Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro are creating access disparities in the UK due to strict NHS rules, high costs, and regional inequalities.

Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro, effective at suppressing appetite and aiding significant weight loss, are creating major access disparities in the UK. Though available on the NHS, strict and inconsistent eligibility criteria—such as high BMI thresholds—and regional differences in prescribing have led to a "postcode lottery," where access depends on location. Over 90% of users pay privately, spending £100 to £350 monthly, making treatment unaffordable for many, especially in lower-income areas where obesity rates are higher. With only a fraction of NHS boards in England prescribing Mounjaro and concerns over potential price increases, experts warn these life-changing treatments risk becoming a luxury, deepening health inequalities and undermining public health goals.