The new weight loss medication

The big news in weight management this month is the approval in the UK of the drug semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic or Wegovy). It can now be prescribed to patients living with health complications caused by obesity, and works by reducing appetite to bring about fat loss. There’s a lot of noise about it, but what’s the truth about the fat loss jab?

Is this a miracle drug, a cure for our nation’s obesity crisis, a kind of “cheating”, a waste of NHS money? All, some or none of these?

You may have come across a certain type of reaction to this news product. “Why is the NHS spending scarce resources on a weight loss intervention? It’s not like it’s treating an actual illness, they’ve chosen to be that way.”

Obesity isn’t a lifestyle choice

For the vast majority of people struggling with their weight, obesity isn’t an active choice. Why would anyone choose to feel physically uncomfortable? To be socially stigmatised or at greater risk of a range of serious health issues?

We have had the option of bariatric surgery for some years now. This is a highly invasive, permanent treatment with significant associated risks and a lifetime of eating differently. What if people who might have been considered for surgery are given the option of trying Semaglutide first? At the very least it might reduce the number of patients travelling abroad for cheaper surgery and suffering the consequences. For certain individuals living with obesity, this treatment could change, and even save, their lives.

What’s more, obesity currently costs the NHS around £6 billion a year (gov.uk) , so investing in effective therapies can make sound financial sense too.

I’m lucky enough to see every day how it’s possible for people living with obesity to lose weight and improve their health through behaviour and lifestyle changes. I’d be the first to say that medical intervention isn’t the right option for everyone.

Causes of obesity

To understand the limitations of this treatment, it helps to be aware of some of the many factors that contribute to obesity in the first place.

There are so many different reasons why some people develop obesity and others don’t. Genetics, upbringing, environment, trauma, work, personal finances, education, opportunities, health conditions… For some people, maintaining a healthy weight is easy, for others it absolutely isn’t. Judgement doesn’t help, understanding our different experiences does.

Are these drugs a miracle solution?

For all of these reasons, this drug isn’t a magic wand or a quick fix. In fact, it’s far from being an easy option. The injections can cause unpleasant side-effects and the treatment needs bolstering with support from medical professionals and diet specialists. Also, this isn’t a treatment for life, as many patients can only take it for up to two years. Plus, although the impact on weight loss is significant, it isn’t as dramatic as we might think (around 10%).

What’s more, it’s been made clear that the injections alone aren’t enough to bring about lasting weight loss. The treatment has to be delivered in conjunction with nutrition and lifestyle interventions. This can be tough enough for anyone, but perhaps more so if side-effects are kicking in on top of everything else. An easy option this is not.

How can they be more effective long term?

If patients receiving the injections have the support of dieticians and nutritionists, they will develop strategies and lifestyle changes that will be essential once the treatment ends. The injections will make it easier to eat less, but once the weight is off, it will go back on pretty quickly if nothing has been done to address the underlying causes of the initial weight gain.

Unfortunately, with NHS services already under enormous pressure, there may not be enough diet professionals to support those patients who need it. GPs themselves have neither the time nor often the training to offer that lifestyle support. They will know that prescribing this drug can be a short-cut to improving their patients’ conditions, potentially offering it as a first resort rather than a last. A temporary cure for a lifelong, complex problem.

I have worked with many clients whose struggles with obesity have affected every area of their life. I’ve seen how transformative weight loss can be, for both physical and mental health. This new treatment will help countless people who currently live with a debilitating condition, but to have lasting impact, support, education and understanding are crucial.

If you’re taking weight loss medication and would benefit from that extra lifestyle support, 1:1 coaching is here to help.