So what is the skinny jab? It’s an injection for weight loss. You may have heard of it, or seen various celebrities gushing about the amazing results they’ve had with the ‘skinny jab’ on social media. People like Gemma Collins and Kerry Katona have made sponsored posts claiming that it’s helped them with their weight loss. But what is it? How does it work, and is it safe?
What is the ‘Skinny Jab?’
The skinny jab is a regular series of subcutaneous injections of a drug called liraglutide. You inject them yourself, into your stomach area using a pen-like injection device at home.
It was originally conceived by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk as a medication for people with type 2 diabetes, but it was discovered that when the dosage was increased, it acted as an appetite suppressant in overweight, but otherwise healthy individuals.
How does it work?
It works by mimicking a hormone that our bodies naturally produced in the intestine that makes us feel full and satiated. Our bodies release it after we have eaten a large meal, to let us know we don’t need to eat any more. If you feel full, you’re going to feel less inclined to eat, especially when you don’t need to.
There are actually two variations of the ‘skinny jab.’
The first, Victoza, is a 1.2 microgram dosage, and was the product originally intended as a type 2 diabetes treatment. Since then it has been licensed as an obesity treatment, and can be prescribed by your GP to aid weight loss as part of an ongoing medicated weight loss programme.
The second, Saxenda, is a higher dose still, at 3 micrograms. This was launched for use in private clinics as part of a medicated weight loss programme.
Is it Safe?
When used correctly, yes. Both Victoza and Saxenda must be prescribed by a doctor, so you’ll need a consultation before you can begin any course of treatment. Saxenda, however, can be bought through a GPhC-registered pharmacy online, after completing a short medical questionnaire. You can then have the injections shipped to you for you to administer to yourself at home.
There are of course side effects, as there are with any drug. Nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea have all been reported as fairly common side effects, though these tend to abate over time.
The main safety concerns surround whether or not everyone using these injections actually needs them. To be eligible for a prescription, you must be overweight. This means a BMI of 30 or over, or 27 if you have a weight-related condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnoea.
However, the online questionnaire system that potential dieters must complete to be eligible. If you don’t meet the specific BMI requirements, you shouldn’t be able to buy liraglutide, but it’s not exactly impossible to tick the right boxes to get what you want.
This could be harmful to those out there who already have an unhealthy relationship with food and dieting, and could be potentially fatal if someone with a severe eating disorder like anorexia was to get their hands on it.
Also, when these drugs are prescribed by a doctor or specialist from a reputable company like SlimCare Medical, they are done so as part of a weight loss programme that includes regular exercise and a rigorously planned bespoke dietary plan. The skinny jab is not to be used as a replacement for either of these things. Also, if after six months of the jabs on a monitored medicated weight loss programme, you haven’t lost at least 5% of your bodyweight, your doctor can (and probably will) scrap the whole thing. So if these jabs are self-administered, in an unregulated environment, without regular doctor check-ups, things could go wrong.
There is also concern about abuse – people using the jab as a short-term weight loss solution, stopping, gaining weight, then starting again. This could potentially lead to long-term issues with blood sugar levels, which can then in turn lead to diabetic issues.
Is it Worth it?
Well, this is entirely up to you! Do the potential rewards outweigh the potential risks? Don’t listen to celebrities with connections to the companies selling the stuff – talk to your doctor! They’ll more than likely recommend you try the traditional routes first. Healthy eating and regular exercise. If that doesn’t work, or if you’re at risk, they may discuss medical options with you. Take their word on it, your health is their main interest, not your money!
