Weight-loss injections (“fat jabs”) such as Ozempic have become increasingly common in recent years. Although the NHS prescribes them to only around 4,000 people a month, up to a million Brits are thought to be buying the drugs privately.

Amid proposals that their use should be dramatically expanded, Find Out Now surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,000 Brits to ask their views. The results show many remain unconvinced about the weight-loss injections:

• The vast majority of Brits had heard of weight-loss injections (highest among women) with almost half knowing someone who has had one
• Clear majority agree it works for losing weight…but only 1 in 10 think it keeps the weight off long-term
• Less than 1 in 4 say they would be personally willing to take one, with the biggest barrier being concerns about side effects
• Brits are evenly split on whether weight-loss injections should be available for free on the NHS. And if they were, an overwhelming majority say they should only be for people with specific medical needs (rather than “anyone who wants it”)

Tyron Surmon, Head of Research at Find Out Now, commented:

“Weight-loss injections have clearly become normalised, but there is still a large degree of public scepticism around them. While some herald them as being the solution to the obesity crisis and call for their use to be dramatically expanded, it seems public attitudes aren’t quite there yet”

Survey breakdown

• 85 per cent have heard of weight-loss injections, of which 49 per cent had heard of them “a lot”
  • This is much higher among women. 3 in 5 (58 per cent) say “a lot” versus only 2 in 5 (39 per cent) for men
• 8 per cent themselves had had one, but 43 per cent (including majority of women, and those aged 30-54) know someone who has
• Majority (54 per cent) agree it works for losing weight…but only 10 per cent think it keeps weight off long-term. Clear majority say “They help you lose weight quickly but you will probably just gain it back”
• Less than 1 in 4 (22 per cent) say they would be personally willing to take one if they wanted to lose weight
• Biggest concerns were on side-effects and long-term impacts
  • Less than 1 in 10 (8 per cent) said they wouldn’t use them due to fear of needles or injections
  • Significant group (33 per cent) who say they wouldn’t take them as “prefer to lose weight naturally through diet or exercise”
• People 2 to 1 (44-24) say it is legitimate way to lose weight versus “cheating”
• There is an even split (36-38) on whether people think weight-loss injections should be available for free on the NHS
  • But if were to be free on the NHS, an overwhelming majority (78-8) say that it should only be for people with specific medical need, not anyone who wants them

About the Survey

Find Out Now polled 2,028 GB adults on the 2nd October 2025, producing a sample nationally representative by age, gender and region. Full data tables can be found here.

Find Out Now is an MRS company partner, a member of the British Polling Council and abides by their rules. To find out more about our research offer, please visit our services page or contact ask@findoutnow.co.uk