A move to cover expensive weight-loss drugs for Americans on Medicare and Medicaid may be in the works, but any such program could run into problems with voluntary participation and concerns about expense.

Heston Blumenthal has revealed that he is taking the weight-loss drug Wegovy. The celebrity chef admitted his use of the drug was a “paradox” as a restaurateur, and warned that its continued use threatened to topple the food industry.

People taking weight loss drugs typically start to lose weight within a few weeks. One study, funded by Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly, found that Mounjaro led to 20 per cent weight loss after 72 weeks of treatment, whereas Wegovy led to 14 per cent weight reduction.