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Weight Loss

Who Is Eligible for Medical Weight Loss Treatment?

Medical weight management treatments are designed for adults who need support losing weight alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Under UK clinical guidelines (GPhC/NICE standards), patients generally qualify for prescription weight loss support if they meet either of the following criteria:

  • BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher (Classified as Obesity)

  • BMI of 27 kg/m² to 29.9 kg/m² (Overweight) PLUS at least one weight-related health condition, such as:

    • High blood pressure (hypertension)

    • Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes

    • High cholesterol

    • Obstructive sleep apnoea

    • Cardiovascular disease

(Note: Lower BMI thresholds starting at 27.5 kg/m² apply to patients from South Asian, Chinese, Other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African, or African-Carribean backgrounds due to elevated cardiometabolic risk at lower weights.)

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Weight loss medications generally fall into two distinct categories:

  1. Appetite Suppressants / Incretin Hormones (GLP-1 / GIP Analogues): Mimic natural fullness hormones in your body to reduce hunger, curb cravings, and slow down stomach emptying.

  2. Fat Absorption Blockers (Lipase Inhibitors): Act locally inside your digestive system to block a portion of the fat you eat from being absorbed.

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Image by Huha Inc.

Prescription Treatment Options Simply Explained

1. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®)

  • Format: Weekly subcutaneous injection pen.

  • How It Works: Dual-action treatment that targets two natural gut hormones: GIP (Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1).

  • Key Benefits:

    • Double hormone action makes it one of the most effective weight loss treatments available.

    • Significantly reduces appetite and "food noise" (persistent thoughts about food).

    • Helps regulate blood sugar levels and slows gastric emptying so you feel full longer.

2. Semaglutide Injection (Wegovy®)

  • Format: Weekly subcutaneous injection pen.

  • How It Works: A GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics your body's natural GLP-1 hormone.

  • Key Benefits:

    • Highly effective at sending signals to the brain's appetite center that you are satisfied.

    • Reduces calorie intake by suppressing hunger and curbing snacking urges.

    • Delivered via a simple, once-weekly injection pen.

3. Semaglutide Tablets (Wegovy® Oral Tablets)

  • Format: Daily oral tablet.

  • How It Works: Uses the exact same active peptide (Semaglutide) as the Wegovy injection, reformulated with an absorption enhancer for daily oral ingestion.

  • Key Benefits:

    • First licensed oral GLP-1 daily tablet for weight loss, offering an effective option for patients who prefer not to use needles.

    • Important Dosing Instruction: Must be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with a small sip of plain water, followed by a 30-minute wait before eating, drinking, or taking other oral medications.

4. Liraglutide (Saxenda®)

  • Format: Daily subcutaneous injection pen.

  • How It Works: An earlier-generation GLP-1 receptor agonist that works similarly to Semaglutide but requires daily administration.

  • Key Benefits:

    • Mimics natural fullness hormones to help manage appetite and portion sizes.

    • Offers daily flexibility for patients who prefer a shorter-acting medication.

5. Orlistat 120mg Capsules

  • Format: Oral capsule taken with main meals (up to 3 times daily).

  • How It Works: A lipase inhibitor that works locally inside the stomach and intestines—it does not affect appetite or central brain chemistry.

  • Key Benefits:

    • Blocks roughly 30% of the fat in your meals from being digested and absorbed; unabsorbed fat passes out naturally in bowel movements.

    • Highly effective when paired with a balanced, reduced-calorie, lower-fat diet (where no more than 30% of daily calories come from fat).

Explore the Options

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