What Weight Loss Drugs Are Available In The UK?

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09 May What Weight Loss Drugs Are Available In The UK?

Posted at 18:37h in Weight Loss by

Weight loss drugs have gained significant attention in recent years as potential solutions to the growing obesity epidemic. However, far from an easy way to lose a couple of kgs before a holiday, these weight loss drugs are prescription medications that require medical oversight.

In the UK, a number of weight loss medications been approved for weight management. In this article we will explore the main weight loss drugs available in the UK, their licensing and prescription processes, and alternative approaches to weight loss.

We are a team of qualified, experienced nutritionists who specialise in weight loss. If you’re looking for support with overcoming your weight challenges, achieving your ideal weight and maintaining it long term, we can help. Book in for a complimentary call with us today to find out more.

WHICH WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE UK?

The most prominent weight loss medications in the UK are injectable drugs that belong to the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. The following three are currently the most frequently prescribed versions. It’s important to remember that GLP-1 jabs come with concerning potential side effects. Your prescribing medical practitioner should talk you through the risks and ensure suitability before you start taking any medication for weight loss.

WEGOVY 

Wegovy (semaglutide) is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs licensed for weight loss in the UK. Approved in the UK in September 2023, clinical trials have shown that people using Wegovy lost an average of 12% more of their body weight compared to placebo. 

MOUNJARO 

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a dual GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist. In December 2024 it was approved for treating obesity on the NHS and is available within specialist weight management services in England. It is expected to be made available via GPs starting from June 2025. In studies, patients experienced up to 22.5% weight loss.

SAXENDA 

Saxenda (liraglutide) is another injectable option, taken once daily, which has been found to help people lose an average of 8% of their starting weight after 56 weeks.

WHAT OTHER WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS ARE THERE? 

Globally, Ozempic has gained considerable popularity, particularly due to its use by celebrities like Elon Musk and Oprah Winfrey. Ozempic contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy (semaglutide) but in the UK, Ozempic is only licensed for use in type 2 diabetes. Its off-label use for weight loss has led to shortages, affecting patients who rely on it for diabetes treatment.

Other weight loss medications available in the UK include orlistat, sold under the brand names Xenical (prescription strength) and Alli (over-the-counter). Orlistat works preventing a portion of dietary fat from being absorbed into the body, which leads to reduced calorie intake.

CAN YOU GET WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS FROM PHARMACIES?

In May 2025, reports revealed that health officials are set to announce plans allowing weight loss injections to be made available ‘on prescription’ directly at pharmacies, following a short consultation. This will broaden access beyond specialist weight management clinics, potentially allowing people to obtain drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro at a standard prescription charge (around £9.90), subject to eligibility and after a brief pharmacist-led assessment.

WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS ON THE NHS

In the UK, the licensing and prescription of weight loss drugs are, and should be, carefully regulated. Wegovy is available on the NHS as an option for weight management in line with NICE guidance. Patients are eligible for treatment within a specialist weight management service if they have at least one weight-related comorbidity and a BMI of at least 35, or a BMI of 30 to 34.9 if they meet the criteria for referral to specialist services. These medications are not available through general practitioners but require referral to a specialist weight management clinician. It’s important to note that weight loss drugs are intended to be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and physical activity. Mounjaro and Wegovy are also available for private purchase pending pharmacy approval. 

WHO ARE WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS FOR?

While weight loss drugs may be effective tools for managing obesity, they are not suitable or necessary for everyone. To be eligible for treatment on the NHS, you need to have a BMI over 35 (or over 27.5 for individuals from certain ethnic minority backgrounds), and at least one weight-related health issue, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease

We hear from many people who have tried weight loss medications but have discontinued due to intolerable side effects. Alternative approaches to weight loss, primarily diet and lifestyle optimisation, can be very effective when tailored to individual needs. These solutions come without the risks associated with GLP-1 use. Working with a qualified nutritionist can provide personalised guidance on health, nutrition and lifestyle strategies for effective weight management and facilitate long-term behaviour changes. 

Bariatric surgery is offered by the NHS for those with severe obesity who have not succeeded with other methods. However, this is typically considered a last resort due to its invasive nature and potential risks. Read our guide to weight loss surgery to find out more about this treatment.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS

Read our other guides to weight loss injections to find out more. 

WORK WITH US 

For those who have long been struggling with their weight, weight loss drugs might feel like the quick fix they’ve been waiting for. However, they’re not without their risks or side effects, and for many, when the treatment stops, the weight returns. 

