Weight loss jabs in London

• To explore the increasing demand for, and supply of, weight loss medicines in London
• To investigate the availability and take-up of weight loss medicines through the NHS in London
• To investigate how and on what scale Londoners are accessing weight loss medicines privately, and the regulatory framework for accessing them in this way
• To understand the benefits and risks for Londoners in accessing weight loss medicines. 
   

• YouGov polling from May 2025 found that 17 per cent of Londoners would be either ‘fairly willing’ or ‘very willing’ to use weight loss jabs such as Ozempic to lose weight, compared to 74 per cent who said they were ‘not very willing’ or ‘not willing at all’.  It also found that 6 per cent of Londoners had already tried weight loss jabs. 
• The NHS is in the early stages of rolling out these drugs for weight loss purposes, and therefore the numbers currently accessing them through the NHS are low, but growing. In March 2025, 170 prescriptions for Wegovy were recorded in London – a 233 per cent increase compared to March 2024.  Out of the eight Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) issuing the highest number of Wegovy prescriptions nationally, five of them were in London.  There is no definitive data about the number of people accessing weight loss medicines privately.
• Weight loss medicines include Tirzepatide (sold under the brand name Mounjaro), semaglutide (Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda). These drugs have been licensed in the UK for weight loss and weight management in recent years, and are gradually being rolled out on the NHS for those with the highest need.  
• There are proven benefits associated with taking weight loss medicines. A study in 2023 found that semaglutide can lead to a reduction of body weight by 15 percent. Another study in 2021 found that semaglutide lowers the risk of death from heart and circulatory disease, heart attack or stroke.  
• However, these are relatively new medicines, and concerns have been expressed about various side effects and complications. Common side effects include nausea, constipation and diarrhoea.  In June 2024, the Society for Acute Medicine highlighted “serious, life-threatening complications” amongst people who had purchased weight loss drugs online. In June 2025, the Medicines and Healthcare (MHRA) products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) warned that weight loss medicines may make the contraceptive pill less effective and that it is not known if they could harm an unborn baby. In the same month, the MHRA warned that weight loss jabs may be associated with acute or chronic pancreatitis. 
• There have been reports of people lying about their weight in order to purchase weight loss medicines from online pharmacies.  In June 2024, NHS England’s medical director warned that weight loss medicines are being “inappropriately used.” There have also been reports of people purchasing the drugs without a prescription via social media and in beauty salons.  
   

• What plans does the NHS in London have to roll out weight loss medicines in the coming years, and will this be enough to meet demand? 
• Why do London’s ICBs appear to be prescribing weight loss drugs at higher levels than ICBs in other parts of the country?
• How are Londoners who are not medically eligible acquiring weight loss jabs, and what are the risks of them doing this?
• Are private providers of weight loss medicines communicating the risks to Londoners who purchase them?
   

The Committee would like to hear from Londoners about their experience of using weight loss medication. 

As part of its investigation, the Committee issued a call for evidence.

The Health Committee has published a survey in order to hear about your experiences of using and accessing weight loss medicines, whether through the NHS, privately or both. Your feedback will help the Committee understand how these medicines are being used, and what support people receive when taking them.