Weight loss jabs, is it worth it?

Weight loss jabs, also known as weight loss injections, have gained popularity in recent years as a quick fix for fast weight loss. These injections often involve medications that suppress appetite or alter metabolism. While they may provide rapid results, it’s important to understand how they work, their side effects, and the long-term implications. As a registered dietitian, I want to explain the pros and cons of weight loss injections as well as provide you with a better and more sustainable alternative which is to look for help from a local nutritionist or dietitian.

In summary, here I’ll explain the common weight loss injections available today, as well as why a sustainable weight loss plan with a nutritionist is a far healthier and more effective approach for long-lasting results.

Common Weight Loss Jabs

1. Saxenda (Liraglutide)
   • How it works: Saxenda is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that helps regulate appetite by making you feel full faster.
   • Availability: Prescription-only.
   • Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, low blood sugar (if used with insulin), pancreatitis, and gallbladder issues.
   • Pros: Can result in significant weight loss when used alongside diet and exercise.
   • Cons: Costly. Many users regain weight after stopping the injections. It can also lead to a decrease in muscle mass, which lowers metabolism.
2. Wegovy (Semaglutide)
   • How it works: Similar to Saxenda, Wegovy also mimics the GLP-1 hormone to suppress appetite and promote a feeling of fullness.
   • Availability: Prescription-only and sometimes difficult to access due to demand.
   • Side effects: Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, and potential gallbladder problems.
   • Pros: Effective at reducing appetite and leading to weight loss.
   • Cons: Costly. Muscle loss is common, and studies show many regain weight after stopping the injections. It doesn’t address the underlying causes of overeating.
3. Ozempic (semaglutide used for type 2 diabetes)
   • How it works: Initially developed for diabetes, it lowers blood sugar and helps with weight loss as a side effect by increasing the body’s insulin sensitivity and reducing appetite.
   • Availability: Used off-label for weight loss.
   • Side effects: Similar to Wegovy, including digestive issues and nausea.
   • Pros: Helps with both diabetes management and weight loss.
   • Cons: Costly. Weight often rebounds when the injection is stopped, and it can result in the loss of lean muscle.
4. Mounjaro (Tirzepatide):

• How it works: A dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist that helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels.
• Side Effects: Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Risks may include gallbladder issues and pancreatitis.
• Pros: Significant weight loss potential, dual action may provide better blood sugar control, may improve metabolic health.
• Cons: Newer medication with limited long-term data, potential for more pronounced side effects, higher cost and limited availability.

The Downside of Weight Loss Jabs

• Temporary Solution: High cost. Most of these injections only offer short-term weight loss. Once the treatment is stopped, studies show that many individuals regain the weight they lost, sometimes even more.
• Muscle Loss: These injections may promote fat loss, but they often lead to a loss of muscle mass as well. Losing muscle decreases your metabolism, which makes it harder to keep weight off in the long run.
• Side Effects: Digestive problems, low blood sugar, and even more serious risks like pancreatitis are common side effects.
• Doesn’t Address Root Causes: Weight loss injections do not tackle the deeper issues that often contribute to weight gain, such as emotional eating, lack of motivation, and poor eating habits. These factors need to be addressed for long-term success.

Why Sustainable Weight Loss with a Nutritionist is the Better Option

While the idea of rapid weight loss through injections can be tempting, true and lasting results come from a balanced, sustainable approach. Working with a nutritionist to create a personalised diet and lifestyle plan has long-term benefits that injections simply cannot provide.

1. Healthy Eating Habits: A nutritionist can help you develop a deep understanding of how to eat well for your body’s needs. Learning how to balance your meals with the right nutrients—like protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals—ensures that you stay healthy while losing weight.
2. Preserving Muscle Mass: Sustainable weight loss strategies emphasize maintaining or even building lean muscle, which is critical for keeping your metabolism high. This way, you’re not just losing weight but also improving your body composition, making it easier to keep the weight off.
3. Holistic Approach: A nutritionist takes into account not just your diet but also factors like stress, sleep, and mental health—all of which can impact your ability to lose weight. This holistic approach sets you up for long-term success.
4. Personalized Plans: Weight loss is not one-size-fits-all. A nutritionist can tailor a plan to your individual needs, preferences, and lifestyle, ensuring you can stick to it over time.
5. Support and Accountability: One of the biggest challenges in weight loss is staying motivated. Regular check-ins with a nutritionist provide the support and accountability necessary to keep you on track.
6. Mental and Emotional Health: Food is often tied to emotional and mental well-being. A nutritionist can work with you to develop strategies to manage emotional eating, helping you create a healthier relationship with food.

Natural alternatives to weight loss jabs to lose weight fast:

Some foods can speed your metabolism and help you to burn more fat and lose weight fast. Isn’t it what everyone who is looking for weight loss programmes wants?

Here are my top tips for a natural way to lose weight:

1. Increase protein in the diet
2. Take omega-3 supplements 
3. Add turmeric to your food, ginger and cinnamon
4. Control portion size
5. Berberine supplements

Ditch the weight loss jabs, make your body produce more hunger control hormones naturally

That’s right, the weight loss jabs sold in the chemist and prescribed by many doctors is a shot of the hunger control hormones. 

But I will explain something interesting…Our gut is a powerhouse. ​​Many functions in our body depend on our gut health. In the gut, after eating a diet with fibre we produce butyrate. Butyrate is responsible for activating the production of the hunger-control hormones. Also, healthy fats like oily fish, avocado, nuts, olive oil, are potent stimulators of GLP-1. If the gut is healthy and well-balanced it will increase the production of these hormones that control appetite and blood sugar levels. This is exactly what the weight loss jabs do. However, you can treat your gut with a diet including prebiotic foods that will increase butyrate. 

Foods that can increase the good bacteria of your good and activate this process naturally:

• beans, chickpeas, peas, lentils
• fibre from sources like flaxseeds, a variety of fruits and vegetables
• healthy fats like oily fish, avocados, nuts, olive oil
• whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, oats

Quick fixes like weight loss injections might seem appealing, but they rarely lead to lasting results. Often, they mask deeper issues—whether they’re mental, motivational, or emotional—that need to be addressed for true success. Learning how to eat well, understand your body, and maintain muscle mass will give you the lasting results you deserve.

By working with a nutritionist, you’re investing in yourself for the long haul. You’ll gain the knowledge and tools to not only lose weight but to keep it off in a healthy, sustainable way—without the risks and side effects of injections. Remember, weight loss is a journey, not a race. It’s always better to go slow and steady with the support of a qualified dietitian or nutritionist who will guide you every step of the way.

If you are looking for help to lose weight in a natural and healthy way, contact us now.  We are the leading weight loss clinic in London with over 15 years of experience and many happy clients!