MILLIONS more Brits could be offered weight loss jabs for free on the NHS under proposals to overhaul the BMI system. Currently, the “miracle” fat loss treatments – which work by making you feel fuller and less hungry – are offered to people with a BMI of 30 or above.
But experts have said those who aren’t technically classified as obese might still need drugs like Wegovy or Mounjaro. They argued that factors such as the accumulation of tummy fat should also be a component for identifying obesity and prescribing fat loss jabs.
Abdominal or visceral fat, as it’s known, is different to the soft layer of blubber that lies just a layer beneath your skin. Instead, it sits beneath the abdominal wall and wraps around the liver, intestines, and other organs.
Although visceral fat makes up only a small proportion of body fat, it’s a key player in a variety of health problems – linked to a higher risk of heart disease, dementia, and even certain cancers.