LloydsPharmacy said the new service is designed to help those with a high body mass index (BMI) achieve “sustained and healthy weight loss”.
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Studies have previously shown that there is a link between Covid-19 and obesity.
Being obese does increase your risk of death from the virus and it also increases your risk of other illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.
Mr Johnson is believed to have put his own battle with Covid-19 down to his weight – he weighed 17 stone when he was admitted to hospital with the virus earlier this year and has since vowed to get Brits back to health.
Obesity affects one in four people in the UK.
The LloydsPharmacy programme will set you back a costly £260-a-month, which covers the price of the injections and the in-app support.
Patients will initially have a consultation with a pharmacist to check if they are suitable for the programme.
Then a second appointment will be scheduled to collect the first month of injections and so the pharmacist can demonstrate how to use them.
Patients will also have access to weight loss coaches via an app, as well as a weekly face-to-face consultation with the pharmacist.
LloydsPharmacy say that this alongside regular support, a calorie controlled diet and regular exercise, is proven to help patients lose weight.
The weight loss injections contain a prescription-only appetite suppressant known as Saxenda and can have side effects such as nausea and pancreatitis.
The jabs are meant only for people with a BMI of over 30 or those with disorders such as diabetes, which is why they need to be prescribed.
Fake online pharmacies and unregistered clinics have been caught selling them to people who are not overweight and don’t have a prescription.
They have not yet been approved by the NHS but can be prescribed privately by a licensed healthcare provider, according to NICE guidelines.
So you should always speak to a medical professional before starting weight loss injections.
Am I eligible?
You’re eligible for the Medicated Weight Loss Service if:
- You have a BMI of over 30
- A BMI of over 27 but have been diagnosed with a condition that is made worse by weight gain such as a heart condition.
- You are aged 18 to 75
The UK has one of the highest rates of obesity in Europe and the service from LloydsPharmacy will help people with a BMI of 27+ with a weight related illness and people with a BMI of over 30 to achieve sustained weight loss.
BMI uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy.
LloydsPharmacy Pharmacist, Anna Ruthven, highlighted the link between obesity and overall health.
She said: “It has been linked to a number of serious health conditions including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, some types of cancer and stroke.
“This alongside the link between obesity and a higher risk for Covid-19 complications means it’s never been more important to manage and maintain a healthy weight.”
She added that people with a higher BMI will struggle to lose weight.
“Having accessible treatment that is proven to support healthy weight loss is important”, she added.
One expert, who is supporting the UK’s drive against obesity said it’s important that people look for ways to manage their weight.
Dr Abd Tahrani said: “Obesity is very common in the UK and has significant unfavourable effects on the health of individuals, the health of the nation and the wide economy.
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“However, the good news is that losing around 10 per cent of weight will have a major favourable impact on health in people with obesity including lowering the risk of developing many conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension cardiovascular disease and cancer.”
As well as this he said losing 10 per cent of weight will also help improve levels of glucose, lipids, blood pressure in people who have conditions such as type 2 diabetes.
“While most people manage to lose weight but struggle to maintain it, the use of appropriate medications can help people maintain the weight loss”, he added.
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