Semaglutide medications mimic the natural hormone GLP-1, which is released after eating to signal to the body to begin breaking down the nutrients ingested. This hormone also targets the brain and gut to increase feelings of fullness and reduce dietary intake. Unlike the natural version of GLP-1, the medication lasts for much longer in the body, meaning you'll stay fuller for longer. This makes medications containing semaglutide (including Ozempic, an injectable semaglutide, and Rybelsus, an oral semaglutide) very effective options for weight loss as they can reduce appetite and food intake as well as regulate fat storage and blood sugar control.

We offer two different types of medication-based weight loss programmes, which you can choose between depending on your preferences.

Ozempic, an injectable semaglutide, is self-administered as a once-weekly injection into the abdomen, the thigh, or in the upper arm. This process is quick and simple as the drugs only pass through a thin skin layer, not into the bloodstream or the muscle. It can be taken at any time of the day, with or without meals, so there is no fuss or regime you need to build in order to take it! Ozempic is active in the body up to one week, which means no daily alarms or reminders are needed. 

Rybelsus, an oral semaglutide, is a tablet taken daily on an empty stomach.

In order to reduce the risk of side effects, we implement a 4-week period of dose escalation to slowly allow your body to adjust. Specific instructions on administration or dose escalation will be supplied with each kit that you receive.

A seminal study on the efficacy of semaglutide showed the drug to induce an average of 15% weight loss in users after one year¹, which has since been repeated across 8 follow up studies. The pace of this weight loss is not yet known as most studies have focused on a 1-year time point and it will vary from person to person, however most people start seeing results in just 4 weeks.

Studies have shown these drugs can be effective for up to 2 years with continual use, particularly when compared to standard diet and exercise². However successful weight loss maintenance depends on maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine, which we'll help you to develop over the course of the programme³.

All medications we prescribe as part of a weight loss programme have been extensively researched and are subject to strict manufacturing standards. Injectable semaglutide (currently available under the brand name Ozempic) has also been recommended by NICE (the body responsible for making treatment recommendations for the NHS) for the treatment of obesity.

We know that self-injecting may be a new concept for you, but trust us when we say that it's less scary than you might think. The medication we prescribe is manufactured in a sterile environment and the injection itself comes with very few risks (some people may experience minor bruising at the injection site, but otherwise it's a really straightforward and virtually pain-free process). If injections aren't for you, we also offer an oral semaglutide which can be taken daily with water.

Apart from the injection, semaglutide has been proven to be safe and effective for obesity management in eligible individuals (which is why the first step is to complete our free assessment, to ensure it is safe for you to use the medication). As with any medication, some people will experience side effects (please see the next question), however this has not stopped regulators from approving the medication for eligible patients.

Some people experience mild to moderate side effects when taking semaglutide medications, the most commonly reported being nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. These side effects are typically experienced around dose escalation (i.e. when you're prescribed a higher dose to increase the efficacy of the medication), and tend to reside after a small amount of time. Generally semaglutide medications are well tolerated, and rates of adherence are very high. The slow dose escalation that we have built into the programme may help to minimise these effects, and we’ll only increase your dose with your go ahead!

There are some known interactions between GLP-1 medications and other drugs, which is why our free assessment will ask you to confirm all medications you're currently on. If you're ineligible due to taking certain medications, we'll let you know straight away—our prescribers will also check through your entire online consultation to ensure there are no counterindications before writing your prescription.