Weight loss injections and tablets

If you’re looking to lose weight because you have a high BMI, you may be at higher risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Reaching a healthy weight can lower your risk of experiencing these serious health issues.

If you’re living with asthma or erectile dysfunction, weight loss can improve your symptoms. Some people find that reaching a healthy weight improves self-confidence and mental health. It can also make some activities more enjoyable as the strain on their joints is reduced as well. 

Injections (pens) like Mounjaro® or Wegovy® and tablets such as Orlistat can help with weight loss when used alongside regular exercise and a balanced diet. While tablets can help you lose weight by blocking the fat you eat from being digested. Injections may be more effective for long-term weight loss as they stop you feeling hungry.

These treatments work in different ways and can cause side effects. So, which one you use depends on:

• Qualifying for treatment
• Your BMI
• Any health conditions you have
• Your weight loss goals
• How comfortable you feel with any risks or side effects
• Whether you have needle phobia 

There’s a lot to consider when starting weight loss treatment, our clinicians are here to help.

BMI stands for ‘Body Mass Index’. It is calculated by dividing a person’s weight (kg) by their height (metres squared).

Higher BMI scores can be used to determine the chances of you developing long-term conditions such as heart disease. However, people from Asian, Black African, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern ethnic backgrounds may see these conditions develop from a lower BMI, so this should be factored in when BMI is calculated.

BMI should not be used to diagnose symptoms as there are limits to using it. For example not all weight is fat, which disadvantages people with a muscular build.

Medically speaking, you are 'overweight' if you have a BMI of more than 25. So, you might be advised by your GP to make lifestyle changes to try and lose weight.

“While there are limitations to measuring BMI, measuring it can be a first step to determining your risk for any further weight-related diseases.” - Dr Bhavini Shah

You can use this NHS tool to calculate your BMI. 

Ozempic® is only licensed as a medicine for type 2 diabetes but is sometimes prescribed off-label as a weight loss treatment. If you do not have diabetes, please seek an alternative treatment.

Wegovy® has the same active ingredient as Ozempic®, semaglutide, and is prescribed for weight loss. Find out more about Wegovy® and Ozempic® here.

We don’t recommend stocking up on weight loss treatments, as you may need to adjust doses if you experience side effects or taper down doses as you reach your goal weight.  

We recommend ordering after you have taken the fourth and final dose of your current pen. This is unless this order clashes with an upcoming bank holiday. If that’s the case, please plan accordingly.

Common side effects during weight loss treatment can include:

• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Stomach discomfort

These side effects should decrease over time as treatment continues.

“If you get any side effects from your weight loss treatment please talk to your GP. If you are experiencing severe side effects (pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea), stop treatment immediately and seek medical help.” - Dr Bhavini Shah

For more information on weight loss treatment side effects read the patient information leaflets for Mounjaro® and Wegovy®.