The use of weight loss drugs is higher among those who are experiencing psychological distress, according to a new study led by University College London (UCL).
Published in the journal BMC Medicine, the researchers looked at data from 5,260 people who were representative of the general population and responded to a survey conducted in early 2025.
They found that 3.7% of those who reported moderate or severe psychological distress in the past month had used a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) to support weight loss, compared to 2.4% of those reporting no or low distress.
GLP-1 use was almost twice as common among women compared to men (4% vs 1.7%), and more common among people in middle age, at 4.2% among those aged 45 and 55 compared to 1.5% among those aged 75 and 1.2% among those aged 18.
And while levels of use were similar across social grades, interest in using weight loss drugs in the future was higher among ‘more typically disadvantaged groups’. This suggests a demand currently unmet by private prescriptions, the study concludes.
Need for good data on GLP-1s highlighted
An estimated 1.6 million adults in England, Scotland and Wales used GLP-1s to lose weight between early 2024 and early 2025.
‘This figure far exceeds NHS England’s initial goal of prescribing these drugs to 220,000 people over three years,’ said lead author Sarah Jackson, professorial research fellow at the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care.
‘We do not know about our survey respondents’ [body mass index] BMI or health conditions, so it is not clear how far this reflects a genuine medical need or how often the drugs are used unnecessarily by people of a healthy weight.
‘Good data is important as large numbers of people are taking these drugs outside medical supervision and there is wide potential for misuse. NHS prescribing data only captures a small part of the picture.’
Co-author, Professor Clare Llewellyn, professor of psychology and epidemiology, and co-leader of UCL-REACH (Research into Eating, ACtivity and Health) in the Department of Behavioural Science and Health, said GLP-1s could play an important role in improving the health of the nation. However, she warned that these findings ‘raise concerns about equity’ given the cost of the drugs.
Survey participants aged 18 and over were asked about their use of five medications: tirzepatide (brand name Mounjaro), semaglutide (brand names Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), and liraglutide (brand name Saxenda).
Among those using medication for weight loss, about one in seven (15%) were using medication not licensed for this purpose, such as Rybelsus which is only licensed in the UK for type 2 diabetes.
Interest in using drugs to support future weight loss was reported by 6.5% of respondents who had not already used a GLP-1 in the past year – equivalent to 3.3 million people.
Jo Harby, director of health information at the charity Cancer Research UK, said that weight loss medication is not a ‘silver bullet’.
‘More research is needed on their long-term impact, how these drugs affect cancer risk, and how best to support people to maintain a healthy weight. These drugs should only be prescribed by healthcare professionals alongside continued care and advice on diet and activity.
‘It’s also vital that everyone who needs it can access a range of weight-management support.’
Higher once-weekly semaglutide dose approved
Last week, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved a higher-strength semaglutide dose for adults who require a higher percentage of weight loss.
The new weekly 7.2mg semaglutide injection is expected to come to market in 2026 and its manufacturer Novo Nordisk has said it is working with the NHS and private providers to establish access for eligible patients across the UK.
The new triple dose currently requires three separate 2.4mg injections administered consecutively as it is not available as a single injection and is an adjunct to lifestyle interventions. It could be used for people who have a BMI of 30kg/m² or higher and do not reach their therapeutic goals after being on the standard 2.4mg dose for at least four weeks.
The decision is based on the STEP UP clinical trial, which found that a once-weekly dose of semaglutide 7.2 mg delivered an average weight loss of up to 20.7% after 72 weeks compared to a reduction of 17.5% with semaglutide 2.4 mg and 2.4% with placebo. One third of participants (33.2%) achieved a weight loss of 25% or more with this higher dose over the same time period, compared to 16.7% with semaglutide 2.4 mg and 0.0% with placebo.
Gastrointestinal adverse events and dysaesthesia were more common with semaglutide 7.2 mg compared to the lower dose or placebo. Serious adverse events were reported by 6.8% of participants with semaglutide 7.2 mg, 10.9% with semaglutide 2.4 mg and 5.5% with placebo.
The proportion of people who stopped taking the trial product due to side effects was comparable between the two active groups.
A version of this article was originally published by our sister publication The Pharmacist.
