Demand to soar as new weight loss drug Mounjaro gets green light

Mounjaro, which has been taken by celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin and Charles Barkley has been approved by the TGA for weight loss.

A new prescription drug in the battle against obesity has this week been approved by Australian regulators, with experts predicting the wider choice of medications will see demand soar.

Mounjaro, which has been taken by celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin and Charles Barkley was this week approved by the TGA for weight loss.

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Made by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, Mounjaro is a competitor to medication like Wegovy, which is made by Danish company Novo Nordisk.

Whoopi Goldberg says one of the things that has helped her lose weight was Mounjaro. Picture: Getty Images

Basketball legend Charles Barkley has used Mounjaro, the drug recently approved by the TGA for weight loss. Picture: Getty Images

But the increase in options for Australians looking to tackle their weight comes on the back of recent research showing GPs are lacking the confidence to talk to their patients about new medications.

A survey of nearly 400 doctors has found that despite 85 per cent of doctors reporting an increased number of patients asking about weight-loss medication over the past 12 months, many lack confidence to discuss newer treatments.

The survey, released by AusDoctor Group, showed that more than 74 per cent of doctors had given patients advice about obesity in the previous week but only 24 per cent were completely confident to answer patient questions about newer treatments.

A new medication previously only approved for diabetes has been given the green light to treat obesity by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Picture: Getty Images

Exclusive data from a YouGov survey of more than 1100 people commissioned by telehealth clinic Juniper showed a boom in patients seeking treatment for weight from telehealth providers.

The survey found 79 per cent of respondents found telehealth more convenient than traditional in-person visits, with an average quality of care rating of 8.2 out of 10.

Patients were most comfortable to use telehealth with the sole purpose of receiving treatment for a specific condition such as weight loss, but least likely to use it to diagnose a new health issue.

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Originally published as Demand to soar as new weight loss drug Mounjaro gets green light