The military has seen a rise in the use of weight loss injections among soldiers struggling with weight management. Last year, 240 military personnel received the Mounjaro and Wegovy jabs, a significant increase from the 73 individuals who received these injections in 2024.
Out of those who received the injections in the past year, 128 were from the army, 58 from the RAF, and 54 from the Navy. Among them, 46 were officers, while the remaining 194 were enlisted personnel.
According to separate data from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), a considerable number of military personnel fail their annual fitness assessments. Some individuals face dismissal due to obesity, with a few weighing over 26 stone upon leaving the service.
In addition, a subset of army personnel have waist measurements exceeding 55 inches, with a small group undergoing liposuction treatment to address weight concerns. Official records reveal that over 11,000 soldiers, 4,300 sailors, and 3,900 aircrew members are classified as obese based on their Body Mass Index (BMI).
However, the military argues that BMI might not accurately reflect the composition of muscle versus fat in these individuals. Medical records indicate that nearly 6,000 military personnel received anti-depressants, while 2,500 were prescribed sleeping tablets in the previous year.
Furthermore, 872 military personnel were provided with Viagra or similar medications, with a breakdown of 409 army members, 239 Navy personnel, and 224 RAF individuals. Philip Ingram, a former British Military Intelligence colonel, commended the military for utilizing various medical treatments to support the fitness of service members.
The Ministry of Defence spokesperson emphasized that only a small fraction of the Armed Forces face obesity issues. They stated that personalized lifestyle, dietary, and medical assistance is offered to those affected, including access to weight loss interventions under careful evaluation.
Safety remains a top priority in the armed forces, with thorough medical assessments being mandatory before considering any medication introduction or expansion for military personnel.
