Saxenda Archives -

Intended as a solution for those living with obesity and hyped as the solution to obesity. Accordingly, demand has outstripped supply causing shortages. But, do they live up to the hype?

Impressive results have been achieved with weight loss drugs. For instance, one study showed that the mean weight loss following a Wegovy treatment over 104 weeks was 15.2%. Another study of Saxenda showed it consistently resulted in a 4 to 6 kg weight loss, with a greater proportion of patients achieving at least 5 and 10%.

So how do these drugs work?

Both Wegovy and Saxenda mimick the action of glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone that helps to regulate blood glucose levels, and to control appetite, particularly after meals. They can also delay stomach emptying, keeping you feeling full for a longer time.

Not only are GLP-1 mimics used for weight loss, they are also used in diabetes medication. For a fuller description of how they works please refer to the NHS overview, Diabetes medicines : GLP-1 agonists.

What about side effects?

It’s no surprise that using weight loss drugs comes with the risk of potential side effects. In fact a two year study looking at, amongst other things, the tolerability of semaglutide (Wegovy)found that 82.2% of participants reported gastrointestinal disorders, namely nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation.

Refer to the manufacturers websites, Wegovy.com and Saxenda.com for a full list

How do I get a weight loss drug to help me lose weight?

In the UK weight loss drugs are prescription medications. You can buy them online with a valid prescription.

To be eligible for referral to a specialist NHS weight management service requires a BMI of between 30-34.9 kg/m2, with 1 weight-related comorbidity.

Consequently, if you are prescribed by the NHS, then it’ll only be for 2 years to “ensure it remains value for money for the taxpayer“.

IF there is an option to self fund the treatment on an ongoing basis after an NHS referral, it’s not cheap. At the time of writing prices of up to £280 per month are being quoted by some online pharmacy’s. That’s £3,360 per year, or about 10% of the average UK salary in 2023, to maintain the use of the drug on a self funded basis, potentially for decades.

You may have seen the article in the BBC News where Oprah Winfrey has publicly left her long term association with WeightWatchers and confirmed she is using Wegovy to maintain her weight indefinitely. We aren’t all in the same financial position as Oprah Winfrey and self funding may well be unaffordable for many people.

If I come off a weight loss will I keep the weight off?

No, not necessarily.

Basically, studies have confirmed ongoing treatment is required to maintain improvements in weight and health.

Moreover, studies have shown that rebound weight gain can as much as two‐thirds of the prior weight loss.

Does, my lifestyle have to change?

Yes.

Lifestyle changes lay the foundation for all healthy weight loss, even when you’re taking weight loss drugs.

Francesco Branca, World Health Organisation director of nutrition and food safety, told Reuters that whilst weight loss drugs are important but they are not a “silver bullet”, other interventions, including diet and exercise, remain critical to help manage obesity.

Likewise, the NHS guidance for treating obesity with medication is clear, “You’ll need to eat a balanced, reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly while taking liraglutide or semaglutide“.

Simple, right? Well if you’re not doing them already, learning to do them consistently is hard. Particularly, if you try the all or nothing approach implied in generic recommendations.

Your lifestyle will need to change.

If you would like to learn more

Check out the links to scientific papers and news articles provided in the sources section below.

To learn how we can help you lose weight and keep it off check out our 1-to-1 Wellbeing Coaching and Lose Weight pages to see how we can help you make lifestyle changes to support your health