Ozempic has become a household name after the vaccine, which was first developed to treat type 2 diabetes, has also been used off-label (for a purpose other than that for which it was licensed), both in the US as well as the UK. to treat obesity.
However, lately medical experts have focused more attention on other injections that can be used for weight loss, particularly Wegovy and Mounjaro.
The latter is much newer (many companies and pharmacies launched it last week), but both work because they contain medications that mimic hunger-suppressing hormones in the body.
Clinical trials appear to show promising results for the newcomer, suggesting that Mounjaro leads to greater weight loss than Wegovy with an average of around 25 percent after one year, compared to 16 percent for Wegovy.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Mike Gibbs, co-founder and chief operating officer of NHS-backed healthy eating scheme Second Nature (www.secondnature.io), revealed everything you need to know about the treatments.
Ozempic has become a household name after the vaccine, which was first developed to treat type 2 diabetes, has also been used off-label (for a purpose other than that for which it was licensed), both in the US as well as the UK. to treat obesity. Stock image used
However, the expert also stressed that weight loss medications are not a ‘magic solution’ for obesity.
“Weight loss injections are designed as additional tools for a healthy lifestyle change and should not be considered lifelong medications,” he explained.
‘Instead, they should be used to help boost a person’s weight loss process while they focus on developing new, healthy habits.
‘Consider the use of antidepressants for people living with depression. They are not designed to cure the condition. Instead, they are designed to leave room for therapy to treat the underlying cause.
‘Mounjaro and Wegovy are similar. These medications can help silence food-related thoughts and give people a boost of confidence with more immediate weight loss results.’
Mike added that this helps people “gain the time and mental space to understand why their body may have struggled to lose weight.”
Here, the expert shared what to do if you’re considering your options and how to know if you’re eligible.
What are the main weight loss injections in the UK?
Wegovy and Mounjaro are the brands of the two most popular weight loss injections available for private purchase. Wegovy contains a drug called semaglutide, which is also produced under the name Ozempic, and which has received much more press than Wegovy.
Here, the expert shared what to do if you’re considering your options and how to know if you’re eligible. Stock image used
In the UK, Wegovy is approved for weight loss for people living with obesity and can be purchased privately. But Ozempic is no longer available to purchase privately for weight loss.
The other main weight loss injection in the UK is Mounjaro, which contains a medicine called tirzepatide.
What are the differences between Wegovy and Mounjaro?
Research suggests that Mounjaro leads to greater weight loss than Wegovy with an average of around 25 percent after one year, compared to 16 percent for Wegovy.
Mounjaro and Wegovy contain medications that mimic two hormones in the body that reduce hunger: GLP-1 and GIP.
The GLP-1 hormone has three main effects on your body:
1. It slows down the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine.
2. It communicates with the appetite control center in your brain to increase satiety and make you feel less hungry.
3. It manages the release of the hormones insulin and glucagon in the body, which ultimately leads to lower blood sugar levels (usually a good thing).
The natural GLP-1 hormone in your body lasts only a few minutes, while GLP-1 medications can last for many days. This means they can have the above effects for a more sustained period.
This makes users feel less hungry because they have food in their stomach for longer, and the effect of GLP-1 on the brain means users feel like they have less “food noise.” It also reduces cravings for highly desirable foods.
The main difference between Wegovy and Mounjaro is that Wegovy’s drug mimics a single hormone, GLP-1, while Mounjaro’s drug mimics both GLP-1 and GIP.
GIP is a hormone that supports blood sugar levels and helps our fat cells store more excess energy that we could consume in our diet.
This dual-action effect of Mounjaro is believed to be the reason why better weight loss results have been seen in clinical trials published so far.
Otherwise, both Wegovy and Mounjaro are generally similar in terms of cost and are also administered once a week by injection.
What are the most common side effects?
The most common side effects of Wegvoy and Mounjaro are nausea, constipation, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as tiredness.
These symptoms occur most frequently around the time of injection and as the dose increases over time. However, symptoms usually ease after adjusting to medications.
A recent study found that 44 percent of people following Second Nature’s semaglutide weight loss program reported “feeling more tired than usual” after four weeks.
However, after eight weeks, the number of people reporting fatigue had dropped by half, from 44 percent to 22 percent.
Finally, it is worth noting that each person responds differently to these medications; Some people will not experience any side effects, while others will.
What are the eligibility criteria for weight loss injections?
There are strict eligibility criteria for these medications. It is important to avoid listing all the criteria so that people cannot easily manipulate the system, but in general, people should be living with obesity (BMI greater than 30) and not have any health conditions or prior binge eating behaviors that would cause the inappropriate medication for them.
The Second Nature website has an online test you can take to check if you are eligible.
Can you get Wegovy and Mounjaro on the NHS?
Yes, but only in very specific circumstances. They are often prescribed in conjunction with a GP referral to what is called a ‘specialist weight management service’, and also when more conventional weight loss methods have failed.
What should you consider when buying Wegovy or Mounjaro online?
Firstly, make sure you buy from a reputable supplier who is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
There have been horror stories of people buying imitation Ozempic/Wegovy pens or powders that turned out to be a totally different drug.
Secondly, you need to consider whether you want just the injection for weight loss or whether you want to take the drug along with a lifestyle change program to change your habits.
Wegovy and Mounjaro’s clinical trials were based on taking the drug along with lifestyle changes. Published trials with semaglutide showed that when people stop taking the drug, users regain much of the weight.
