Question 1

Which weight loss injection works best?

Accepted Answer

In head-to-head terms, tirzepatide (Mounjaro) has produced the largest average weight loss of the licensed options in the UK: around 20.9% of body weight over 72 weeks in SURMOUNT-1, compared with about 14.9% for semaglutide 2.4mg (Wegovy) over 68 weeks in STEP 1. Trials are not directly comparable, and the best treatment for an individual is the one they tolerate and can keep taking, which is why a prescriber weighs medical history and side-effect risk rather than the headline figure alone.

Question 2

Is there a tablet alternative to Mounjaro?

Accepted Answer

There is no tablet form of tirzepatide licensed in the UK. Two oral GLP-1 options are available instead: oral semaglutide taken once a day, and orforglipron (Foundayo), also once a day. Average weight loss in their trials is lower than tirzepatide, so a tablet is usually chosen by people who want to avoid injections rather than by people chasing the largest possible result.

Question 3

What is the difference between Wegovy tablets and Foundayo?

Accepted Answer

Wegovy tablets contain semaglutide, a peptide, so absorption is sensitive to food and drink: the tablet is taken on an empty stomach with a small sip of water, and food is delayed afterwards. Foundayo contains orforglipron, a small molecule, so it can be taken at any time of day with or without food. In their respective trials oral semaglutide 25mg produced about 16.6% average weight loss over 64 weeks and orforglipron about 12.4%.

Question 4

Do weight loss tablets work as well as injections?

Accepted Answer

Not quite, on the trial figures available. Weekly injections have produced the largest average reductions in body weight, with daily tablets somewhat behind. The gap matters less than adherence: a treatment taken consistently for a year outperforms a stronger one abandoned in month two, which is why the practical fit — needles, fridge space, routine — is part of the clinical decision.

Question 5

Can I switch from one weight loss treatment to another?

Accepted Answer

Yes, switching is common and is done under prescriber supervision. Reasons include side effects, supply, cost, or wanting to move off injections. A switch usually restarts at a low dose of the new medicine rather than matching the old dose, because tolerance does not transfer between molecules, and the escalation is then stepped up again over several weeks.

Question 6

How much do weight loss treatments cost in the UK privately?

Accepted Answer

Private prices typically run from around £120 to £375 a month depending on the medicine and the strength, with the lowest starting doses costing least and maintenance strengths costing most. A reputable service includes the prescriber review, the medicine, delivery and ongoing support in that figure, with no separate consultation fee.

Question 7

Am I eligible for weight loss medication?

Accepted Answer

In UK private practice, treatment is generally considered at a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above alongside a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, prediabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea or high cholesterol. Lower thresholds apply for people of South Asian, Chinese, Black African or African-Caribbean family background. Eligibility is confirmed by a prescriber reviewing full medical history, not by a calculator alone.

Question 8

What happens when weight loss treatment stops?

Accepted Answer

Appetite signalling returns to its previous state, and without a plan some weight is usually regained: the SURMOUNT-4 and STEP 4 withdrawal trials both showed this clearly. Ending treatment responsibly means tapering rather than stopping abruptly, with nutrition, resistance exercise and follow-up in place before the last dose so the change has somewhere to hold.

	MounjaroWeekly pen	WegovyWeekly pen	Wegovy tabletsDaily tablet	FoundayoDaily tablet
Average weight lost in trials	20.9%	14.9%	16.6%	12.4%
Trial behind the figure	SURMOUNT-1	STEP 1	OASIS 4	ATTAIN-1
Trial length	72 weeks	68 weeks	64 weeks	72 week
Active ingredient	Tirzepatide	Semaglutide	Oral semaglutide	Orforglipron
How you take it	Weekly pen	Weekly pen	Daily tablet	Daily tablet
How often	Once a week, same day	Once a week, same day	Once a day, before food	Once a day, any time
Strengths available	6	6	4	6
Storage	Fridge until first use	Fridge until first use	No fridge	No fridge
Needles	Yes	Yes	None	None
From, a month	£195	£139	£125	£120
Tends to suit	You want the largest average result and are happy with a weekly injection.	You want the option with the longest track record behind it.	You want the results of semaglutide without an injection.	You want the simplest possible daily routine and the lowest starting price.

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Mounjaro

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