A ‘MIRACLE’ weight busting jab used by your fav celebs is coming to a high street near you.
The drug, called Wegovy, will be available on prescription in pharmacies sometime this year, offering hope to millions of Brits caught in a cycle of yo-yo dieting.
An expert has revealed an easier and cheaper way to shed the pounds
The jabs have allegedly helped billionaire business mogul Elon Musk shed the pounds, and are rumoured to have helped Kim Kardashian fit into that Marilyn Monroe dress for the Met Gala.
Previous trials showed people taking the drug lost on average 12 per cent more of their body weight, compared to people on a placebo.
But, the same trials showed that around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Many also regained two-thirds of the pounds they shed after dropping the weekly injections.
Not to put you off any further, but, if you aren’t eligible for the drug on the NHS, you’ll have to fork out a hefty fee to pay.
With that in mind, is there any easier and cheaper way to shed the pounds?
According to nutritionist, Emma Beckett, from the University of Newcastle, Wegovy works by supressing our appetite – this is why it works for weight loss.
To do this, an ingredient found in the fat-busting drug, known as semaglutide, mimics the role of a natural hormone, called GLP-1.
“This hormone is normally produced in response to detecting nutrients when we eat,” Emma wrote in the Conversation.
GLP-1 is part of the signalling pathway that tells your body you have eaten, and prepare it to use the energy that comes from your food.
What foods can trigger the same reaction?
Energy-dense foods, which tend to be foods high in healthy fats, proteins or simple sugars, trigger GLP-1 secretion in the body, Emma said.
“This means a healthy diet, high in GLP-1 stimulating nutrients can increase GLP-1 levels,” she explained.
Foods that help GLP-1 levels:
AvocadosNutsLean protein sources like eggsVegetablesWhole grains
“This is why high fat, high fibre and high protein diets can all help you feel fuller for longer,” Emma added.
“It’s also why diet change is part of both weight and type 2 diabetes management,” she said.
Which is more effective?
While diet and the drug both work to shed the pounds, both have their challenges.
Medicines, like Wegovy, have side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and issues in other organs.
“Plus, when you stop taking it the feelings of suppressed appetite will start to go away, and people will start to feel hungry at their old levels,” Emma said.
Dietary changes have much fewer risks in terms of side effects – but this route will take more time and effort.
“In our busy modern society, costs, times, skills, accessibility and other pressures can also be barriers to healthy eating, feeling full and insulin levels,” the expert explained.
For some people, medication will be the most effective tool to improve weight and insulin-related outcomes.
And for others, food alone is a reasonable pathway to weight-loss success.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that although Wegovy is coming, it’s not here yet.
The NHS currently only offers Saxenda (a different weight-loss jab) and this is only available on certain weight-management services, which means you have to be referred to weight-management clinics led by experts.
GPs can’t prescribe them on their own either.
If you’re worried about your weight, speak GP or dietitians to work out what option would work better for you and you needs.