A leading UK supermarket has rolled out a new £129-per-month subscription service offering weight-loss injections, dubbed the 'Fat Jab Club'. However, the initiative has been met with scepticism from shoppers, who argue the high cost excludes many and exploits NHS shortages.
What’s the 'Fat Jab Club'?
The service provides weekly injections of semaglutide-based drugs, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, which suppress appetite and aid weight loss. Priced at £129 per month, it targets those struggling to access prescriptions through the NHS, where supply issues and strict eligibility criteria have left many without treatment.
Customer Backlash
Shoppers have taken to social media to voice their frustrations. Many criticise the scheme as 'profiteering' from healthcare gaps, while others highlight the irony of supermarkets promoting unhealthy foods alongside pricey weight-loss solutions.
'How can they charge £129 a month when most people can’t even afford their groceries?' one user tweeted. Another added, 'Selling junk food and then charging for the cure – nice business model.'
Ethical Concerns
Health experts warn that such services could normalise quick-fix solutions over sustainable lifestyle changes. There are also fears that privatising weight-loss treatments may deepen health inequalities, leaving low-income individuals at a disadvantage.
The supermarket defends the initiative, stating it offers a 'safe and regulated' option for those ineligible for NHS support. Yet, with rising living costs, the question remains: who can actually afford it?
