BRITISH health chiefs have confirmed fat jabs could trigger a deadly, organ-destroying side effect.
GLP-1 injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy, taken by millions of Brits, could pose a “small risk of severe acute pancreatitis”, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said today.
The MHRA has updated product information on weight loss jabs to show the possible risk of severe acute pancreatitisCredit: Alamy
The watchdog said it was updating the product information for for both healthcare professionals and patients to reflect this.
is a condition where the pancreas – a small organ, located behind the stomach that aids digestion – becomes inflamed over a short period of time.
It can also be caused by gallstones or drinking too much booze.
The condition causes symptoms such as severe pain in the centre of the tummy, temperature, and feeling or being sick.
Most people with acute pancreatitis start to feel better within about a week, but some may go on to develop severe acute pancreatitis, which leads to serious complications.
“Acute pancreatitis is a known, but infrequent side effect of taking GLP-1s,” according to the MHRA.
“In some extremely rare cases the complications of acute pancreatitis can be particularly severe.”
The watchdog last year warned that weight loss jabs, including Mounjaro, and , were linked to more that 560 cases of the illness.
At least ten of these cases were fatal, although it’s not clear the were directly to blame.
The MHRA told patients and clinicians to “be alert” to red flag symptoms such as “severe, persistent stomach pain that may radiate to the back and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting”.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA’s Chief Safety Officer said: “Patient safety is the MHRA’s top priority and we continually monitor the safety and efficacy of all licensed medicines.
“For the vast majority of patients who are prescribed GLP-1s, they are safe and effective medicines which deliver significant health benefits.
“The risk of developing these severe side effects is very small, but it is important that patients and healthcare professionals are aware and alert to the associated symptoms.
“If you, or someone you care for, is taking GLP-1s and you notice symptoms such as severe, persistent stomach pain that may radiate to the back and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, then we advise you speak to a healthcare professional and report it via our Yellow Card scheme.”
Research by estimates that 1.6 million adults in England, Wales and Scotland used GLP-1s, between early 2024 and early 2025, to lose weight.
And it’s now been estimated that demand for the jabs will double in 2026.
GLP-1s are generally considered safe and effective, but they can cause mild side effects like nausea, constipation or diarrhoea.
And like all medications, they are not without risk.
People taking GLP-1s should be aware of the symptoms of severe pancreatitis and seek urgent medical attention if they experience them, the MHRA said.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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