We are a team of qualified, experienced weight loss nutritionists, who can help you make meaningful changes to your lifestyle and diet to ensure that you not only reach your desired weight, but maintain it long term. 

We can help you overcome your weight challenges, reach your happy weight and maintain it long term. Book yourself in for a complimentary 25 mintue call or contact us and a member of our team will be in touch soon. We can talk through your challenges and explore whether one of our Intelligent Weight Loss programmes is right for you.

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LINDA ROBINSON

Linda is our Practice Coordinator, helping to keep the clinic running smoothly.

 

Originally from Texas, Linda completed her MBA at SDA Bocconi in Milan. Linda has worked as a Strategy Consultant across multiple industries globally in cities including Kyoto, Paris, Chicago and San Francisco. She developed an interest in nutrition whilst volunteering for an organisation that provides cooking and nutrition education to children and families.

Linda is now settled in London with her husband, two children, and her very bouncy, sociable dog.

JULIE GOUGH


Julie Gough is a BANT registered nutritionist and certified health coach specialising in weight loss and hormonal health. She works with clients to address issues such as PMS, thyroid disorders, weight gain, and menopause symptoms. 


Drawing from her own health journey, Julie provides personalised nutrition advice combined with mindset coaching. She takes a functional medicine ‘root cause’ approach to helping clients overcome their health and weight challenges. 


Julie is passionate about empowering women to take control of their health and regain their energy and wellbeing long term.


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AILSA HICHENS

 

Ailsa is one of our most experienced practitioners. She specialises in helping clients to lose weight, develop a healthy relationship with food and finally feel comfortable in their skin. Ailsa’s mission is for everyone she works with to enjoy the journey and that working with a nutritionist should not be a punishment, but your access to a new possibility.

 

Ailsa is not only an experienced weight loss nutritionist, she is also a skilled coach. She helps our clients overcome emotional eating, destructive habits and self-sabotaging behaviours that have prevented successful weight loss in the past. Ailsa has spent years in clinic working with clients who have experienced yo-yo dieting and have discovered that long term weight loss is not just about eating less until you can stand it no longer.

 

Working with Ailsa you will be comprehensively supported, not only in improving your nutrition and lifestyle, but also your eating habits and your relationship with food. When you work on all these elements together, the results can be truly astonishing.

 

To enquire about working with Ailsa, please contact us.

Test Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team of practitioners and heading up the day-to-day running of the business. Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, coming from a strong business background in town planning. A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 with her husband and two children.

NIKKI ANDRIANI

Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team and heading up the day-to-day running of our clinic.

 

Coming from a background in town planning, Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, continually ensuring we are delivering the very best service to our clients.


A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 where she lives with her husband, two children, and her rescue dog Skyy.

STÉPHANIE ACHAR

Stéphanie is a skilled nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner with additional training in eating disorders, disordered eating and obesity. She believes that working towards both physiological and mental health is key in achieving optimum wellbeing.

 

Stéphanie’s personal experience of emotional eating and the ongoing struggle to find the right support led her to combine the science of nutrition with behavioural coaching to motivate and empower her clients. She specialises in helping people who struggle with their weight and their relationship with food. She helps them develop a healthier and more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.

 

To enquire about working with Stéphanie, please contact us.

INNA WEARN

Inna is passionate about supporting women on their journey to improved health and wellbeing. She believes that the solution to effective weight loss does not lie in ever more restrictive diets, but a more sophisticated approach that optimises health and vitality, as well as promoting effective weight loss.

 

Working with Inna you will benefit from her in-depth knowledge of female health and hormones. She will support you in developing a healthy diet, lifestyle and mindset that ensures you reach your ideal weight and maintain it in the years to come.

 

Inna is passionate about food with a wide repertoire of delicious healthy recipes and meal ideas to ensure your weight loss journey is as enjoyable as possible!

 

To enquire about working with Inna, please contact us.

ANIA MASON

 

Ania is a firm believer that improving your health and losing weight should be a positive, empowering journey, not one centred around deprivation.

 

After being diagnosed with two autoimmune conditions in her twenties, Ania spent several years educating herself on the power of food and nutrition. She put it all into practise and changed her diet and lifestyle, reversing her endometriosis and thyroid disease. After experiencing such a significant improvement in her health, Ania had a big desire to help others. She embarked on a four year journey to study nutrition, graduating from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition with distinction.

 

Ania specialises in autoimmunity and works with clients who have underlying health issues preventing successful weight loss. Her expertise enables her to successfully support our clients with conditions such as hypothyroidsm (underactive thyroid), PCOS and diabetes. 

 

To enquire about working with Ania, please contact us.

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