THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MIRACLE FAT JAB

LESLEY REYNOLDS WEIGHS UP THE FACTS ABOUT OZEMPIC, THE LATEST DRUG IN THE WAR AGAINST OBESITY

- LYNNE HYLAND

It's the latest weight-loss drug hailed as a miracle cure for obesity. Just give yourself a weekly jab of Ozempic and watch the pounds drop off. As rumours swirl over which stars are using it to shape, it's little wonder that demand for the fat jab has skyrocketed.

But hang on. Miracles for weight reduction, surely they don't exist? Well, the truth is a little more complex.

I can say that I have witnessed first hand how Ozempic has transformed many of our patients' lives. But be warned, it is not the magic bullet for everyone, nor is it a quick fix for dropping a few pounds before you hit the beach - as I had to tell yet another patient last week who was desperate to get some Ozempic so she could slip into her swimsuit. This is a long-term solution for those with serious weight problems, who are trapped in a cycle of failed diets. People like Jan, 54, who had struggled with her weight for 20 years. As soon as each diet finished, the weight crept back on, with some extra for good luck. At 16st she was hurtling towards diabetes and a raised risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.

After six months of Ozempic, Jan has seen her weight drop 15 per cent. "Now, I eat when I'm hungry, and I don't have to worry about eating too much because it's simply not possible," she tells me. "Physically, I feel so much better, as well as emotionally more upbeat. I don't think about food constantly. My blood pressure and glucose levels have dropped."