Weight loss injections: what you need to know

If you’re struggling with your weight, you would need to be living on a different planet to miss the news about the huge wave of weight loss injections sweeping the world.

They seem like the miracle we’ve all been searching for… the easy way to lose weight, and quickly.

But are they all they’re cracked up to be? Let’s find out.

What are weight loss injections and what do they do?

Weight loss injections are a type of medical treatment used to help people lose weight.

They are typically prescribed for people who are obese or overweight and have not had success with diet and exercise alone.

The ones you may have heard of are:

• Semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy), a once-weekly injection.
• Liraglutide (marketed as Saxenda), a once-daily injection.
• Tirzepatide (marketed as Mounjaro), a once-weekly injection.

Semaglutide and Liraglutide are what’s known as GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists.

They act in a similar way to a hormone we produce in the gut in response to eating food. This hormone increases feelings of fullness, slows down stomach emptying, and reduces appetite, meaning people eat less than they did before.

Mounjaro is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. So in addition to the benefits of Ozempic and Wegovy, it appears to also play a role in fat metabolism meaning people burn more fat.

Sounds great doesn’t it! But should you take them? Let’s explore some of the pros and cons.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Weight Loss Injections

Advantages of weight loss injections

1. Significant and potentially rapid weight loss
No matter what weight loss approach we take it works because we are in a calorie deficit, eating less than we need so the body is forced to burn its’ fat reserves to make up the shortfall.

When taking the injection, appetite is reduced, so food no longer appears as desirable, and meaning those taking weight injections are able to more easily resist temptations. This results in eating less, possibly a lot less, without even trying, and thus people are able to more easily achieve the calorie deficit required for weight loss.

2. It’s easy to take
A quick jab with the injection either once a day or once a week is much easier than trying to remember to take lots of pills.

3. Reduced risk of obesity-related health conditions.
Being overweight or obese is linked to many health problems such as heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, musculoskeletal problems, and metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. Losing weight reduces these risks. Some studies are even showing reduced risks for those who are not overweight!

4. Improved quality of life
Such as being able to live an active and fulfilling life, without the worry of health risks or pain from being overweight, being able to feel comfortable in clothes, renewed vitality and confidence form being able to move with more ease. Avoiding embarrassment of being in confined spaces with other people such as airplane seats or theatres.

5. It’s easy to access them online.

There are numerous options out there now, found by doing a quick internet search.

But none of these things come without a cost…

Disadvantages of weight loss injections

1. Financial cost
Weight loss injections can be expensive, particularly since not many people are eligible for them on the NHS and waiting lists are long. Monthly costs can range from £100 to £300 or more, depending on the specific medication and dose.

2. Side effects
Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and abdominal pain. Some people may experience more severe side effects like pancreatitis or gallbladder problems. Long term side effects are not known.

3. Need for continuous use
For many, the benefits of weight loss injections are maintained only while they are being used. Stopping the medication can lead to weight regain if lifestyle changes are not maintained.

4. Not eating enough

Appetite can be suppressed so much that users may not eat enough calories or take in sufficient nutrition to maintain health or muscle mass, meaning lack of energy, slower metabolism, potential illnesses due to malnutrition, and weight lost is more likely to be regained

5. It’s an injection!
Some people hate needles! So having to take regular injections may be really off-putting for some people who find it difficult to tolerate needles.

6. It’s not suitable or safe for everyone
These medications are not appropriate for everyone, including those with certain medical conditions or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding

7. Safety

It’s easy to access them online which can be a concern if the appropriate safeguards such as screening and support are not in place, to make sure they’re suitable for the individual, and there are some counterfeit products appearing on the market.

Should YOU take them? Here’s what I think.

Weight loss injections most definitely have a very important role to play in the weight loss industry.

It’s clear from the world we find ourselves living in where food and drink are so tasty and easily obtainable, with two thirds of the adult population either overweight or obese, that gaining weight is easier than ever, and losing weight is harder than ever.

So we need to do something about it, and weight loss injections seem to turn off the noise in our heads, and the conflict that we feel around food.

BUT it can be a quick fix, which is part of its’ appeal.

And we all know that quick fixes don’t really work, unless we also do the work.

And that means that alongside the injections it’s important to work on developing a new attitude and relationship with food. Not seeing it as something to over-indulge in, but something that supports our health.

Otherwise the weight will simply go back on when we’ve lost it.

Losing weight isn’t just about consuming fewer calories. Yes that works, but we still won’t be healthy if we exist on packets of crisps and Diet Coke alone.

Food is there to be enjoyed but the main reason we need to eat is to survive and be healthy, and we need to have enough energy to live our daily lives.

So we need to ensure that we eat enough, and eat nutritious food both while losing weight and after we’ve lost it.

This is why consulting with your GP in the first instance is vital, to ensure that the injections are safe for you with your own unique needs, and to do your research on the injection that is right for you.

It’s also why working with a weight loss coach alongside taking weight loss injections is good practice.

This is so you can ensure that you get the right support, and can eat and exercise in a way that supports your health while taking the injections.

It will also help you to learn how to keep the weight off once you’ve lost it, so you can protect your investment.

But what if you can’t or don’t want to take weight loss injections?

I have always maintained that the key to losing weight and keeping it off is about changing your attitude towards food and yourself, and to learn how to use the rational part of your brain to make the decisions about food.

You don’t need weight loss injections to be able to do that.

That’s where weight loss coaching comes in.

You can find out more about how I can help you by clicking here.

Further reading:

1. NHS (National Health Service) Obesity Treatment

2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines

3. British Medical Journal (BMJ)

4. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)