Obesity is one of the most significant health problems facing our society, it is associated with reduced life expectancy, lower quality of life, increased disease and illness.

The benefits to weight loss and numerous, and include, improved energy, blood sugar regulation, improved sleep, and a reduction in the risk of multiple medical problems.

Having said that, we know that its not easy to lose weight! Which is where the Effect doctors Medical Weight loss program can help!

We can help you navigate to complex balance between: Calories and activity, weight loss and weight gain and the interplay between diet, exercise metabolism and the hormones that govern fullness and hunger.

Saxenda, Ozempic, and Wegovy all work to address one of your body’s natural responses to weight loss.

Your body naturally produces an appetite hormone known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that helps to regulate your hunger

Saxenda® works like GLP-1 by regulating your appetite, which can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight

Saxenda, Ozempic, and Wegovy are all injectable medications. Saxenda is a once daily injection whereas both Ozempic and Wegovy are once weekly injections.

We will teach you how to safely and comfortably inject these medications through our medical weight loss program.

While each of these medications is usually extremely well tolerated with minimal side effects, some of the following may be experienced:

• Gastrointestinal upset with Nausea, loose stool, or constipation
• Headaches
• Dry mouth or increased thirst
• Tiredness or mood changes

In order to qualify for these medicationsAZ, you have to have be between 18 and 75 years old, have a  BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² or ≥ 27 kg/m² with a weight related health condition

And you must not experience any of the following health conditions

• Pregnant, breast feeding or intending to fall pregnant
  • We strongly recommend birth control while taking these medications
• Anyone who has a serious disease of the liver, gallbladder or pancreas
• Anyone with a history or direct family history of MEN2 or thyroid cancer.
• Type 1 diabetics or patients taking diabetic medication
• Significant kidney disease
• Anyone with heart failure or abnormal heart rhythm
• Any history of psychosis or severe depressions

Saxenda® is an injectable prescription medicine that, when used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, may help adults with obesity or overweight (excess weight) who also have weight-related medical problems

Initially approved for the treatment of diabetes, Saxenda contains the medication Liraglutide, a synthetic version of a glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone that works by slowing stomach emptying, increasing satiety, and reducing hunger.

It is delivered by once daily injections.

Weight loss from this medication was reported during trials:

• 63% lost at least 5% of body weight
• 33% lost at least 10% body weight
• 15% lost at least 15% of body weight

And 80% of participants kept the weight off at one year.

This once weekly injectable medication contains, Semaglutide, a synthetic version of a glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone that affects appetite and hunger. In trials, 75% of patients lost over 10% of their body weight.

Like all GLP-1 analogues, it works by slowing stomach emptying, increasing satiety, and reducing hunger.

What’s the difference between Saxenda and Ozempic:

• Ozempic is a once weekly injection, rather than once a day.
• Ozempic has been shown to be mire effective in longer term weight management.
• At the moment, Ozempic is prescribed off-label for weight loss, as it is not licenced for weight-loss (only management of diabetes)

Wegovy is the exciting new injectable weight loss drug, specifically targeting medical weight loss; it is a synthetic version of a glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone that affects appetite and hunger.

Wegovy is an FDA approved preparation of Semaglutide, licenced specifically for weight loss, which at present is not licenced in the UK. Approval is expected at some point in late 2022 or early 2023.

The starting dose for Wegovy, will likely be higher than Ozempic.

Like all GLP-1 analogues, it works by slowing stomach emptying, increasing satiety, and reducing hunger.

During clinical trials to evaluate the safety of Wegovy when used for treating obesity, participants without diabetes who were prescribed Wegovy lost on average, 12.4% of their initial body weight when compared to a placebo.

Studies show you will lose about 5% of your body weight within 3 months