Get the skinny on weight-loss jab

Anna Richardson probes controversial "skinny jab" drug semaglutide, hailed by some as a miracle cure, but which can also pose a health risk if misused

- JEN PHARO

Imagine a simple injection that could melt away your appetite and give you the body of your dreams.

That’s the intoxicating fantasy luring anyone who is unhappy with their weight to get their hands on the elusive new so-called “skinny” jab, often by any means necessary.

But not only are many users compromising their safety and battling a host of side effects – they’re also causing a global shortage of the wonder drug that was developed to be used under medical guidance and vanquish deadly diabetes, which costs the NHS £1.5 million to treat every hour or £14 billion a year.

Intrigued by reports about the miracle cure for obesity, and wondering if she herself would be a good candidate, TV presenter Anna Richardson has been researching semaglutide – which is also known by brand names Ozempic or Wegovy. Another brand name of the hormone-mimicking drug is Rybelsus, available in tablet form.

“I have diabetes on both sides of my family, and with a history of high blood sugar I was curious to know whether I might be a candidate for taking one of these drugs,” says Anna. “So, even before I was approached by Channel 4 to front this film, I had been doing my own research into the subject and was fuelled by media success stories.”

The result is an eye-opening documentary for Channel 4 called The Truth About The ‘Skinny’ Jab. In the film, Anna meets both medical experts and patients who have experience of the drug. But her investigations expose a huge, incredibly dangerous, black market for the drug.