Inside the new oral weight loss medication, no needles needed

Weight loss injections have seen a boom lately and there is a new addition to the mix with weight loss medications in tablet form now available. 

GLP-1 injections have been a game changer for obesity management with options like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro available for people to buy themselves or get on the NHS. You can get tablet form of GLP-1s but only for people with diabetes, now they're available just for weight management too. 

What is the new weight loss tablet?

Oral Wegovy (semaglutide) is now available for people living with obesity. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a hormone that naturally occurs in the body and helps to regulate appetite. These injections mimic that hormone and work in the same way. 

GLP-1s work by:

• Reducing appetite: you won’t feel as hungry
• Slowing down stomach emptying: you feel fuller for longer
• Increasing satiety: you feel more satisfied after a meal and won’t get as much food noise
• Triggering insulin release: helps to control blood sugar levels and keeps them stable

This leads to weight loss as you feel full for longer so eat less and you also can’t eat as much. A lot of people also find the food noise is reduced, so they don’t think about food as much and don’t get cravings for foods which also helps the weight loss.

Who’s eligible for the new weight loss medication?

This medication is only available on a private prescription and you’d need to be either:

• Obese: BMI 30kg/m2 or more OR
• Overweight: BMI 27-29.9kg.m2 with a related condition e.g. type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure

It is only for use in adults unlike the injections that could be used for teenagers. 

How do you take the medication?

Unlike the weekly injections, this is a daily tablet to take. However, there are a few conditions:

• It needs to be taken on an empty stomach, after being fasted for at least 8 hours
• You need to avoid food, drinks or other medications for 30 minutes after taking it

Taking it first thing in the morning with a sip of water is likely the most suitable time.

 The starting dose is a 1.5mg tablet and it can be increased each month to 4mg, then 9mg, then a 25mg daily tablet as the final dose. 

What are the risks of oral GLP-1s?

Like all medications, there are side effects. The side effects of the tablet Wegovy (semaglutide) are similar to the injectable ones.

Common side effects include: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhoea, ad acid reflux, tiredness, and dizziness. 

There are also more serious potential side effects like pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), gallstones, thyroid tumours, and dangerously low blood sugar levels.

How much weight will you lose?

The research study got people to increase their exercise levels and have a reduced calorie diet while taking the oral Wegovy (semaglutide). It showed that people lose an average of 13% of their body weight while on the medication. 

The people taking Wegovy were also more likely to lose more weight than the people who did diet and exercise without taking the medication. This shows that Wegovy is a powerful weight loss tool. 

What changes do you need to make with oral GLP-1s?

It’s important to make lifestyle changes alongside taking the medication, as it won’t do all the work for you.

You’ll need to increase the protein in your diet when taking the medication. Aiming for 1.2-1.6g of protein per kg of body weight each day is a good start. For example, if you weigh 85kg, you can aim for a minimum of 102g of protein a day. 

It will also be useful to take a multivitamin and mineral tablet daily to ensure you’re covered. Because the amount of food you’re eating will be reduced, you’re more at risk of missing out on key nutrients.

With any method of weight loss, you lose fat alongside muscle, and GLP-1s are no exception. Doing strength training exercises is crucial to preserve the muscle that you have and ensure you don’t get weaker. 

It doesn’t have to be hours in the gym, it can be doing exercises at home using resistance bands, kettlebells, or using household items as weighs (think water bottles or tins of beans). Doing a form of strength training at least 2-3 times a week is what you need. You can also do cardio alongside it such as going for brisk walks, dancing, or playing a team sport.

The new oral weight loss medication is out but I imagine it’ll take some time to be readily available for private prescriptions. If you want to work on your eating habits and start making changes now, my weight loss e-book How To Lose Weight for Good is available on Amazon. It has handy tips for building a balanced plate, meal planning, and working on emotional eating. 

Key points:

• Wegovy (semaglutide), now comes in a tablet form that is taken daily
• Wegovy is a GLP-1 agonist and helps with weight loss by reducing appetite, making you fuller for longer, and stops you thinking about food as much
• It will only be available privately for people that are obese, or overweight with a related health condition e.g. type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure
• People can lose around 13% of their body weight while on the medication
• The common side effects are the same as the injectables: nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea. The more serious side effects include increased risk of pancreatitis, thyroid tumours, and gallstones
• You need to make lifestyle changes when taking the medication. This means doing strength training 2-3x a week, increasing protein in your diet, and taking a multivitamin  

I hope you found this helpful!

Bye for now 👋

This blog post does not replace medication advice and is written for information only. Please consult a medical professional if considering weight loss medication. 

References:

First oral GLP-1 treatment for weight management | European Medicines Agency (EMA)

Wegovy weight-loss pills to be available for patients in UK to buy | Weight-loss drugs | The Guardian

GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes: what you need to know - GOV.UK

Wegovy® Pill Guide and Dosing Information | Wegovy® (semaglutide)

Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity - PubMed