Medical Weightloss

What is the National Medical Weight Loss Programme?

The National Medical Weight Loss Programme is a medically-led approach that combines a reduced-calorie diet and increased activity with clinically-proven weight loss medication for better results.

Established in 2019, The National Medical Weightloss Programme provides online CPD and SCOPE accredited education, exclusively to registered health professionals in the medical management of overweight and obesity.

It is based on a calorie controlled diet, with the addition of a once weekly pharmacotherapy (a tiny injection pen) that you administer at home, to manage your appetite.

It involves an online assessment to ensure you are fit and well. Then if treatment is suitable for you, you are eligible for consultation, treatment and on-going support.

Is it safe?

Are there any side effects?

As with everything type of medication they are always made to be as safe as possible but there is always a risk of possible side effects that may vary depending on the person, possible side- effects could be; nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, decreased appetite and dizziness, so always be aware before you decide to take weight loss injections.

How much weight can I expect to lose?

This varies between individuals, however most people lose around a stone (6.5kg) every 4- 6 weeks, but that’s dependent on your Body Mass Index (BMI), will-power, exercise regime & how much weight you have to lose.

Does it hurt?

The injection is painless and the pen needle is tiny.

Are there any side effects?

It is commonly reported that you may have a couple of days to a week of feeling nauseous. Around 25% of patients report this.

It’s normally because the medicine is taking time to settle, but it’s also a good indication that it will really work for you as your body is very responsive to it.

Other side-effects include constipation and headache. It’s important to drink lots of water.

Furthermore the following have been reported: low blood sugar, vomiting, diarrhoea, increased heart rate, tiredness and dizziness, tummy ache.

Side-effects normally are short-lived and not everyone will have any of them.

Is it legal?

Yes it is 100% legal, it’s been previously developed as a medication for type 2 diabetes, so it has been clinically trialled and approved for weight loss patients. It is FDA approved.

Is fasting part of the programme?

No fasting is not part of it. You are encouraged to try to eat three small, nutritionally balanced meals per day. Some people just cannot face food because the medicine prevents the desire to eat at all (it also greatly reduces the desire for alcohol).

In this case we recommend having nutritional supplements and bars/shakes etc, to ensure you are getting the vitamins and minerals you should have to be healthy.

Who can participate in this programme?

We will look at this on your health assessment and provide you with an answer on suitability.

This is a treatment for people who are considered ‘overweight’ or ‘obese’.

Programme exclusions include;

Being pregnant or breastfeeding.
Having an allergy to the medicine.
Having Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome.
Having, or having a family history of medullary thyroid cancer or other thyroid carcinomas.
You may not have the medication if you are under 18 or over 75.

How do you maintain your ideal weight?

Everyone is different in their approach to maintaining their desired weight. Some people find the habitual changes over a few months of being on the medication enable them to psychologically carry it forward.

The medication will make you feel full most of the time; so when you do eat, it will be small portions of (hopefully) healthy food. You may not want to return to what you ate before.

Other people stay on the medication long-term on a maintenance basis, because they see it as the only way to keep where they want to be.

Others will be between these two scenarios. They may have positive changes but start over-eating again. They will sometimes utilise the medication again, but have long periods without it too.

How does it actually work?

This at-home self-injection works as an appetite suppressant to help curb hunger, reduce portion sizes, release stored fat and develop positive eating habits – all of which result in weight loss.