One in five Britons would use a weight-loss drug if it were provided free on the NHS, according to a new Ipsos poll. The survey of 2,161 UK adults aged 18-75 found that 22% would be fairly or very likely to use such injections if offered by the health service, while 63% said they would not. Only 8% would pay for the drugs themselves, given private costs of £180-220 per month.
The poll also revealed that one in seven (14%) people have either taken a weight-loss jab themselves (5%) or know someone who has (9%). Drugs like semaglutide, sold as Wegovy or Ozempic, are growing in popularity globally for weight loss and diabetes management. However, 23% of respondents said they would be unlikely to tell others if they were using them, indicating persistent stigma.
Medical experts caution against viewing these drugs as a quick fix. Tam Fry, chair of the National Obesity Forum, warned: 'Semaglutide is not for anyone who fancies losing a bit of weight. It is a serious drug for a serious disease.' The Department of Health and Social Care echoed this, stating the drugs are not a replacement for diet and exercise.
Weight-loss jabs are currently approved in the UK only for people who are dangerously overweight and have a related medical condition. Side effects can include vomiting, diarrhoea, pancreatitis, and gall bladder problems. The public is split on NHS funding: 34% support it, while 38% think users should pay themselves.
When asked about their own weight-loss plans for 2025, most respondents favoured lifestyle changes: 46% cited more exercise, 42% healthier eating, and 26% dieting. Only 3% mentioned weight-loss injections. The poll also found that while 64% of UK adults are overweight or obese, only half of respondents considered themselves so.
