“Since then I’ve just lost weight in the normal way by eating less, eating more healthily, doing some exercise — going to the gym, going running. I’ve lost four stone in 12 months,” he added.
Jenrick set tongues wagging in late 2023 after his weight loss — and new haircut — were noticed by colleagues, who suspected his smartened-up image suggested he might fancy a tilt at power.
He has since become one of the frontrunners to replace former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as leader of Britain’s opposition Conservatives.
Ozempic, a treatment for type-2 diabetes, contains the drug semaglutide, which makes users feel full and reduces appetite. Britain’s National Health Service is currently facing a shortage of the medication due to its burgeoning use for weight loss.
Two other treatments, Wegovy and Mounjaro, also contain the drug, and have seen big surges in interest. Medical experts have warned against using them as a “quick-fix,” however, and point to a number of side effects.
Jenrick is one of the few high-profile politicians to admit to using new weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, although other prominent users include X boss Elon Musk, who said he had tried Wegovy. But Jenrick is far from the first politico to publicly speak out about their dieting techniques as they seek to get healthy — and perhaps boost a flagging career.
