Weight loss drugs are changing the world
Robert Price | Last update: 31st October 2025
Here at SlimrChat we know that the interest and demand for weight loss drugs like Mounajro or Wegovy is huge across the world. We updated you on earlier in the year about about the demand in the UK being described as “unprecedented” and “unsustainable” by pharmacists. Well, now there’s new information about how GLP-1 weight loss treatments are changing the USA. So we’ve updated our article to keep you up to date
USA obesity rates are falling
There are now 7.6 million fewer people in the USA who are suffering from obesity. And it’s all because of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy. That’s the result shown by new information gathered by Gallup for a big survey on health and wellbeing. This is first reduction in decades.
9 in 10 adults there are aware of weight loss drugs and over of them view them as a positive thing for health.
There’s now over 12 adults in every 100 who are using weight loss treatments in the US. This has doubled in the last year. Women are using the treatments more than men and it’s people aged 40 to 64 who getting the biggest effects so far.
These findings for the USA are sure to be mirrored in the UK when the long term effects are measured.
1 in 5 people have tried to get weight loss treatments in the UK
The demand for weight loss drugs is now widespread and continues to grow as research commissioned by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) shows.
- Over one in five adults in the UK tried to access weight loss treatments via online or in-person pharmacies in the past year.
- Over a third of 16–34-year-olds have tried to get the drugs.
- These numbers would be even bigger if the treatments were easily available from the NHS. Nearly two thirds of younger people would then try to get a prescription.
These results completely confirm the booming demand for both private and NHS weight loss services. But they also raise some concerns for healthcare providers and pharmacies: more people want these treatments than are eligible for them under the rules set by the regulators.
The prescription rules protect us
It’s worth reminding ourselves about the current rules for people to get GLP-1 prescription medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy. They are licensed in the UK for adults with a BMI over 30, or BMI between 27-30 with at least one weight-related condition.
The current NHS rollout of Mounjaro is much more selective. They are restricted to those with a BMI over 40 and four or more serious co-morbidities such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease or obstructive sleep apnoea. The NHS rollout is currently limited to 220,000 people over 3 years too.
The NPA warns that the demand, which is sometimes powered by social media trends, is leading some people to buy from unregulated online suppliers. This poses serious risks. We’ve highlighted this many times and most recently in this article about the fake drug risks.
The MHRA, the UK’s medicines watchdog, continues to urge the public to only use licensed treatments with a valid prescription and never via beauty clinics or unofficial websites.
In response to rising concerns, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has now introduced new regulations for online prescribing. These include a two-way consultation and thorough review of each patient’s medical history before any treatment is approved.
Pharmacies are at the front line
We know that most of the SlimrChat community have got their prescriptions from online pharmacies and they are key players in delivering the treatments.
Olivier Picard, Chair of the NPA, called GLP-1 weight loss jabs “one of the biggest drug innovations this century” but underlined:
“We want to make sure supplies are carefully managed so that those in most clinical need can benefit.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, in his 10-Year Health Plan announcement, pledged to deliver “innovative weight loss services, available in pharmacies.” The NPA says no specific plan has been shared yet about how pharmacies will be involved in the NHS rollout.
The NPA is now calling on the government to urgently clarify the role of pharmacies in the national weight management programme.
The new weight loss drugs are life changing for many of us who meet the criteria. Like all medications they need to be regulated and be available to those who need them. Always (and we cannot reiterate this enough) use a licensed healthcare provider for your prescriptions, and keep your doctor informed throughout your weight loss drug journey.
SlimrChat takeaway
These treatments are changing the world rapidly. And this is before the new generation of drugs arrives, either in pill form or jabs. We’ll keep you informed along the way.