Anglim Private Health is a private GP surgery in Bury St Edmunds. We provide expert GP care to our small group of patients and aim to make it very easy to book face to face appointments at convenient times. Anyone can book to see Dr Anglim and you do not need to register beforehand.
Weight loss injections
There has been lots of news recently about the new medical treatments for weight loss. The most common two are:
Semaglutide, which is commonly referred to as Ozempic when used for diabetes or Wegovy when used for weight loss.
Trizepatide, which uses the name Mounjaro for both diabetes and weight loss in the UK.
Sometimes people can be carried away on a wave of excitement about new medications but the difference with these two medications is there does seem to be an impact on weight loss and health which is significant and hugely beneficial. At the same time these medications are complex prescription only medications and should not be taken lightly. A detailed discussion and assessment by an experienced clinician should take place before considering medication for weight loss.
Are they effective for weight loss?
The short answer is yes. A number of medical trials have shown that both medications produce weight loss above and beyond what is seen with the best care without medication. So you can lose weight with diet and exercise, but it was quicker and more effective with these medications. In simple terms:
- Half of the patients were given advice and support with diet and exercise and a fake (placebo) medication. They did lose weight, probably 4% of their body weight, or maybe just under a stone.
- Half of the patients were given the same advice and support with diet and exercise, and the real medication. They lost more weight, about 16% of their body weight, or 3-4 stone.
So in summary people were able to lose weight with diet and exercise programmes and support, but were able to lose much more weight over the same period by taking the medication alongside diet and exercise.
Which one is better?
The decision about taking weight loss medication and the choice between different types is sometimes complex and should involve an individual discussion with your private GP. They both give very good weight loss, but perhaps Mounjaro is very slightly more effective when just considering weight loss. There is an increasing amount of medical evidence regarding benefits to long term health separate to weight loss; and that has been seen more with Wegovy. And there are different criteria to consider who is eligible for each medication.
I’m not particularly overweight, but want to reduce my weight a little, can I use these medications?
No. These are relatively new and complex medications. They have been trialed and proven to be safe and effective in certain circumstances and doctors should only prescribe the medications for people who meet those criteria. For Wegovy a BMI of at least 30 and for Mounjaro at least 35 is required to consider treatment (slightly lower BMI levels can be used for certain ethnic groups).
How long can I stay on the medication? Will my weight go back up after stopping the medication?
The current recommendation is for up to 2 years, although I would not be surprised if the drug companies submit data to get that recommendation increased at some point over the next 2 years. The trials show that stopping the medication in the normal way causes people to regain a significant proportion of the weight that they lost on taking the medication. One recent study for Wegovy showed that weaning off the medication gently resulted in far less weight gain, but more research is required about the best way to stop the medication.
Are there benefits other than weight loss?
A lot of recent data has been released regarding the benefits of Wegovy on top of what is expected for weight loss. The most significant is in reducing the harm of heart disease. The medications however do not currently have a UK licence for that use and should be prescribed primarily for weight loss.
Will I automatically lose weight with the treatments?
The trials combined weight loss medication with activity and dietary support, so the most effective approach is to replicate that as closely as possible. We therefore recommend combining weight loss medication with support from a nutritionist and exercise coordinator or personal trainer and we can connect you with people who have experience at helping with weight loss.
I would like to consider this type of treatment, how do I organise it?
The next step is to book a consultation with a private GP to discuss your health. We would approach this in a holistic way and enquire about your health as a whole; taking time to consider your background, activity levels, stress, medical history and family history. As part of the assessment we are likely to examine your heart sounds, blood pressure and other simple measurements and we may recommend blood tests. If it is agreed that weight loss treatment is a good idea, we will consider an overall weight loss plan which will likely include the use of weight loss medication alongside a multidisciplinary team.
If you would like to book an appointment to discuss this or any other issue with our private GP, Dr Anglim will be happy to see you. We make it really easy to book and appointment online or you can just call 01284 245665 and we will organise an appointment for you. You can also message us via our website or on Facebook for more information.