Weight Loss Treatment Overview

Weight loss treatments tend to deliver the best and most sustained results when used consistently and combined with meaningful lifestyle changes. These include maintaining a balanced, calorie-controlled diet, engaging in regular physical activity, ensuring adequate sleep, and addressing behavioural factors such as eating habits and stress management. Without these supporting measures, the effectiveness of most treatments may be limited or short-lived.

Weight Loss Injections

Weight loss injections work by reducing appetite and increasing feelings of fullness between meals. This is because they act on areas of the brain involved in hunger and appetite regulation. The weight loss injections currently licensed for use in the UK include:

• Mounjaro
• Wegovy

These injections are typically administered once weekly.

Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

The active ingredient in Mounjaro is called tirzepatide. Tirzepatide works on two hormonal receptors:

• Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)
• Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)

GLP-1 helps regulate blood sugar levels and signals the brain to reduce hunger and cravings. It also slows gastric emptying, helping individuals feel fuller for longer.

GIP plays a role in regulating energy balance in brain and fat cells. It enhances the appetite-suppressing and glucose-regulating effects of GLP-1.

By mimicking the action of both of these naturally occurring hormones, Mounjaro has been shown to have a greater weight loss effect than treatments that act on GLP-1 alone.

Wegovy (Semaglutide)

Wegovy contains semaglutide, which is a synthetic version of the naturally occurring gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This hormone is released after eating and plays an important role in regulating blood sugar levels.

GLP-1 helps to:

• Reduce hunger and cravings
• Improve control of eating behaviour
• Slow gastric emptying, leading to prolonged feelings of fullness

Expected Effect

When using Wegovy, individuals typically experience a reduction in appetite. When combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, this can support effective and sustained weight loss.