How to avoid ‘ticking weight gain timebomb’ threatening fat jab users – can YOU get them free on the NHS?

THEY are arguably the biggest medical breakthrough of recent times, helping Brits to shed the pounds with barely any effort at all. So-called ‘fat jabs’ have turned the tide on obesity and are now also increasingly used to treat other health conditions including heart issues and liver disease. Weight loss jabs have turned the tide on obesity in the UK Credit: Getty But, experts this week have warned that many Brits who are prescribed Wegovy jabs on the NHS may soon face a weight gain “timebomb”. This is because Wegovy prescriptions on the NHS are strictly limited to just two years. Doctors are now informing the first wave of NHS patients that their taxpayer-subsidised two-year treatment window is ending. After this, patients are at risk of piling the pounds back on. A major University of Cambridge study published earlier this year found that patients regained an average of 60 per cent of their weight within a year of stopping jabs like Wegovy. Beyond a year, the data is not yet clear. Drastic weight loss with rapid weight regain can risk more health problems. So what are your options after your prescription runs out? And are any free on the NHS? Sun Health explains everything you need to know. What Wegovy alternatives are available? Wegovy prescriptions on the NHS are strictly limited to just two years Credit: Reuters Your jab options after finishing an NHS prescription are limited. You cannot restart a new Wegovy prescription so to continue using the jab you would have to pay privately, setting you back roughly £240 per month. Otherwise you may have to come off the drug completely. The Mounjaro jab doesn’t have the same two-year prescription limit, but very few people can get a prescription. GPs began prescribing Mounjaro in June 2025 and more than three million were thought to be eligible. But the rollout has kicked off with a whimper and not a bang. Only 240,000 people with “greatest need” are expected to receive it through the NHS over the first three years, which means even if you are eligible, you may not get it. NHS bosses have admitted it will take a staggering 12 years to treat everyone who is eligible. Many people coming off Wegovy may also not be eligible to then get Mounjaro on the NHS because they are no longer obese. But what about the pills? The Wegovy pill launched in the UK in July Credit: Alamy The orforglipron pill, sold under the brand name Foundayo, and Wegovy pill are now both available in the UK. Wegovy products (semaglutide) are made by Danish pharma company Novo Nordisk, while Foundayo is manufactured by Lilly, the same US pharma giant behind blockbuster jab Mounjaro (tirzepatide). Just like the jabs, they work by mimicking the GLP hormones that tell the brain your stomach is full, quashing your appetite and preventing over eating. But, at the moment both pills are only available privately for eligible patients. Neither pill is currently available on the NHS because they need to be signed off as good value for money by the spending watchdog NICE, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence. Experts believe this could take months, yet. A NICE review of Foundayo is scheduled for November 2026. “If recommended and the standard three-month funding period applies, it could become available by February 2027,” Dr Marie Spreckley, an expert in diabetes and metabolic disorder prevention at the University of Cambridge, told Sun Health. No such plans are in place yet for the Wegovy pill. Many pharmacies have offers, such as those for new patients. Voy is today charging £64 for the first month of the lowest dose of Foundayo (0.8mg) and the Wegovy pill (1.5mg), while Superdrug, £79 for new patients. So who is eligible for Mounjaro or Wegovy on the NHS? Many people coming off Wegovy may also not be eligible to then get Mounjaro on the NHS because they are no longer obese Credit: PA GPS are only able to prescribe tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight loss for patients whose weight places them at the greatest health risk. Those with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher (or 37.5 if from a minority ethnic background) and four weight-related health conditions are eligible. Among the weight-related conditions that someone needs four of are high cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea and heart disease. A BMI of 40 is roughly equal to: weighing 16st (102kg) for an average height 5’3” woman or 19st 6lbs (123kg) for an average 5’9” man Meanwhile, patients are eligible for Wegovy for weight loss if they have at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, and either a BMI of at least 35 or a BMI of 30 to 34.9. Some patients can also get a Wegovy prescription on the NHS for heart issues. The body mass index (BMI) cut-off for this is significantly lower than current NHS rules for weight loss. Anyone with a BMI of 27 (overweight) or