Jump to: Injections for obesity aren’t a magic pill | Mounjaro | Wegovy | Saxenda | Take home message
According to data from randomised controlled trials, the best injection for obesity is tirzepatide, which is sold under the brand name Mounjaro.
Mounjaro leads to an average weight loss of around 26% after one year, which is around 10% more than the next best injection for obesity, semaglutide, which is sold under the brand name Wegovy.
Wegovy is the same drug as the more well-known injection Ozempic. However, Ozempic is no longer available for weight loss in the UK but only for people with type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy is available in higher doses than Ozempic, leading to more weight loss.
Liraglutide (Saxenda) is also available as an injection for obesity in the UK, but its average weight loss is only around 5-7%.
Saxenda also leads to more side effects and adverse events than Mounjaro and Wegovy.
Research suggests around 27% of people on Saxenda stop taking the medication due to adverse effects compared to 8-12% on Mounjaro and Wegovy.
So, if you’re looking for an injection for obesity, Mounjaro and Wegovy are the two best options currently available in the UK.
Injections for obesity aren’t a magic pill
Injections for obesity are most effective when combined with a healthier lifestyle. They can help kickstart weight loss while you commit to developing healthier habits.
Mounjaro and other weight loss injections, like Saxenda and Wegovy, can allow you to make lifestyle changes to support long-term weight loss.
These medications can help silence food-related thoughts and give you a boost of confidence with more immediate weight-loss results.
They can also buy you the time and headspace to understand why your body may have struggled to lose weight and build new long-term healthy habits.
The core focus of our medication programmes is to calm down the feeling of food noise, lower your cravings, and allow you to build healthier habits to keep the weight off for good.
The ultimate goal is to make losing weight feel second nature.
Second Nature’s medication programmes
Second Nature has two medication-supported programmes: a Wegovy weight-loss programme and a Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
Why should you choose Second Nature over other medication providers if you’ve decided to try Mounjaro or Wegovy (assuming you’re eligible)?
For peace of mind.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS for over 6 years, providing weight-loss programmes across the UK.
While our Wegovy and Mounjaro weight-loss programmes are private and not currently used by the NHS, we’ve built the programmes focusing on scientific evidence, patient safety, and data security.
We hope that our 6+ years of working with the NHS and building a track record of effective weight-loss results will give you peace of mind to give us a try.
Otherwise, keep reading as we analyse the best injections for obesity in more depth.
1) Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
Based on the average weight loss typically seen with Mounjaro (around 26% after one year), it’s the best injection for obesity available in the UK.
Mounjaro is a dual-action injection for obesity that is taken once weekly. It mimics two hormones in the body that help us feel fuller after we eat.
These two hormones are:
- GLP-1
- GIP
GLP-1 and GIP are released from the gut when we eat food. While they have independent effects on the body, they share a similar role in that they communicate with the brain to lower feelings of hunger and food reward.
Mounjaro is a long-acting medication that reaches a ‘steady state’ after 4-8 weeks. Once it reaches this steady state, you’ll notice a consistent effect of lower hunger.
This dual action is why Mounjaro leads to an average weight loss of around 26%. It’s manufactured by Eli Lilly and is also approved in the UK to treat people with type 2 diabetes.
You can buy Mounjaro from Second Nature (assuming you’re eligible) as part of our Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
2) Wegovy (semaglutide)
Based on the average weight loss typically seen with Wegovy (around 16%), it’s the second-best injection for obesity currently available in the UK.
Wegovy is a single-action injection for obesity that is taken once weekly. It mimics the hormone GLP-1, which is released from the gut after we eat and helps us feel full.
Wegovy is a long-acting medication that reaches a ‘steady state’ after 4-8 weeks. Once it reaches this steady state, you’ll notice a consistent effect of lower hunger.
Research suggests that Wegovy supports weight loss of around 16% of body weight after one year on the medication.
Semaglutide, the drug in Wegovy, is the same drug in Ozempic. However, Ozempic is no longer available for weight loss in the UK but only for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy is available in higher doses than Ozempic (up to 2.4 mg compared to 1.0 mg), leading to significantly more weight loss (around 8% more).
Wegovy is available to buy from Second Nature (assuming you’re eligible) as part of our Wegovy weight-loss programme.
3 – Saxenda (liraglutide)
Based on the average weight loss typically seen with Saxenda (around 5-7%), it’s the third-best injection for obesity currently available in the UK.
Saxenda is a single-action injection for obesity that is taken once daily. It mimics the hormone GLP-1, which is released from the gut after we eat and helps us feel full.
Due to its daily injection, Saxenda is considered a short-acting medication. It doesn’t maintain the same steady state in the body as Mounjaro or Wegovy.
Research suggests that Saxenda supports weight loss of around 5-7% of body weight after one year on the medication.
Saxenda appears to have a worse safety profile than Mounjaro and Wegovy. It’s estimated that around 70% of people on Saxenda can tolerate the medication, compared to over 90% on Mounjaro and Wegovy.
Saxenda isn’t available with Second Nature.
Take home message
Not everyone living with obesity will need to use weight-loss injections. However, there are certain situations when weight-loss injections are appropriate and necessary to give people the extra boost they need.
Lifestyle interventions without medications haven’t proven to be as effective as those that combine habit change with medication.
The best research suggests that lifestyle interventions lead to weight loss of around 6-10% compared to up to 26% with Mounjaro.
This level of weight loss is unprecedented and has given many people living with obesity an opportunity to lose weight, improve their health, and keep the weight off in the long term.
If you’re looking to kickstart your weight loss, change your habits, and improve your health for the long term, then a programme like Second Nature could be a great option for you.
The first step will be to take your health quiz.
