Everything you need to know about GLP-1 'skinny jabs' (and the new pill)
Can you drink alcohol on weight loss jabs? Do they cause hair loss? And are the new pills just as effective as injections? In June
Can you drink alcohol on weight loss jabs? Do they cause hair loss? And are the new pills just as effective as injections? In June 2026, the UK's medicines regulator approved the first GLP-1 weight-loss pill, adding to a fast-growing range of treatments that are changing how obesity is managed. But alongside all the hype, there's also a lot of confusion.
BBC Health Correspondent Dominic Hughes answers the biggest questions people are asking about GLP-1 medicines. For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news 0:00 Intro 1:00 How do they work? 1:57 How quickly do they start to work? 2:41 How do the pills compare with the injections?
4:08 Can I get them on the NHS? 5:53 How much do they cost privately? 6:23 Do they work without diet and exercise? 7:23 Why am I not losing weight on them? 8:16 What are the common side effects? 8:48 Are there serious risks? 9:27 Do they cause muscle or hair loss?
10:02 Can they affect fertility? 10:46 Can you take them while pregnant? 11:18 What happens when you stop taking them? 12:22 Will I have to take them forever? 12:53 Are there fake weight-loss jabs or pills being sold online? 13:55 Outro
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