more is eligible to get the jabs on the NHS, if they have an established heart disease, or who have previously had a heart attack or stroke. NICE has estimated that 1.2million people in England fit into the group. Study results show that semaglutide, the drug in Wegovy and Ozempic, can reduce heart risk regardless of whether someone loses weight. In a trial on nearly 18,000 heart patients, those who took the jab on top of their usual medication cut the risk of another heart attack or an early death by 20 per cent. At the time study author Professor John Deanfield, of University College London, said: “This is the sort of thing we had with statins in the 1990s.” You can use this graphic to work out whether you might be the right weight for the jabs: What if my GP says no? Many people are expected to miss out. Experts warn only 220,000 people out of the 3.4million who are eligible are likely to get jabs by 2028, so some surgeries are already pouring cold water on patients’ hopes. Then there will be some people who can’t take Mounjaro immediately. For example, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Pancreatitis and certain thyroid tumours can also take you off the list. If you are eligible but your GP denies you a prescription, you may be able to ask for a referral to specialist weight management services. Known as tier 2 and tier 3 weight management services, they may prescribe the jabs after other weight loss attempts. The four criteria for getting fat jabs In order to get weight loss jabs on the NHS, you will need to have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher (or 37.5 if from a minority ethnic background) and four weight-related health conditions. These can include: HIGH CHOLESTEROL If there is an excess, it can clog your arteries – the large blood vessels that carry blood around your body. Everyone needs some cholesterol in their blood to stay healthy. But too much can lead to serious health problems. Fatty areas can form then harden over time, causing blockages, which puts strain on your heart and can result in blood clots. This clogging process, known as atherosclerosis, can mean coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, mini strokes, peripheral arterial disease, and vascular dementia. Unfortunately, most people don’t know they have high cholesterol because it doesn’t usually have any symptoms. You can have your levels checked via a blood test at your GP surgery. Some pharmacies also offer the service, but you might have to pay. If you’re over 40, you may have a test during your NHS Health Check. You can also get this check at a pharmacy. Generally, healthy cholesterol level are: Total (serum) cholesterol (mmol/L below 5.0 and mg/dL below 193) Non-HDL cholesterol (mmol/L below 4.0 and mg/dL below 155) LDL cholesterol (mmol/L below 3.0 and mg/dL below 116) HDL cholesterol (mmol/L above 1.0 for a man and 1.2 for a woman and mg/dL above 39 for a man and 46 for a woman) TC:HDL ratio (mmol/L and mg/dL above 6 is considered high risk) Your doctor will be able to explain what your results mean. There are treatments available for high cholesterol, but it’s usually possible to lower it naturally with healthy lifestyle changes. 2. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Blood pressure readings consist of two numbers, shown as one on top of the other. The first (top) number is your systolic blood pressure – the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body, according to Blood Pressure UK. The second (or bottom) number is your diastolic blood pressure – the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels between heartbeats when blood is pumped around your heart. An ideal blood pressure reading is between 90/60mmHg (millimetres of mercury) and 120/80mmHg. You have high blood pressure if your readings are consistently above 140/90mmHg. If you’re over the age of 80, high blood pressure is considered to be from 150/90mmHg. If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes, the NHS says. Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. If you are one of the 14.4million Brits with high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount through healthy eating, exercise and medication can help lower your risk of these health conditions. You can get your blood pressure tested at your local GP surgery, some pharmacies and some workplaces. 3. TYPE 2 DIABETES Almost four million people have type 2 diabetes in the UK. It’s when a hormone called insulin doesn’t work properly or there is not enough of it. This causes the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood to become too high. Having the condition increases your chances of getting other long-term health problems such as heart disease, foot ulcers and blindness. Typical symptoms include feeling very thirsty, peeing more often and extreme tiredness. