ARE WEIGHT-LOSS PILLS PERSUADING MORE MEN TO SEEK TREATMENT?

13 hours ago

4 min read

The launch of the UK's first oral GLP-1 weight-loss medication is encouraging more men to seek support for weight loss, with early figures suggesting the added discretion of taking a daily tablet instead of a weekly injection is making treatment more appealing to them, a pharmacist has said.

Experts at online pharmacy The Family Chemist believe the tablet format could help remove one of the biggest barriers preventing some men from seeking treatment, allowing them to manage their weight more privately and incorporate medication into their daily routine without drawing attention to it.

Sunny Dhain, clinical director at the pharmacy, said: “There is a significant need for weight-management support among men. The latest Health Survey for England found that 70% of adult men were overweight or living with obesity in 2024, compared with 62% of women.

“This provides some wider context for the increased interest we are seeing among male patients, particularly those over 40. While weight-management services have historically attracted more women than men, we are already seeing the changes in who comes forward for treatment, since the launch of the new oral GLP-1.”

This comes soon after the recent launch of the new Wegovy weight-loss pill, with several other oral GLP-1 drugs expected on the market over the next two to three years. The next - Orforglipron - is estimated to be available in late 2026/early 2027 and is likely to be even more effective for weight loss than the Wegovy pill*.

The pharmacy has served more than one million customers across its services and currently has a customer base of more than half a million people. Weight management now accounts for approximately 70% of its business.

The Family Chemist says the launch of oral GLP-1 treatments could mark the beginning of a more discreet era of weight-loss treatment. The pharmacy has found:

Early evidence strongly suggests that the tablet is bringing completely new patients into GLP-1 treatment, including men
36.1% of Wegovy oral pill patients have had no previous evidence of GLP-1 treatment
33.2% of Wegovy pill patients had previously used injectable Wegovy
24.5% had previously used other brands of prescribed weight loss injections
Since the launch of the Wegovy pill, The Family Chemist has seen overall order volumes increase by approximately 20% to 30%.

The Family Chemist patient, online influencer George Keywood, has used his social media presence to communicate his weight-loss journey to his 126,000 followers. George, who has lost 10 stone to date, said:

“I’ve always been pretty open about my weight loss journey, but I know a lot of men aren’t like that. We’re not always great at talking about our weight or admitting when we want to do something about it.

“I think having a tablet option could change that for some men. It’s discreet, there’s no injecting and nobody really needs to know you’re taking it. If that makes more blokes feel comfortable actually doing something about their weight and getting healthier, then I think that can only be a good thing.

He added: “Because I have shared my journey publicly, my followers have seen my progress over the last couple of years. Although some people can be negative about it, overall I’m really proud to have created a place where we can support and encourage each other to become healthier versions of ourselves.

For me, there shouldn’t be any embarrassment in wanting to lose weight and feel better about yourself. However you choose to do it, the important thing is actually taking that first step.”

Sunny Dhain continued: "Some men are completely open about using GLP-1 medicines. Others prefer to keep their weight loss journeys to themselves. Neither approach is right or wrong. Healthcare is personal and many patients - male or female - simply value having the choice to keep treatment private.

"We've spoken to men who haven't wanted family members to see their medication in the fridge, who have hidden their injections when friends visit or who simply haven't wanted to discuss their weight-loss journey with anyone.

"The arrival of tablets won't remove the stigma surrounding obesity and weight loss overnight, but for some people it may make starting treatment feel more private and therefore more approachable.

"It's too early to draw firm conclusions," said Dhain. "However, we'll be watching closely to see whether offering a tablet encourages more men to consider medical support for obesity. If people perceive tablets as more familiar or less intimidating than injections, it may broaden access to treatment."

Notes to editors

The Family Chemist is an independent UK pharmacy providing online clinical consultations and prescription weight-management services.

Sources:

* In Eli Lilly's Phase 3 obesity study (ATTAIN-1), people taking the highest dose of Orforglipron lost an average of 12.4% of their body weight over 72 weeks. In addition: