Research into obesity as a health condition, rather than a lifestyle condition has led to the development of new, safe drugs. These are available to either buy privately through licensed clinics or pharmacies, or can sometimes be prescribed by your GP. If your BMI is over 30, or above 27 along with a weight related health condition (such as high blood pressure or diabetes) then you will likely be able to access these drugs. So speak to a medical professional or submit an enquiry to a licensed online pharmacy and see what options are available to you. Here are some that are currently out there.

Saxenda
Saxenda, also dubbed ‘the skinny pen’ is a prefilled pen containing the ingredient liraglutide. It requires administering a tiny daily injection under the skin, similar to the way diabetics administer their insulin. This mimics a hormone that is produced in the body when you feel full- meaning that taking Saxenda suppresses appetite as your brain is receiving ‘fullness’ signals. This makes it much easier for those that struggle with their appetite to stick to a healthy diet and cut calories. For best effects, use alongside a balanced, calorie tracked eating plan containing lots of fresh produce and natural fat burning foods (read more if you want to find out more about these). Saxenda can be taken for up to two years, and the vast majority of people will succeed in losing weight.

Wegovy/ Ozempic
Ozempic works in a similar way to Saxenda, using a synthetic hormone that mimics fullness. Unlike Saxenda which is a daily jab, with Ozempic it only needs to be administered once a week. If you don’t like the idea of jabbing yourself every day or want something a little more convenient then this could be the way to go.

Phentermine
Phentermine is another appetite suppressant that comes in pill form. It acts as a mild stimulant in the body so will also give increased energy levels, although it can have some side effects such as a racing heart and affect sleep which some people find unacceptable. However, it has strong appetite suppressing effects and is very effective. The pill form is useful for those that are unwilling or unable to take injections.

Orlistat
Orlistat works slightly differently to the other medications. The three above are appetite suppressants, meaning you then need to make the right choices to cut calories in order to lose weight. Orlistat on the other hand works directly on the food you eat. It prevents your body from absorbing a significant amount of fat that you consume, so you lose weight much more easily.