Compare all weight loss treatments

Clinical trials have found that following 56 weeks of treatment participants using orlistat were found to have an eight percent weight loss, versus four percent in the placebo group. However, the clinical trials also revealed that some people experience unpleasant side effects, such as fatty stools or flatulence. As Xenical is taken orally it may be favoured by users who aren’t keen on regular injections, like those used by Saxenda and Victoza which have to be regularly injected and first demonstrated by a medical professional.

One of the advantages of Alli is that it is available without prescription, you will still need to speak to a pharmacist before they can provide you with the treatment, but the simpler access can be viewed as a benefit to some people. Clinical trials have proven that Alli is only marginally effective in comparison to various other weight loss treatments as it is given at a lower dose. Both Xenical and Orlistat are administered in larger doses and so are often more effective at reducing weight. Alli might be more suitable for those who wish to lose a smaller amount of weight. Clinical trials have also revealed that taking Alli can result in uncomfortable side effects such as uncontrollable bowel movements, oily discharge, and gas from the anus.

The active ingredient in Saxenda, liraglutide, helped trial participants consistently lose at least five to 10 percent of weight when compared to placebo. It also regulates your hunger and fullness, and stabilises your blood sugar. This can make you feel less cravings and give you better control over your eating habits. However, Saxenda is a prescription injection treatment that requires an initial demonstration by a healthcare professional. Regular injections may be off-putting to some patients. The most common side effects included nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting.

Litramine is perhaps viewed as a more gentle weight loss treatment as it can be ingested via tea, sachet, or tablet. Side effects from Litramine are mild if they occur at all. Litramine attaches itself to fat in the body and stops the fat being absorbed by the intestines. Clinical trials found it to absorb as much as 27% of dietary fats. Available without prescription.

Mounjaro is a weekly weight loss injection that was originally intended to be a diabetes treatment. In the UK, it can be used for weight loss if your BMI is over 30, or if it’s over 27 and you have a weight-related condition like diabetes.

It's a pen treatment that comes pre-filled. It contains tirzepatide, a GLP-1 agonist. GLP-1 is a hormone made by your body, which plays a role in controlling your appetite. GLP-1 agonists work by mimicking the effects of this hormone, and help you feel full.

Like other weight loss treatments, the pens are used alongside regular exercise and healthy eating. In trials that compared Mounjaro with a placebo, it was shown to help between 89-91% of patients lose more than 5% of their weight.

Mounjaro can sometimes cause nausea, which might put some people off using it. The side effects should usually settle as you get used to using it, though.

Wegovy also boasts the appeal of being a once weekly injection for weight loss. Although, the idea of self administering an injection can put some people off. The clinical trial results for Wegovy show that people lose more weight using semaglutide than when using liraglutide. Most side effects associated with Wegovy are gastrointestinal in nature, although headaches, tiredness and dizziness were also recorded. In most cases the side effects settled down quickly and didn’t stop patients from continuing with their treatment.

Mysimba will usually make you eat less food, which can cut out overeating habits and reduce your appetite. It’s also very effective. In a trial involving 1742 people, the Mysimba group lost 6.1% of their body fat, compared with 1.3% of the placebo group. There is, however, a higher risk of side effects than there is with some other weight loss treatments, and you’ll need a prescription for it before you can buy and take it.