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed with a blood test that checks how high your blood glucose levels are. You can check your risk using Diabetes UK’s Know Your Risk tool or by having a free NHS Health Check if you’re aged 40 to 74. 4. OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA Sleep apnoea is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. It needs to be treated because it can lead to more serious problems. Symptoms include: Breathing stopping and starting Making gasping, snorting or choking noises Waking up a lot Loud snoring During the day, you may also: Feel very tired Find it hard to concentrate Have mood swings Have a headache when you wake up It can be hard to tell if you have sleep apnoea. It may help to ask someone to stay with you while you sleep so they can check for the symptoms, or to record you as you snooze. You should see a GP if you suspect you have it. They may refer you to a specialist clinic for tests. 5. HEART DISEASE Around 7.6million people in the UK live with heart and circulatory diseases. If you notice any of the following symptoms, you might be one of them: Chest pain Feeling sick Stomach pain or indigestion Feeling sweaty or clammy Leg, arm, jaw or back pain A choking sensation Swollen ankles Extreme fatigue Irregular heartbeat If a doctor feels you’re at risk of heart disease, they may carry out a risk assessment. This might include your medical and family history, your lifestyle, a blood test, ECG, chest X-ray or angiogram. Patients will likely be expected to have tried diet and exercise first before being offered a jab. Many are likely to miss out, as some 13.5million adults in England are obese but only 3.4million are estimated to be eligible in the rollout. Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Currently only patients who meet certain criteria – those who could benefit most – are eligible to be prescribed weight loss drugs on the NHS, and GPs will also need to follow local guidelines when prescribing. “If your practice advises you that they won’t be able to provide weight loss medication, these will likely be the reasons why. “We appreciate the idea of weight loss medication is an attractive prospect to many patients – and they do have a lot of potential benefits for patients and may be a valuable tool as we try to tackle obesity at a national level – but it’s important these medications aren’t seen as a silver bullet. “Weight loss drugs do not come without risk, they can cause side effects which range in seriousness, and they won’t be suitable for everyone. “It’s important we don’t lose sight of the role lifestyle factors play in achieving a healthy weight. “The roll out of weight loss medications as a treatment for obesity must not come at the expense of other weight loss services.” If it’s a ‘no’ now, when might I be able to get my hands on jabs? In April 2027, the plan is to offer jabs to more people – those with a BMI of 40 and above who have just three weight-related health conditions. The health watchdog, NICE, will monitor the rollout and determine when is the right time to open out more widely. The injections are widely available from high street and online pharmacies like Boots, Superdrug, and even Asda. Many people may find it easier to get the jabs this way (privately), as has been the case for almost everyone who has used the jabs before the NHS rollout. Buying the drugs online might seem like the faster fix – but buyer beware that while slimming success stories are everywhere but so, too, are tales of horror. The most common side effects from the injections include feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhoea or other gut troubles. If not treated properly people can suffer more serious impacts like dehydration, gallstones, pancreatitis or allergic reactions – and more than 100 deaths in the UK have so far been linked to the jabs. Many patients have been duped by dodgy sellers, suffered severe side effects or even died after taking jabs they bought online. Mounjaro has been shown to have the best weight loss affect Credit: Reuters Bargain prices, easy tick-box applications, or prescriptions with no follow-up, should all be red flags to online shoppers. Many pharmacies have been rapped for giving them away to people who do not meet the obesity criteria, potentially putting their health at risk. The General Pharmaceutical Council issued new rules in February to say that all pharmacies must verify a patient’s height and weight, and conduct at least a video call – if not face-to-face appointment – before prescribing weight loss injections. Dr Emily Pegg, associate vice president at Lilly, which makes Mounjaro, said: “This is still a prescription-only medicine, should only be prescribed by a registered healthcare professional and needs to be dispensed by a registered pharmacy. “It is not something that people should be able to buy by just going out and going on to a social media site and clicking a button and it gets delivered to them. “That is not appropriate and is probably illegal. Patient safety is a high priority.”