The safety and efficacy of Wegovy and Mounjaro have been proven in various clinical trials1 2 3. As a result, they have been approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

No. Wegovy and Mounjaro are weight loss injections that are used to treat long-term obesity. If you have a BMI of 30 or over, or if your BMI is 27 or over and you have a weight-related condition (such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure) then you may be eligible. Your clinician will make the final decision as to whether you should be prescribed Wegovy or Mounjaro. The medication should always be taken alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Previous iterations of weight loss medication have worked in different ways to Wegovy and Mounjaro. For example, Alli and Orlistat work by preventing your body from absorbing fat. Instead, the fat passes through your body with your stools (faeces). On the other hand, Wegovy and Mounjaro work by suppressing your appetite, thereby reducing the amount of food you eat. Over time, this can lead to weight loss.

The active ingredient in Wegovy is called semaglutide, whilst the active ingredient in Mounjaro is called tirzepatide. The two work in slightly different ways. Semaglutide works by mimicking your body’s GLP-1 receptors, which are responsible for sending signals to your body when it’s full. Over time, this reduces your food intake and leads to weight loss. Semaglutide has also been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Tirzepatide mimics the GLP-1 receptors and also the GIP receptors, a double-pronged process which improves your blood sugar regulation as well. It’s also thought to help with fat storage in your body. This is why Mounjaro tends to lead to slightly more weight loss than Wegovy.

Although the effects of the medication will differ from person-to-person, you should generally start to notice some weight loss after 2-3 months. However, it may take up to 18 months to experience the full effects. To achieve long-term weight loss, it’s important to implement positive changes to your lifestyle alongside the medication. These could include a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Wegovy and Mounjaro have some potential side effects to be aware of, including nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain and indigestion. These are the most common, affecting more than 1 in 10 people. However, they usually subside over time as your body gets used to the medication.

Clinical studies have found that Mounjaro users could lose up to 21% of their starting body weight over an 18-month period. Wegovy users could lose up to 15% of their starting body weight over the same period of time.

If approved for the treatment then you’ll receive either Wegovy or Mounjaro, both of which have been approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). You can search for their registration on the MHRA website. We are licensed to prescribe Wegovy and Mounjaro in the UK and regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). You can verify our registration here. Additionally, each piece of medication we prescribe comes with a Patient Information Leaflet (PIL), which is required by UK law. It details the ingredients in the medication, possible side effects and recommended dosage.

Yes. Although Wegovy and Mounjaro can lead to significant weight loss, you will only achieve long-term weight loss by making long-term changes to your lifestyle. This could include incorporating regular exercise into your routine and eating a balanced diet.

If you stop taking weight loss medication, there’s a good chance you’ll regain weight if you haven’t made positive changes to your lifestyle. Weight loss medication like Wegovy and Mounjaro are a great way to reset your relationship with food. Your time taking the medicine should be a chance to implement positive changes to your lifestyle, such as doing regular exercise and eating a balanced diet. If you don’t do this, there’s a chance you could regain weight after you stop taking your medication.

It’s vitally important that you implement positive changes to your lifestyle alongside the medication - and we’re on hand to support you throughout. If you have any questions about your treatment, want some advice on how to make those positive lifestyle changes, or just need to chat to somebody, you can get in touch whenever you’d like via email or WhatsApp. You can also book a call with our clinical team if you’d like to speak face-to-face (or screen-to-screen).