Scotland becomes first UK nation to approve revolutionary ‘King Kong’ of obesity jabs on NHS

Scotland has become the first country in Britain to approve a revolutionary new treatment dubbed the ‘King Kong’ of obesity jabs.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium has deemed that Mounjaro can be made available on the website NHS to people to help them lose weight.

Mounjaro is the latest in a line of weight loss injections that have helped users lose massive amounts of weight, and is one of the most effective.

Technically, a million Scots are now eligible for the powerful drug because they meet the criteria for a free prescription from the NHS.

It may be prescribed to people who are obese and have an accompanying health condition caused by their weight, such as high blood pressure or sleep apnea, in which breathing problems interrupt sleep.

Fat-burning jab Mounjaro has been approved for use by NHS Scotland by the Scottish Medicines Consortium

The SMC report says up to 30,000 people a year are likely to receive the weekly jabs, but admits this could be a ‘significant underestimate’.

It costs the Scottish NHS £33.6 million a year, but the cost of obesity to the NHS is estimated at £600 million a year.

Mounjaro is the brand name of a drug called tirzepatide and is given as a weekly injection in different strengths.

It is the latest in a new generation of jabs that help people lose weight, similar to Ozempic and Wegovy, which have also recently been approved by the SMC.

The drugs, known as glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), suppress hunger by mimicking hormones that signal the body is full.

But Mounjaro also slows the passage of food through the stomach.

Research has shown that people can lose up to 20 percent of their body weight in 36 weeks by using Mounjaro.

The difference in results prompted American diabetes expert Dr Julio Rosenstock to declare Mounjaro ‘King Kong’ compared to ‘the gorilla’ of his rival Wegovy.

However, in general, people should continue taking the medicine to maintain their weight loss.

Mounjaro was recently approved by the SMC as a treatment for type 2 diabetes as it also helps stimulate the production of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.

But the latest ruling paves the way for thousands of Scots without diabetes to receive injections to help them lose weight.

The SMC said it is only mainly recommended in people with a BMI over 30 who also have other weight-related health problems. These are likely to include health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.

It is expected that GPs and hospitals will prescribe the treatment to people who have tried but failed to lose weight with diet and exercise alone.

However, there are shortages of GLP-1 Ras due to increasing demand.

Last week the National Institute for Clinical Excellence gave Mounjaro draft approval for obesity in England, but the agency is not expected to make a final decision until August at the earliest.

Sarah Le Brocq, director and founder of patient organization All About Obesity, welcomed the SMC’s decision, saying it will help improve people’s quality of life.

She said: ‘This is an important time for people with obesity as, until recently, treatment options have been very limited.

‘Having access to treatments that can help people not only lose weight, but also maintain weight loss is so exciting and a huge step forward.

‘Access to support and to effective treatments is essential to help improve quality of life and has the potential to help an estimated one million people in Scotland.’

SMC vice-chairman Graeme Bryson said: “Obesity is a serious public health problem in Scotland.

‘The committee accepted tirzepatide, which will help obese patients lose and control their weight when used in combination with exercise and a low-calorie diet. This is another option for people with weight-related health issues.”