Jump to: How do you qualify for weight-loss injections on the NHS? | How do I speak to my doctor about weight-loss injections? | Second Nature’s medication programmes
As of August 2024, you can get a weight-loss injection on the NHS if referred to a tier 3 weight management service.
To qualify for a tier 3 weight management service and receive a prescription for a weight-loss injection, you must meet strict eligibility criteria.
Saxenda, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are all approved weight-loss injections in the UK. However, as of August 2024, only Saxenda and Wegovy are available via the NHS.
The weight-loss injection Mounjaro is approved for weight loss in the UK, but as of August 2024, no Mounjaro is currently being prescribed in the NHS for obesity.
Mounjaro will likely become available on the NHS in the future as more funding is released.
You can also purchase Wegovy and Mounjaro privately with Second Nature as part of our Wegovy and Mounjaro weight-loss programmes.
How do I qualify for weight-loss injections on the NHS?
To qualify for weight-loss injections on the NHS, you need to be living with obesity, typically with a BMI over 35, have at least one obesity-related comorbidity like type 2 diabetes or hypertension, and receive a referral to a tier 3 weight management service.
Tier 3 weight management services are typically funded by local councils and operated by a private company that receives referrals from the local healthcare authority.
To find out more about your local weight management service and whether you qualify for a weight-loss injection, contact your GP surgery or search for your local NHS website online.
How do I ask my doctor for weight-loss injections?
The best way to speak to your doctor about weight-loss injections is to book an appointment and be open and honest about your concerns about your weight and how it’s impacting your health and quality of life.
Your doctor may recommend other approaches to support weight loss before recommending weight-loss injections like Saxenda, Wegovy, or Mounjaro.
However, if they deem it clinically appropriate, you may be referred to a tier 3 weight management service that will prescribe a weight-loss injection.
The most important first step is starting the conversation with your GP about weight loss. It gets ‘your foot in the door,’ so to speak.
Many will hesitate to speak with their doctor or healthcare team about their weight due to shame about the condition, but no one should feel ashamed about seeking help to treat their obesity.
Obesity has multifactorial causes involving genetic, biological, behavioural, and environmental factors that go beyond individual choices. This aligns with the definition of disease as having specific pathophysiological processes.
So, if obesity is a disease and not a matter of personal choice in most circumstances, there’s no shame in receiving pharmaceutical treatment to support the management or potential reversal of the condition.
Weight-loss injections are available privately, but they’re not a magic pill
Weight-loss injections 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 Ozempic 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.
