Weight Loss

Weight loss isn’t always easy. Keeping to a strict diet and exercise regime can be hard work, which is why many people look for miracle solutions to their weight issues. While it is essential to state that there is no such thing as a magic pill for weight management, there are effective prescription medications on the market that can support weight loss in combination with a healthy lifestyle.

How Does Excess Weight Affect Your Health?

Obesity is a common problem in the UK. Experts estimate that one in every four adults in the UK lives with obesity, as well as one in every five children aged 10 to 11.

The most widely used method of determining whether an individual is overweight or obese is known as the body mass index (BMI). Although this is not a definitive method, doctors consider a BMI of over 25 as overweight. At the same time, a BMI over 30 indicates obesity and a BMI over 40 suggests severe obesity.

There are many health risks associated with excess weight and obesity. The most serious of these include:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Certain types of cancer such as breast cancer and bowel cancer

Obesity also increases the likelihood of mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. Being overweight can also lead to a lack of confidence and self-esteem.

How Do We Gain Weight?

You gain excess weight by consuming more calories than you burn off over a day. The body stores excess calories from fatty and sugary goods as fat.

Changes in society over recent decades have led to a significant rise in obesity levels in the UK over the last 30 years. Factors such as increased sitting durations (through desk jobs, car journeys and watching television) and unhealthy diets (attributable to sugary drinks, sweets and processed, high-calorie foodstuffs like ready meals) are significant contributors to obesity.

If you think that an underlying health condition may be contributing to your excess weight, you should consult your GP as soon as possible.

What Are The Benefits Of Weight Loss?

For people living with excess weight or obesity, losing just 5% of their weight can lead to health benefits. Reducing your weight to a healthy level can significantly reduce your risk of developing conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain kinds of cancer, osteoarthritis and back pain.

You will also find that you have more energy, increased flexibility and mobility by incorporating a healthy diet and exercise regime into your life. Even breathing becomes easier for people who are no longer obese.

How To Lose Weight

Weight loss needn’t be a dramatic process, and crash diets are often an unhealthy and temporary route to take. Simply making small, realistic changes to your diet and physical activity levels can help you see results. For adults between the ages of 19 and 64, you should aim for around 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week.

A healthy diet should consist of three balanced meals a day, including carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, protein and healthy fats.

• For men, a healthy diet should consist of around 2,500 calories a day.
• For women, a healthy diet should consist of around 2,000 calories a day.

Avoid processed foods such as ready meals or regular takeaways, as home-cooked meals contain fresher ingredients and tend to possess a higher nutritional value.

What Are Weight Loss Pills?

Weight loss pills are prescription medications designed to treat obesity. Depending on the type, each treatment works differently. Some help you lose weight by making it hard for your body to absorb fat. Other weight loss pills make you feel full sooner.

Doctors often use BMI to decide whether you can take weight loss pills or not. Below are the factors they consider:

• A BMI of 27 or more when you have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and other weight-related illnesses

This type of treatment should not replace healthy eating habits and physical activity to lose weight. They work best when combined with a robust lifestyle program.

Below are three of the most common weight loss pills prescribed by doctors:

Xenical

Xenical is a weight-loss treatment designed for adults and children over 12 years old. It works in your gut by reducing the amount of fat absorbed by the body. It’s best to take a multivitamin pill every day when taking Xenical to make sure that you get enough vitamins and minerals in your body.

Common side effects of Xenical include:

• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pain
• Leakage of oily stools
• Gas

Saxenda

Saxenda is available by injection only. It works by making you feel full sooner. Saxenda is similar to a naturally occurring hormone in the body that controls digestion, insulin levels, and blood sugar.

Some of the common side effects of Saxenda include:

• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Raised pulse
• Headache
• Constipation

Mysimba

Available in prolonged-release tablets, Mysimba contains two active ingredients (naltrexone and bupropion) that acts on your brain to help control food intake and energy expenditure. It helps to reduce your appetite.

Prolonged-release means that the tablet releases its active ingredients slowly over a few hours.

Below are the most common side effects of Mysimba:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Constipation

Compare Weight Loss Treatments

We’re Here To Help You

In cases where a healthy diet and regular exercise are not working, weight loss pills like Xenical, Saxenda and Mysimba can help you lose weight effectively. If you would like to find out more about the options available, call us on 0208 123 0703.