Weight loss jabs have captivated Brits since 2021, but a new development is set to intensify the trend. Yesterday, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved oral Wegovy, a tablet form of the semaglutide injection, making it the first GLP-1 treatment licensed for weight management in pill form in the UK. Pharmacies are already overwhelmed with tens of thousands of inquiries.
Massive Demand for Oral GLP-1
Pharmacy Simple Online Healthcare has seen over 60,000 customers register interest in the oral GLP-1 treatment within 24 hours. Superdrug Online Doctor reports a 130% increase in registrations, while Chemist4U has a waiting list of more than 10,000 customers. The sudden surge is driven by the elimination of needles and comparable efficacy: users lose nearly 14% of body weight over 64 weeks on average.
Pharmacist Thorrun Govind explains, 'For some, self-injecting is a real barrier. A tablet may feel less daunting. I've spoken to many who are nervous about injections; it creates anxiety, so an alternative can make a meaningful difference.' Research by Simple Online Healthcare found 61% of non-users prefer a daily pill to a weekly injection, and 83.6% of SheMed customers are interested in learning more or switching.
Availability and Cost
With 64.5% of English adults overweight or obese as of 2024, interest is high. The pills will be available only via private prescription initially, with NHS coverage pending NICE approval. Private treatment could start as early as July, with estimated costs from £99 per month (about £3 per day).
Body Image Concerns
While Govind calls the medication 'a positive development' for obesity, she warns: 'Obesity is complex; treatments are for specific clinical criteria. The focus should be on health outcomes, not unrealistic body ideals.' Dr. Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, notes that widespread use of weight loss drugs has 'reset the visual benchmark' for 'skinny,' creating a hierarchy where even slim individuals feel pressured to go to extremes.
A TikTok trend of young women calling themselves 'skinny fat' compounds this, despite the platform banning related hashtags. Dr. Wylie has seen an uptick in young women unhappy with their appearance despite being fit and healthy. 'This can spiral into anorexia or bulimia, especially with perfectionist traits or low self-esteem.' Govind hopes the pill will encourage clinical approaches over unhealthy methods, but stresses the need for support on nutrition, activity, and lifestyle changes.
How the Pill Works
The tablet does not require refrigeration. The starting dose is 1.5mg once daily, escalating to 4mg, 9mg, and 25mg with at least one month at each level. Those on 2.4mg weekly injections may switch to 25mg tablets daily. It must be taken whole on an empty stomach after an eight-hour fast, with no food or drink for 30 minutes after. Side effects are similar to injections: nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, and vomiting, especially initially.
Black Market Risks
Govind expresses concern that pills are easier to counterfeit than injections. According to MHRA figures obtained by the BBC, 57 million doses of unauthorised medication have been confiscated in the last five years. Criminals sell fake drugs to those seeking cheaper options or who don't meet medical criteria. 'I'm concerned the pill form will make it easier for counterfeiters preying on vulnerable people,' she says. 'It's harder to fake an injection, but pills are much easier to replicate.'
