While physical dependence at prescribed doses is uncommon, the classification carries stigma and prescribing restrictions
With more than a quarter of adults in England classified as obese, experts said if the weight management programme were expanded to the 3.4 million people currently eligible for weight-loss jabs on the NHS, it could free up nearly 10 million GP appointments every year, saving the health service about 364 million a year, which translates to roughly Rs 4,700 crore
The company also markets two other brands of semaglutide: Wegovy, used for weight management in obese adults, and Rybelsus, used to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes
Second, the rapid weight loss achieved with semaglutide treatment may trigger a specific type of temporary hair shedding known as telogen effluvium, which is well-documented with significant weight reduction regardless of the method used