Don’t use Ozempic or Wegovy for ‘Instagram perfect body’, says health secretary

Published

1 year ago

October 14, 2024

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Weight loss jabs like Ozempic and Wegovy should not be used to get the “Instagram perfect body”, West Streeting said amid a surge in demand for the treatment.

The health secretary told the Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge that his view on the injections “is pretty nuanced”, as while the results can be “game changing” in tackling obesity, they should not be “used and abused”.

Obesity costs the NHS around £6.5bn a year and is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer.

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Studies show people lose on average 15% of their body weight within months of starting treatment with Wegovy, the brand name for semaglutide, which is also known as Ozempic.

The drug mimics a natural hormone and people feel fuller faster and for longer.

But thousands of people who could benefit from the drug are being denied access due to a slower than planned rollout on the health service, an investigation by our science correspondent Thomas Moore found.

Asked if he is concerned about the report, Mr Streeting said: “My view on this is pretty nuanced, actually. I think that some of these drugs can be game changing in terms of tackling obesity.

“For those people that are so obese, that diet, exercise doesn’t feel like it’s having much of an impact, It feels like you’re on a losing battle. I think the drugs can make a really big impact in terms of getting weight under control.

“Where I think we’ve just got to be careful, though, is that we don’t see these drugs as an excuse not to do the right thing in terms of our diet, nutrition, exercise or to use them as cosmetic drugs for the Instagram perfect body.”

Mr Streeting went on to say that the drug could risk fuelling a rise in eating disorders and body dysmorphia if rolled out en masse – and it should be used alongside diet and exercise, rather than as a supplement.

“Drugs do come at a cost and they come at a cost to the NHS,” he added.

“It’s great the NHS is there for us and it’s free at the point of use… but that doesn’t mean that you should use it and abuse it.”

People have ‘moved on from Brexit’

Elsewhere in the interview, Mr Streeting claimed people have “moved on from Brexit”, when asked about a green paper which found leaving the EU reduced investment by 11%.

The paper, on the government’s New Industrial Strategy, opened with a forward from the chancellor which spoke about forging a closer relationship with Brussels to ensure smoother trade and better business.

Asked why there can’t be a debate about rejoining the single market or the customs union, given Labour’s ambition for growth, Mr Streeting said: “People have moved on, the country has moved on, the EU has moved on.

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“And let me tell you, not just here but in Brussels, there is no appetite to relitigate those arguments, to reopen things that have been settled.”

He said the Remain camp, which he backed, warned about the economic consequences of Brexit – which he said came to pass, and “that’s a fact of life. We have to deal with it”.

“I think the sweet spot is working as closely with the European Union where we can, but also showing the agility to work with and through partners in other markets as well.”

On ripping up regulation – a key message from Sir Keir Starmer at an investment summit of business leaders today – Mr Streeting said this was no longer a “right-left debate in British politics”.

“There’s too much regulation in the NHS and in some aspects… and I also think there’s far too much regulation in the economy.

“Sometimes, simplicity is more effective. And that’s been traditionally a right-left debate in British politics. But it really shouldn’t, it should be a right or wrong conversation.”

Politics

Twenty warnings for Sir Keir Starmer from new deputy leader Lucy Powell

Published

3 hours ago

October 25, 2025

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Twenty warnings for Sir Keir Starmer from new deputy leader Lucy Powell

Labour’s new deputy leader Lucy Powell promised to be Sir Keir Starmer’s ally.

Yet in her victory speech she criticised his government and its record no fewer than 20 times. And told him to raise his game, or else.

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Here’s what she said – and what she meant:

“Division and hate are on the rise. Discontent and disillusionment widespread.” What she meant: The Labour government has been a huge disappointment.
“The desire for change is impatient and palpable.” What she meant: You’ve had 16 months to deliver change – voters are saying, “Get on with it”.
“We have to offer hope, to offer the big change the country’s crying out for.” What she meant: Stop tinkering. Get more radical. You’ve got a huge Commons majority, after all.
“We must give a stronger sense of purpose, whose side we’re on and of our Labour values and beliefs.” What she meant: We’re not doing enough for working people or tackling inequality.
“People feel that this government is not being bold enough in delivering the kind of change we promised.” What she meant: Our voters are deserting us because they don’t see change.
“I’ll be a champion for all Labour values and boldness in everything we do.” What she meant: Watch out! I’m going to hound you and hold your feet to the fire!
“We won’t win by trying to out-Reform Reform, but by building a broad progressive consensus.” What she meant: Stop the lurch to the Right on immigration. We’re better than that.
“It starts with wrestling back the political megaphone and setting the agenda more strongly.” What she meant: We need to sharpen up our communication and selling our message.
“We’ve let Farage and his ilk run away with it.” What she meant: The Reform UK leader is running rings round us in communicating and campaigning. We’re too sluggish and flat-footed.
“For too long the country and the economy has worked in the interests of the few and not the many.” What she meant: Winter fuel payment cuts were a disaster and the two-child benefit cap has to go.
“Trickle down economics hasn’t worked.” What she meant: No more tax cuts for the rich. It’s time for a wealth tax, for example, to redistribute wealth.
“Life has just got harder and harder, less and less secure in work, in housing, in making ends meet.” What she meant: We’re failing to tackle the cost of living crisis and housing shortages.
“The deep-seated inequalities that have widened in wealth in regions in class in health need fundamentally redressing.” What she meant: We’re failing to look after our “red wall” voters.
“Re-unite our voter coalition and re-unite the country.” What she meant: Start governing for everyone, urban and rural, rich and poor, North and South. Stop neglecting poorer regions.
“We need to step up.” What she meant: For goodness sake, sort out the chaos in 10 Downing. Stop blaming aides and civil servants and sacking them. Get a grip!
Members and affiliates “don’t feel part of the conversation or party of the movement right now. And we have to change that.” What she meant: Stop ignoring and alienating activists, MPs and unions.
“Unity and loyalty comes from collective purpose, not from command and control.” What she meant: Stop the control freakery in parliament and party management. It’ll backfire.
“Debating, listening and hearing is not dissent. It’s all strength.” What she meant: Listen to your backbenchers and stop suspending them when they vote against policies like welfare cuts.
“As your deputy, my commitment is to change the culture.” What she meant: I’m going to stand up for rebels and critics and force you to ditch the control freakery and bad decisions.
“At the election 16 months ago the British people voted for change. I’m here to do everything I can to make that change a reality.” What she meant: Raise your game, or else!

She said it all with a smile, but there was menace there.

As deputy leader, Lucy Powell was always going to be a critical friend. So there you go, prime minister. Here’s 20 things you need to do for her to be more friend than critic.