WEIGHT LOSS TREATMENT — WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M OVERWEIGHT?
You can find out if you’re overweight by using your height, weight, age and gender to calculate your BMI.
A BMI over 25 is considered overweight and over 30 is considered obese. Keeping your BMI between 19 and 25
will reduce your risk of heart problems, stroke and some kinds of cancer.
Check your BMI with the NHS Wales BMI calculator
Need treatment?
Weight Loss TreatmentWhat medicines can help me manage my weight?
If you’re prescribed Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Wegovy (semgalutide) or Saxenda (liraglutide), you’ll need to inject the medicine just under the skin. You’ll probably find this is easier than you first think. Mounjaro and Wegovy should be injected once a week, on the same day and at around the same time. Saxenda should be injected once a day, at around the same time.
Best injection sites are your tummy area (abdomen), the front of your thighs or your upper arm. Wegovy and Saxenda need to be stored in the fridge before first use. Once you start using the pen, you can keep it for 30 days (or 6 weeks for Wegovy) either at room temperature (2 to 30°C) or in a fridge (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze.
Orlistat and Xenical are capsule medicines. You take a single capsule with water, immediately before or up to one hour after a main meal. You can take your prescribed treatment up to three times a day. If you miss a meal, or have a meal that does not contain fat, you should not take Orlistat or Xenical at that time.
While you’re taking any weight loss medicine, you also need to make changes to your diet and habits around activity, sleep and relaxation in order to lose weight and keep it off long term.
BEING OVERWEIGHT — DON’T LET IT BE A BURDEN
Being overweight is a very common problem. More than 2/3 adults in the UK are either overweight or obese. Excess weight is linked to several serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
We can prescribe medicine to help you to lose the extra weight — providing it’s suitable for you. We’ll get in touch with advice on how to best take your medicine and help you make the lifestyle changes you need to manage your weight over the long-term.
After you start any treatment we prescribe, we'll check in with you to see how you’re getting on. If it’s going well, you can potentially request repeat prescriptions for up to 12 months and we’ll check in regularly with you to see if you are on track.
We’ll also send you an exclusive offer from WeightWatchers— pay from only £7/month for your first 6-months. Lifestyle changes lay the foundation for all healthy weight loss—even when you’re taking weight-management medication. Their clinically proven programme helps you build healthy habits for lasting weight loss and well-being. *Please see our Terms and Conditions.
In addition to this, you'll receive a barcode you can show in-store to use our weighing scales for free. Monitoring your weight and BMI can help you keep track of progress.
What health conditions are linked to being overweight?
Being overweight isn’t just about not fitting into your favourite clothes. Carrying extra weight can cause serious health problems. If you are overweight, you’re at risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.
Being overweight can also make some conditions, like asthma, worse. Maintaining a healthy weight can also help you manage stress and can support your mental wellbeing.
Last reviewed on: 19/02/2024