MoD's £50k bill for popular drug which can be used for weight loss

The sum for semaglutide has been clocked up successful conscionable implicit a year, it has emerged – but the Ministry of Defence claims obesity levels successful the Armed Forces are 'extremely low'

Nearly £50,000 has been spent by the Ministry of Defence connected a fashionable cause which tin beryllium utilized for value loss, we tin reveal.

The measure for semaglutide has been clocked up successful conscionable implicit a year, it has emerged. It comes arsenic value nonaccomplishment jabs person grown successful popularity – seemingly fuelled by usage by celebrities looking to displacement pounds.

Semaglutide is the progressive constituent successful Wegovy, which is disposable connected the NHS to combat obesity aft being launched successful the UK successful 2023. The cause is besides contiguous successful Ozempic, utilized to dainty benignant 2 diabetes.

Last twelvemonth it emerged the British Army was utilizing daze tactics to assistance troops battling with their waistlines. A barracks poster reportedly urged soldiers to see the sofa to 5k moving strategy if they “can’t spot their belt”. But the MoD claims obesity levels are “extremely low”.

The fig spent by the MoD connected semaglutide was revealed successful effect to a Parliamentary question tabled by Tory MP Mark Francois precocious past month. On 5 February, Defence curate Al Carns answered: “The Ministry of Defence has spent £49,900 connected the cause semaglutide since… 1 January 2024. Semaglutide is simply a diabetic medicine utilized for the attraction of benignant 2 diabetes successful subject patients.”

An MOD spokesperson said: “The level of obesity successful our Armed Forces is highly low. These figures amusement that lone a precise tiny fig person been prescribed medicine for semipermanent value absorption lone - representing conscionable 0.4 per cent of Service Personnel. If Service Personnel acquisition issues related to their weight, aesculapian and dietary proposal and enactment is provided.”