Dr Hilary Jones has sparked a backlash among viewers by suggesting the “miracle” weight loss jab Ozempic might have potential for treating lipedema during an episode of ITV’s Lorraine, despite conceding a lack of evidence to support its effectiveness in such cases.
During the programme that aired on October 29, Ranvir Singh weighed in on the controversial drug, saying: “Ozempic is always in the papers – either it’s a miracle drug or they’ve got a great PR team.” To which Dr Hilary responded: “It’s getting a lot of attention, isn’t it?”
He then highlighted the absence of clinical trials for Ozempics use in treating the condition, which predominantly affects women and can lead to fat accumulation in the legs, hips, and buttocks, stating: “It’s spreading like wildfire on Facebook, but there are no clinical trials to suggest that it should be used in this instance – we need trials to see if it works.”
Moreover, the ITV health expert critiqued the financial implications for the NHS, mentioning a significant potential cost. Offering an alternative, he cited research that promotes regular moderate exercise as an effective preventive measure against chronic diseases.
He advised: “Interestingly, research has shown that if we only did the recommended amount of moderate exercise every week that the government is saying, we would actually prevent 3.2 million cases of chronic disease.”
However, it has since been confirmed that Dr Hilary’s comments sparked 50 Ofcom complaints. A spokesperson for Ofcom explained the “complaints were about references Dr Hilary Jones made to the condition Lipodema when discussing the drug Ozempic.”
Some viewers may have taken issue with the suggestion that physical activity could replace the need for weight loss medication despite many individuals struggling to lose weight through exercise alone.
However, Dr Hilary remained firm in his belief that regular moderate exercise could alleviate conditions such as depression, type two diabetes, and common aches and pains like backache.
In his roundup of recommended winter health habits, he also advised viewers to avoid caffeine for ten hours before bedtime. He maintained that food should not be consumed within the last three hours of the day and work should be avoided for the last two, with all screens and technology switched off an hour before bedtime.
The use of Ozempic – initially a diabetes medication – as a treatment for obesity has sparked controversy. Several celebrities, including Sharon Osbourne, Oprah Winfrey, and Elon Musk, have tried the medication, which is known to cause potentially unpleasant side effects such as extreme nausea in some people.
Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1, from 9am.