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Boots is now selling a NHS-approved ‘weight loss jab’ that suppresses appetite
The jab has been labeled as a ‘game changer’ by doctors
Boots is now selling a prescription-free ‘weight loss jab’ that works by curbing users’ appetites.
The NHS-approved injection, called Liraglutide – or commonly known as Saxenda – is now available to buy at Boots and Lloyds Pharmacy stores across the UK without the need for a prescription.
The jab works by mimicking the hormone GLP1, which is released shortly after eating a filling meal. This will result in a suppressed appetite, meaning people won’t feel the need to eat as often or as much.
It is injected once a day under the skin, and takes up to two weeks to start working.
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The injection has been labelled as a ‘game changer’ by doctors when combined with a low fat food plan and modern levels of activity, with users of Liraglutide reportedly losing up to 5% of their body weight in just three months.
According to the NHS, a doctor will prescribe Liraglutide if diet and exercise changes have not worked on their own, if Orlistat has not worked or a patient cannot take it, or if weight loss surgery is not an option.
Though not everybody will be able to qualify for the jab; The NHS website says Liraglutide is only suitable for adults under the age of seventy-five and should be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as those with liver or kidney problems.
The website reads: “Liraglutide is a weight loss medicine that works by making you feel fuller and less hungry. It’s taken as an injection once a day. Your doctor or nurse will show you how to take it.
“You can usually only take Liraglutide if it’s prescribed for you by a specialist weight management service.”
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Those who want to buy the injection will also have to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least thirty, and will have to fill out a questionnaire detailing their previous attempts to lose weight and their medical history.
And the side effects can be troublesome, with the most common ones being nausea, fatigue, constipation and low blood sugar levels, according to Saxenda’s website.
Once approved, people can pick up their jabs in store or have them delivered for free to their home. The injections come in a 3ml pre-filled injection pen, with a single pen lasting seventeen days and a pack of three covering 4.5 weeks.
A pack of three pens costs £150, while a pack of five is priced at £240.
Visit the Boots website for more information.