Women and the middle classes are dominating take-up of weight loss jabs, research suggests.
Almost 80% of private prescriptions are for female patients, according to a survey by The Health Foundation, while the highest uptake by age group across both genders are those aged 30 to 49.
It also showed people in the most deprived areas were around a third less likely to be getting the jabs than those in the least deprived, despite the former having far higher obesity levels.
People in poorer areas also tend to start treatment when they are heavier – another sign of inequality.
The data covered 113,630 people who accessed the drugs privately between November 2024 and October 2024.
Read more: What are the available weight loss jabs?
It comes as the NHS works on a phased rollout of Mounjaro, which will take 12 years.
Some 220,000 patients have been prioritised for the first three years. Those eligible for treatment on the NHS have included those with a body mass index over 40 and illnesses such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
The vast majority of people taking the jabs in the UK are paying for them privately – and recent research suggests those who take them may need to do so for life.
An NHS spokesperson said it was right those “in the greatest clinical need” were prioritised for treatment, and it was “exploring ways to accelerate the offering so that eligible people can benefit from safe and effective treatment wherever they live in England”.
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Samantha Field, from The Health Foundation, warned: “With an estimated 2.4 million people in the UK already prescribed weight loss medications, our findings reveal a stark divide.”
With access to the drugs far from equal, she said it’s “more important than ever” that the government focuses on preventable measures like healthy eating.
A ban on junk food adverts covering soft drinks, chocolate and even some porridges came into force last month.
The Health Foundation’s survey was carried out with online weight management provider Voy.
