The much-hyped medicine is due to hit UK chemists in spring. However, one drug in isolation is never the answer
- Jason Halford is president of the European Association for the Study of Obesity
In my 30 years as an obesity researcher, I’ve seen all kinds of “wonder cures” come and go. Some were withdrawn due to serious side-effects; most have had only a relatively modest effect on people’s body mass.
But now a new generation of medications has arrived, based on a better understanding of the biological underpinnings of obesity. While previous pharmaceutical treatments resulted in weight loss of 5-10%, clinical trials of this new wave of drugs are reporting initial weight loss of 15-20%. They work by suppressing appetite and slowing down digestion so we feel full for longer. One of these medications – semaglutide, sold under the brand name Wegovy – will soon be available in UK chemists in the form of a weekly, self-administered injection.
Jason Halford is a professor of biological psychology and health behaviours at the University of Leeds and president of the European Association for the Study of Obesity
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