, it’s new beginnings, with people prioritising their health and exploring treatment options as awareness grows.”
US President Donald Trump recently ordered American pharmaceutical companies — such as Eli Lilly — to lower prices for patients in the States by hiking charges in other countries.
Mounjaro and Wegovy both belong to the same group of medications, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, but they contain different active drugs.
Wegovy contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic, which is only licensed for Type 2 diabetes in the UK.
Semaglutide mimics a hormone called GLP-1, slowing digestion, reducing appetite and regulating blood sugar levels.
Mounjaro contains the drug tirzepatide, which also mimics GLP-1 as well as another hormone, which is known as GIP.
Professor Franklin Joseph, head of Dr Frank’s weight loss clinic, told The Sun: “That dual action appears to be the mechanism that gives Mounjaro a slightly stronger effect on appetite control and weight loss.”
Studies so far back this up, suggesting that Mounjaro may be more effective for weight loss.
The Surmount trials, sponsored by Eli Lilly, found people on Wegovy lost around 15 per cent of their body weight on average over 68 weeks, while those on Mounjaro lost up to 21 per cent.
While cost is a major factor in encouraging users to switch drugs, doctors warn users will need to consider the side effects of changing drugs.
Although Mounjaro and Wegovy are relatively similar, there are subtle differences.
The 7 fat jab mistakes stopping you losing weight
WHILE weight loss jabs have been hailed as a breakthrough in helping tackle Britain’s obesity crisis, some users say they’re missing out on their waist-shrinking powers – and it could be down to some simple mistakes…
POOR PENMANSHIP
Many people don’t correctly use the injection pen, according to Ana Carolina Goncalves, a pharmacist at Pharmica in Holborn, London.
Make sure to prime your weight loss pen correctly, as per the instructions. If nothing comes out, try again, and if it still doesn’t work, switch the needle or ask a pharmacist for help.
It’s also recommended to rotate injection sites between the abdomen, thigh and upper arm to avoid small lumps of fat under the skin.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
Make sure you’re using the jabs on the most effective day of your schedule.
For example, taking the jab right before a takeaway or party won’t stop you from indulging, says Jason Murphy, head of pharmacy and weight loss expert at Chemist4U.
Weight loss injections need time to build up in your system, so if you’re planning for a heavier weekend, inject your dose mid-week.
MAKING A MEAL OF IT
You may not feel the urge to overeat at mealtimes due to the jabs. But skipping meals altogether can backfire, says Dr David Huang, director of clinical innovation at weight loss service Voy.
If a person is extremely malnourished, their body goes into emergency conservation mode, where their metabolism slows down.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A key mistake using weight loss jabs is not eating the right foods.
As well as cutting out sugary drinks and alcohol, Dr Vishal Aggarwal, Healthium Clinics recommends focusing on your protein intake.
DE-HYDRATION STATIONS
Dehydration is a common side effect of weight loss injections. But it’s important to say hydrated in order for your body to function properly.
Dr Crystal Wyllie, GP at Asda Online Doctor, says hydration supports metabolism, digestion, and can reduce side effects like headaches, nausea and constipation.
MOVE IT, MOVE IT
It can be easy to see the jabs as a quick fix, but stopping exercising altogether is a mistake, says Mital Thakrar, a pharmacist from Well Pharmacy.
Exercise helps maintain muscle mass and help shape the body as you lose weight, which may be crucial if you’re experiencing excess skin.
QUIT IT
While there’s the tendency to ditch the jabs as soon as you reach your desired weight, stopping them too soon can cause rapid regain.
Mr Thakrar recommends building habits like healthier eating during treatment for sustaining results.
Dr Suhail Hussain, a private GP verified on Doctify, told The Sun: “Mounjaro tends to be better tolerated in terms of gastrointestinal side effects than Wegovy, so you may experience more nausea and vomiting etcetera.”
Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation are listed as “very common” side effects for both, while headache, stomach pain and feeling weak or tired are “very common” for those taking Wegovy.
GPs can prescribe Mounjaro, known as tirzepatide, but only to the severely obese. Millions would have to wait to get it on the NHS.
NHS England says the price increase will not affect NHS commissioning of the drug, which is also a Type 2 diabetes treatment.