Kent and Medway lead in weight loss drug prescriptions, new research shows

Brighton and Hove prescribe the highest amounts of the weight loss jab Wegovy

Kent and Medway prescribe the highest number of semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepeptide – drugs that are commonly used for treating type 2 diabetes, weight loss, or both - in the UK, according to recent research by Click Pharmacy.

Called GLP-1 agonists, these drugs mimic the effects of the GLP-1 hormone, which is released by the body after eating. This hormone slows digestion, stimulates insulin release, and inhibits glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar, making GLP-1 agonists effective treatments for diabetes and weight management.

The online pharmacy’s research reveals that Kent and Medway prescribed the most of these drugs in the month of June 2024, with 6,326 prescriptions.

Other NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) with high prescription rates included:

• Black Country and West Birmingham (5,019)
• Hampshire, Southampton, and Isle of Wight (4,960)
• Birmingham and Solihull (4,775)
• North Central London (4,528)
• North East London (3,557)
• North West London (3,498)
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (2,973)
• Coventry and Warwickshire (2,912)
• Norfolk and Waveny (2,575)

Brighton and Hove topped the list for prescribing Wegovy, a weight-loss drug containing semaglutide, with 35 prescriptions made out in June alone.

North East and South East London followed with 34 prescriptions each in June 2024.

Ozempic and Wegovy are two types of semaglutide manufactured by the Danish pharmaceutical giant, Novo Nordisk. While Ozempic is prescribed exclusively for diabetes, Wegovy is used for weight management. The two medications work similarly, though Wegovy is taken in a higher dose (2.4mg compared to Ozempic's typical 0.5mg–1.0mg).

North West London led the country in Ozempic prescriptions, with 1,747 issued in June.

Black Country and West Birmingham came second with 1,521, followed by Hampshire, Southampton, and Isle of Wight with 1,194.

Rybelsus, a new oral form of semaglutide introduced this year in the UK, is also being prescribed for diabetes.

In addition to treating diabetes and weight loss, semaglutide is being studied for its potential to slow ageing and promote better cardiovascular health.

Liraglutide and tirzepetide are other drugs that are be prescribed for either diabetes or weight loss.

Liraglutide, marketed as Victoza for diabetes and Saxenda for weight loss, is taken daily as an injection.

The top five ICBs prescribing liraglutide are NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight (204 prescriptions), NHS Black Country and West Birmingham (159), NHS Sheffield (101), NHS Northamptonshire (94), and NHS West Suffolk (77).

Tirzepatide, available in the UK as Mounjaro since 2023, is another weekly injectable treatment for diabetes and weight loss. It differs from semaglutide and liraglutide by mimicking both GLP-1 and GIP, another hormone that boosts insulin production.

Kent and Medway prescribed the most tirzepatide, with 1,742 prescriptions in June 2024, followed by Birmingham and Solihull (1,598) and Hampshire, Southampton, and Isle of Wight (1,520).

Orlistat, a weight-loss medication available both generically and under the brand names Alli and Xenical, is most commonly prescribed in North East London, with 1,756 prescriptions in June.

North West London (1,520) and Black Country and West Birmingham (1,516) followed closely behind.

A less commonly prescribed weight loss treatment is a combination of naltrexone and bupropion, marketed under names like Mysimba and Contrave. This medication reduces appetite but is less popular compared to other options.