Medical weight loss
Losing weight with injections
Gastric injections can influence appetite and food intake, thereby supporting weight loss. We do not simply consider a particular brand or concentration. Your medical condition determines which treatment may be appropriate for you.
How does it work?
Injectable medication affects signals relating to hunger and satiety
The products available differ in terms of their active ingredients and mode of action. They act on the hormonal systems involved in appetite, satiety and food intake.
Loss of appetite
The medication may affect the signals involved in hunger, which could reduce the urge to eat.
Feels fuller for longer
Feeling fuller for longer or more intensely can make it easier to eat smaller portions.
Support with weight loss
When combined with a suitable lifestyle, medication can support weight loss. Results vary from person to person.
For whom.
Not everyone who is overweight is automatically eligible
Medical criteria apply to medicines authorised for weight management. In adults, these criteria usually relate to obesity, or being overweight in combination with at least one weight-related condition.
In addition, the doctor will assess your health, medication use, medical history and any possible contraindications.
What types of waste injection are there?
Four treatment options that the doctor may discuss
These treatments differ in terms of their active ingredient, frequency of administration and approved indication. Which option is right for you depends on your medical condition.
Ozempic
Authorised in the EU for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Use specifically for weight loss falls outside that authorised indication.
Find out more about Ozempic →
Wegovy
Registered for weight management in adults who meet the medical criteria.
Check out Wegovy →
Mounjaro
It acts via GIP and GLP-1 receptors and is authorised for weight management in eligible adults.
View Mounjaro →
Saxenda
A daily injection of liraglutide, authorised for weight management in people who meet the medical criteria.
Find out more about Saxenda →Daily or weekly?
The practical differences go beyond just the frequency
Saxenda is taken daily. Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are administered once a week.
Frequency alone does not determine which treatment is suitable. The active ingredient, registered indication, side effects, previous experience and your medical condition all need to be taken into account.
What can you expect?
Studies show clear differences in average weight loss
As a general guide, large-scale studies show an average weight loss of around 8% with liraglutide, around 15% with 2.4 mg semaglutide and up to around 21% with tirzepatide. These are averages from various studies and do not predict your personal outcome.
Sources: SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (NEJM, 2015), STEP 1 (NEJM, 2021) and SURMOUNT-1 (NEJM, 2022). Studies differ in design, dosage, duration and participants, and are therefore not intended as direct, one-to-one comparisons. Individual results may vary.
Start
From BMI check to treatment
The process is organised online, but the medical assessment remains the guiding factor.
Check-up and medical questions
Start by entering your BMI and then fill in the medical details required for the assessment.
Treatment and costs
You can see what the next step might be and what the associated costs are before you proceed.
Online consultation with a doctor
The doctor will discuss your situation, your questions and your treatment plan, and will determine whether it is medically advisable to start treatment.
Medication and support
Once medical approval has been granted, the medication is arranged through the pharmacy and further support begins.
Safety and side effects
Waste injections are prescription-only medicines
They can be effective, but they also have side effects and are not suitable for everyone. That is why a medical assessment is part of the treatment.
Stomach and intestinal problems are common
Depending on the medication, side effects may include, amongst others, nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting and abdominal discomfort. Such symptoms are commonly observed around the time the treatment begins or when the dose is being increased.
The doctor looks beyond your BMI
Your medical history, other medicines you are taking, any potential contraindications and the risk of side effects all play a part in determining whether treatment is appropriate. A higher BMI therefore does not automatically mean that you can start treatment.
Your next step
Would you like to know if a particular treatment is right for you?
The BMI check provides an initial indication within a few minutes. This is followed, where applicable, by the medical assessment and consultation.