Women and Middle Classes Dominate Take-Up of Weight Loss Injections
New research has revealed a significant disparity in who is accessing private prescriptions for weight loss medications, with women and middle-class patients dominating the market. Analysis of private prescriptions for drugs like Mounjaro shows that almost 80% are for women, while the highest uptake is among men and women aged 30 to 49.
Study Methodology and Key Findings
The Health Foundation, in collaboration with online weight management provider Voy, analysed data from 113,630 patients who received private prescriptions between November 2024 and October 2025. The research focused on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (commonly called GLP-1s or GLP-1RAs), which work by mimicking natural hormones to help people feel fuller after eating.
The study found that interest in these medications falls sharply after age 60, with the 30-49 age group showing the strongest demand. Researchers also examined where patients lived as a measure of deprivation, uncovering troubling patterns of inequality in access to treatment.
Stark Inequalities in Access
The research revealed that people in the most deprived regions were approximately one-third less likely to receive weight loss injections than those in the least deprived areas. This disparity exists despite deprived regions having far higher obesity levels and therefore greater potential to benefit from these medications.
"Our findings reveal a stark divide," said Samantha Field, senior fellow in prevention at the Health Foundation and co-author of the research. "The groups bearing the greatest burden of obesity are seeking GLP-1 treatments less frequently, and often at higher BMIs."
The study also found that people in more deprived areas tend to begin treatment when they are heavier, suggesting further inequalities in access. Among 30 to 49-year-olds in the most deprived areas, around 45% started treatment with a body mass index of 35 or above, compared with approximately 30% in the least deprived areas.
NHS Rollout and Private Market Dominance
NHS England has implemented a phased rollout of Mounjaro over a period of up to 12 years, but current data suggests even eligible patients cannot access the drug through public healthcare. In the first three years of the 12-year rollout, approximately 220,000 patients have been prioritised.
This limited NHS availability means the vast majority of patients on Mounjaro pay for it privately. Eligible patients in the first year have included those with a body mass index over 40 and other complicating illnesses such as high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
NHS England previously warned that if all eligible patients (estimated at over three million) sought the drug in the first year, with 70% starting treatment, the impact on primary care would be profound, potentially consuming 18% of GP appointments.
Expert Calls for Action
"The NHS should be taking these findings into account as the rollout of these medications progresses, to ensure they are reaching the people who are most in need of them," Field emphasised. "Ensuring fair public provision is essential, but these medications address a problem that is preventable."
She added: "It's more important than ever that government retains focus on making the changes to our food environment that will prevent obesity occurring in the first place."
Dr David Huang, director of clinical innovation at Voy, commented: "We're pleased to have collaborated with the Health Foundation on this analysis to help improve transparency of health inequality in the UK. By providing real-world patient insights we can bring greater visibility and awareness to the barriers within the UK's health system, and ultimately inform measurable steps to address the obesity crisis."
Huang noted that private providers like Voy play a crucial role in delivering clinically-led and safe treatment to those seeking immediate care, and acknowledged their responsibility to enhance access as NHS rollout evolves.
NHS Response and Alternative Support
An NHS spokesperson stated: "The NHS is rightly prioritising the rollout of weight-loss drugs for those in the greatest clinical need and is exploring ways to accelerate the offering so that eligible people can benefit from safe and effective treatment wherever they live in England."
The spokesperson added: "The NHS also offers a wide range of other support for people to lose weight, which has helped tens of thousands of people achieve a healthier weight and wider lifestyle benefits."
The GLP-1 drug semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy) remains accessible on the NHS for people with health problems caused by their weight and a high BMI, providing an alternative pathway for some patients seeking weight management support through the public healthcare system.
