Currently, the health service primarily restricts medications similar to those of Ozempic to type 2 diabetes patients. The expansion to include Mounjaro for weight loss purposes has triggered a surge in patient enquiries at GP surgeries nationwide.

Medical professionals are warning that demand will vastly exceed supply, with projections indicating severe limitations on availability.

Several GP practices have taken to posting explicit warnings online to deter patient requests.

Crayford Town Surgery in Kent stated bluntly: “We do not prescribe weight loss jabs so please do not ask.”

Fairhill Medical Practice in Kingston, South West London, has adopted a more measured approach, announcing: “Once we are able to prescribe, they will be offered to those with the highest medical need only.”

Highfield Surgery in Blackpool reported experiencing “a significant increase in the numbers of patients requesting help with weight management,” attributing many enquiries to “current interest and information in mainstream or social media regarding the use of GLP-1 injections”.

Healthcare leaders have expressed stark concerns about the NHS’s ability to meet demand.

Experts project that merely 220,000 individuals will receive prescriptions by 2028, despite millions potentially seeking treatment.

Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, warned: “NHS provision won’t meet demand straight away.

“In reality, many GPs lack the bandwidth to deliver the level of support needed. We expect that many people will continue seeking it privately.”

The limited capacity highlights a significant gap between public expectations and NHS resources.

With current infrastructure constraints, the vast majority of those hoping to access Mounjaro through their GP will face disappointment.

It is understood a number of GPs have felt pressured into prescribing the drugs to children or entering agreements to supply them on behalf of transgender clinicsGetty

Medical professionals are observing concerning side effects that extend beyond those documented in clinical trials and official product information.

Dr Rupa Parmar, from private GP service Midland Health, reported that patients using weight loss injections are experiencing unexpected effects including hair loss, psychological changes and muscle mass reduction.

Dr Parmar told GB News that “these issues are arising in practice despite their absence from official documentation.” The emergence of these undocumented side effects raises questions about the comprehensive understanding of these medications’ impact on patients.

Weight loss drugs including Mounjaro, Wegovy and Semaglutide have been celebrated as revolutionary treatments in the diet industry, yet these observations suggest potential hidden costs.