Weight loss injections and tablets

Weight loss treatments are made for people with high BMIs. Maintaining a healthy weight for you is important, and weight loss injections or pills may help you achieve this.

Here at Online Doctor, we currently offer Mounjaro®, Wegovy®, Orlistat, Xenical and Saxenda®.  

• Mounjaro®, Wegovy® and Saxenda® are suitable for people with a BMI of over 30 (or 27-30 if you have a risk factor).
• Orlistat and Xenical can be prescribed for people with a BMI of over 30 (or 28 if you have a risk factor such as high blood pressure).

To check that you qualify for treatment, we'll ask about other medicines you're taking, and any conditions you have. The online questionnaire is completely confidential, and we'll use the information to ensure the treatment you have requested is safe to take.

During your online consultation for weight loss injections, you’ll need to upload a video showing your weight and ID. We’ll be able to confirm your identity and BMI, so we can deliver your treatment to your chosen address.

Before we can prescribe weight loss injections for you:

• We'll need to check your ID and weight
• We check your ID and weight on a video you film for us
• You need to ensure that your name on your ID matches the name on your Patient Record, otherwise your video may not be accepted 

You'll need:

• A mobile phone with a front and rear camera
• A steady internet connection via 3G, 4G, 5G or WiFi
• Bathroom scales
• A full-length mirror or someone who can film you
• A valid ID - driving licence, passport or national identity card 

Obesity is used to describe an excess amount of body fat that can present a risk to health.

There are many different causes for obesity, from diet to environment to health and genetic factors.

Being obese increases the risk of further medical conditions such as strokes, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

The NHS recommends that obesity is best treated by exercise and a healthy diet.

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. 

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®.

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.

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.

NOTE: This December, our weight loss clinic will be closed from 12pm on Sunday 22nd December until Friday 27th December and reopen from 27th-30th December for existing patients only. To get your next dose before Christmas, we recommend completing your consultation by 20th December and placing any last-minute orders by 10am   on Sunday, 22nd December. Please plan accordingly.

Mounjaro®, Wegovy® and Saxenda® are the weight loss injections (pens) that we offer. They work by:

• Suppressing your appetite: Mimicking naturally occurring hormones to make you feel less hungry
• Regulating blood sugar: Increases insulin – regulates blood sugar
• Food leaving your stomach slower: Slowing down digestion so you may eat smaller portions
  

Xenical and Orlistat (which both have the same active ingredient, orlistat, so work in the same way), are prescribed as a tablet. They work by blocking up to a third of the fat in the food you eat from being absorbed into your system.   

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.

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. 

The goal with weight management should be to reach a healthy weight for your height and build, and to maintain it. Achieving sustainable results and staying at your goal weight is best done by making adjustments to your lifestyle, being more active and eating a balanced diet. However, it is possible that prescription weight loss treatments can help you reach your goal weight. 

In severe cases weight loss surgery is an option (either a gastric band, gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy). However, as this is a major surgery it can be difficult to qualify for. There are also several potential post-surgery risks such as gallstones and blood clots.

If you have any concerns about sudden weight gain, you should see your GP for advice.

Make changes to your lifestyle that you can stick to, and you will find maintaining a healthy weight easier. Fad diets tend to make your weight drop dramatically and then rise again, so avoid these. Instead, try to eat more whole fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and lean protein while increasing your activity level. Walk more, join a local sports team, or swim regularly. The occasional sugary treat is fine, but make sure it's occasional and part of a balanced diet. 

We can prescribe Orlistat, Xenical, Mounjaro®, Wegovy® and Saxenda® online. Simply request the treatment you'd like and complete the medical consultation. We’ll use this information to ensure that the treatment is safe and suitable for you.

For Mounjaro®, Wegovy® and Saxenda® you’ll need to upload a video that clearly shows your ID and weight. This allows our clinicians to ensure the treatment is right for you. We can verify who you are and that you meet the criteria needed for treatment. Using our online video service also means you can have your order delivered to your home or chosen address. 

If approved for Orlistat or Xenical, you’ll need to collect your first treatment from your local London pharmacy. This is so that you can have your BMI checked by a pharmacist. After this first collection, for Orlistat and Xenical, you'll have the option of delivery.

With Mounjaro®, Wegovy® or Saxenda®, we’ll send you email reminders to reorder your treatment. And we’ll also ask you to keep us updated on your progress at certain points during the course of your treatment.