These weight loss medications are a synthetic hormone regulating the body's natural hunger hormone, GLP-1. The release of GLP-1 acts on the receptors in the appetite-control section of the brain, reducing your appetite. It slows down gastric emptying, keeping you fuller for longer which further reduces your appetite.

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It also helps your pancreas release just the correct amount of insulin to deal with your body's glucogon, meaning it works differently for each person's individual needs. This allows sugars and carbs to be broken down in an effective way without causing a "sugar crash", which therefore avoids those quick-fix sugary cravings and a hunger for carbs. It also helps reduce leptin levels, which is a key hormone in causing a metabolism slow-down.

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When you diet, your appetite does not shrink to match the dietary requirements. Portion control has a major impact on the ability of a person to effectively lose weight. With a suppressed appetite, you will naturally start eating smaller portions. Your stomach will start to shrink, effectively reducing the amount of food required to fill your stomach and the amount of food needed to appease your appetite.

The medications we use mimic a natural hormone already found in your body (GLP-1). They work in three key ways to reduce your appetite.

1. It blocks a key hunger hormone telling your brain that you are hungry, whilst also helping to reduce leptin resistance (a hormone which can help off-set weight gain by increasing satiety aka fullness, and speed up your metabolism to help regulate the levels of fatty tissue in your body). This also helps stop the weight from coming straight back on when you stop the jab.

2. It slows down the gastric emptying process, meaning that your body takes longer to process food and it is fuller for longer. This means your body does not need as much intake as normal as it works off the food it has.

3. The medication helps to speed up your metabolism and increase fat burning by reducing glucogon & reducing insulin resistance. This promotes normal blood glucose levels, the liver metabolism of glucose and helps adipose tissue burn fat in a safe and controlled method without causing a sugar-crash. This avoids the urges for quick-fix sugary foods.

This all helps to reduce the risk of the so-called "starvation mode" and other side effects like ketoacidosis, as you will be burning off a mixture of stored carbs & fats.

Unlike fad diets which tend to starve the body when it's shouting out for food, the medication reduces your body's desire to get more food, which makes it easier to make healthier choices and to reduce calories. It also stops leptin levels from lowering due to "starvation". Low leptin levels can cause increased hunger & a slower metabolism!

The average weight loss per person is always different. Clinical trials for all 3 types of the medication have shown a range of weight loss between 8lbs and 19lbs.

In the latest Semaglutide study released in February 2021, 75% of participants lost 10% of their body weight. During clinical trials for Liraglutide, 80% of those who used Saxenda kept the weight for over a year.

The key is not to compare yourself to others losing weight - focus on yourself, your goals and your progress. Every person is different.

The medication can be used for those with BMI over 25. We take into account a range of factors such as:

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• BMI

• Medical History

• Current Medication

• Body measurements

• Eating habits

• Past diets

• Current exercise levels

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The programme is not suitable for:

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Under 18's

Ladies who are breastfeeding, pregnant or actively trying to get pregnant.

Type 1 diabetics

Anyone with a history of pancreatitis or thyroid tumours

Anyone with direct family members who have had thyroid cancer

Whilst you do not need to see your doctor or inform them that you are taking this medication, we advise that it would be sensible to keep your GP informed of any medications you use privately so that they have the full picture of your medical history.

You may have seen in the British press or on the TV about fake Ozempic entering the UK market. This has been gradually creeping into our lives via different routes - social media, market places, beauty treatment clinics, salons etc. Some even claim to have Certificates of Authenticity, which perhaps they were missold to by a supplier of fake or illegal forms of Semaglutide. It can be tricky to know what's real and what is not. It can also be tricky with wanting to lose weight but given the current cost of living crisis, the cheaper alternatives seem like a good deal at the time... but they can be very dangerous for your health and lining the pockets of those who are not regulated or have any professional responsibility or liability or a duty of care to safely oversee your health.

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Spot the Difference:

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Like a lot of counterfeits, it can be very difficult to see the differences initially but when you look closer, there are a few differences between the structure, mechanism and packaging of the fake Ozempic.

Some key differences can be:

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GENUINE OZEMPIC:

• Genuine Novo Nordisk Ozempic pens do not extend/increase in length when setting the dose.

• The dose dial window only shows the intended doses and no in between e.g. 0.25mg, 0.5mg and 1mg only.

• The glass chamber/vial containing the medication is framed & is visibly held within the pen's framework. There are no markings on the glass chamber/vial.

• Authentic Ozempic® pens in the UK are currently available in the following configuration - 0.25mg pen, 0.5mg pen, 1 mg pen

• The box containing authentic Ozempic® will include 4 needles which attach directly onto the pen.

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COUNTERFEIT OZEMPIC:

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• A counterfeit pen may extend in length when you dial the dose.

• The glass chamber/vial is fully exposed without any frame and shows markings on the glass.

• The label on a counterfeit pen could be of poor quality and may not adhere well to the pen.

• A counterfeit carton may have spelling mistakes on the front of the box (i.e., 1pen and 4 doses without space between ‘1’ and ‘pen’) as seen in photo below.

• The batch number printed on a counterfeit box may not correspond to the product strength stated on the same box and pen.

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The medication is is governed under UK regulations by NICE & the MHRA. The medication is only sourced via UK based pharmacies who use official UK wholesalers to ensure you receive a genuine product from the manufacturer. Please see this page for further information: Fake Semaglutide (Ozempic) & Illegal Products