How will weight loss injections affect my health?

Weight loss jabs are all the rage these days. Popular brands like Wegovy and Ozempic have been sweeping across America and Europe, giving many people who struggle with weight loss hope of achieving a healthy body weight.

But these jabs can produce drastic changes to your body. What changes will these medications make?

Better2Know has developed a comprehensive 12-month health monitoring program for anyone taking weight loss jabs. This program uses simple at-home blood tests to monitor key health markers during your weight loss journey.

Keep reading to find out more.

Learn more about Better2Know’s weight loss monitoring program.

Get tested

The UK has approved weight loss jabs

In the fall of 2023, the UK Government approved semaglutide for weight loss in accordance with NICE guidelines. Semaglutide (widely known under the brand name Wegovy) is meant to be used in conjunction with other weight management strategies, like diet and increased physical activity.

Since then, regulators have also approved other medicines, like Mounjaro. These medicines are available through the NHS with a doctor’s referral and can also be purchased from private providers.

How do weight loss jabs work?

Most weight loss jabs help you to lose weight by regulating your appetite and slowing gastric emptying (the process by which food and liquids move through your gut). They do this with two compounds: tirzepatide and semaglutide.

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist. It mimics the GLP-1 hormone that regulates your body’s appetite and food intake. Taking semaglutide will help you feel full for longer, thereby reducing calorie intake and promoting sustained weight loss.

Tirzepatide, on the other hand, activates both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 receptors. This enhances insulin sensitivity, reduces appetite, and slows gastric emptying.

Most of these weight loss treatments are designed for:

Adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher (classified as obese)
Adults with a BMI of 27 or higher who also have a weight-related health condition such as:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- History of heart attack or stroke
People with type 2 diabetes, particularly those needing improved blood sugar control or cardiovascular risk reduction
Individuals who are overweight or obese with a history of cardiovascular disease, using these medications to reduce the risk of heart attacks or strokes
Adults aged 45 or older with a BMI of 27+ and additional cardiovascular risk factors

All these medications are designed to work in tandem with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise.

What are the options?

While many other products may enter the market in the future, there are three brands of weight loss jab that appear to be the most popular.

Mounjaro

Mounjaro was designed to help adults with type 2 diabetes more effectively manage their blood sugar levels.

Taken as a once-weekly injection, it mimics GIP and GLP-1, which help regulate insulin, reduce appetite, and slow digestion. This dual-action approach improves blood sugar control and has also been shown to support significant weight loss in many patients.

Wegovy

Wegovy was developed for long-term weight loss and management in adults and adolescents with obesity and related health issues like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

Administered as a once-weekly injection, Wegovy mimics GLP-1, which helps regulate appetite and food intake. Reducing hunger and slowing digestion help you feel fuller for longer, leading to reduced calorie intake and sustainable weight loss.

Ozempic

Ozempic is primarily used to help adults with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke.

Like Wegovy, Ozempic mimics the GLP-1 hormone, which helps regulate insulin, reduce sugar production in the liver, and slow digestion. This leads to improved blood sugar control and a feeling of fullness after meals. While not officially approved for weight loss in the UK, many patients experience weight reduction as a secondary benefit.

What changes might occur during my treatment?

If you’re considering weight loss injections like Mounjaro, Wegovy, or Ozempic, it’s important to understand how they might affect your body, not just in terms of benefits, but also potential side effects. These medications are powerful tools, but like any treatment, they come with certain risks.

Side effects	Wegovy	Ozempic	Mounjaro
Common side effects	Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, headaches, stomach pain, fatigue, dizziness, reflux or heartburn, hair loss, injection site reactions, inflamed stomach, gallstones	Nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, fatigue, dizziness, bloating, heartburn or indigestion, loss of appetite	Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, stomach pain hair loss, injection site reactions, allergic reaction, low blood pressure, fatigue
Uncommon side effects	Fast heartbeat, increase in pancreatic enzymes (such as lipase and amylase), stomach paralysis	Injection site reactions (e.g. redness, swelling, or discomfort), headache, burping, changes in taste, mild increase in heart rate, skin discolouration at injection site, mild allergic reactions (e.g. rash or itching)	Fast heartbeat, increase in pancreatic enzymes (such as lipase and amylase), gallstones, injection site pain, increased calcitonin, cholecystitis (infection of the gall bladder)
Serious side effects	Complications of a diabetic eye disease called diabetic retinopathy (only in diabetics), inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis), serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)	Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), gallbladder disease, including gallstones or cholecystitis, kidney damage, especially if dehydration occurs, diabetic retinopathy (worsening eye disease in diabetics), severe allergic reactions (e.g. swelling of face/throat, difficulty breathing), hypoglycaemia, especially when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas, thyroid tumours,	Inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis), serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

Recent studies also suggest that these medications may increase the risk of pancreatitis and could be linked to joint pain, sleep disturbances, and ongoing digestive discomfort.

How can I track my health markers during my weight loss journey?

When such profound changes occur in your body, it makes sense to monitor your overall health. Knowing your baseline health markers can help you know when to take action and seek medical advice.

Better2Know has developed a comprehensive health testing plan to monitor vital health markers during your weight loss journey.

Get tested

This 12-month program includes a wide range of tests designed to detect any health issues related to weight loss management.

Liver function test: Gives insight into your general liver health and how your liver is processing fats, sugars, and medications.
Lipid profile: Measures your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, both important for monitoring your cardiovascular health.
Diabetes markers: Determines your blood sugar levels over several months to help you understand your metabolic health.
Inflammation markers: Assesses your body’s inflammation levels, offering insights into the systemic stress linked with weight and metabolic health.
Pancreatic function: Tests for your pancreatic enzyme levels. Monitoring amylase can help determine your pancreatic health while using weight loss medications.
Electrolytes and kidney function: Evaluates your initial kidney function and key electrolyte levels to ensure your kidneys are functioning properly.

These tests are designed to help you understand your body’s response to weight loss medications. Throughout the 12-month plan, these tests are repeated, establishing baselines and providing insight into how those baselines have changed during your weight loss journey.

If your tests detect any abnormalities after 3 months, Better2Know provides a free private doctor consultation to discuss your results and options.

Final thoughts

Losing weight can be a long and challenging process, and there’s no shame in getting some help. Better2Know’s health monitoring program sets you up for success in your weight loss journey to secure a healthier and happier you.

Learn more about our comprehensive 12-month program by clicking the button below.