New year, new you? It's estimated nearly half of UK adults are actively trying to slim down this month, with Google searches for ‘weight loss injections UK’ predicted to shoot up in January. But before trying these injections, many slimmers opt for more traditional methods, like restrictive diets, or intense fitness routines to shed those excess pounds. This approach often doesn't work, and many people find these abrupt lifestyle changes almost impossible to stick to. (Prefer a gentler start to the year? Read: 6 simple self-care hacks for a happy January here.) Leading them to turn to weight loss injections, hailed by many users as the new 'miracle cure' for obesity.
Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, weight loss injections have been hitting the headlines for the dramatic results they offer. They work by regulating blood sugar levels, slowing down digestion, and suppressing appetite, by stimulating receptors in the brain’s appetite regulation centres. Results have been impressive, with lots of users able to lose between 10-18% of their body weight, reversing many of the knock-on effects of being obese such as Type 2 diabetes. With seemingly very few side effects, and without the huge lifestyle changes weight loss usually requires.
But are these injections too good to be true? And what’s the alternative if you can’t afford them (they range from £130 – £200 for a month's supply of injections privately), or you would prefer a more natural approach?
What side effects are there from weight loss injections UK slimmers should know about?
Before starting a course of weight loss injections, UK people who want to combat obesity should educate themselves about possible side effects. Like most medications, these won't affect everyone and can range in severity a great deal. Most of the well-known brands of weight loss injections advise patients they can trigger digestive issues, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation, upset stomach, heartburn, burping, and bloating. Some users might also have flu and cold-like symptoms, or experience headaches, dizziness, and tiredness.
These are relatively common side effects, which, while inconvenient, many users can live with. However, weight-loss injections have been linked to muscle loss and the decrease of bone density, so it’s important to combat this with strength training. Also, more serious (and far less common) adverse reactions, such as pancreatitis, changes in vision, and kidney and gallbladder problems. It's important to remember these side effects are unusual, but if you're worried about them, perhaps you should consider an alternative.
Are there any supplements that could help with weight loss?
The short answer is yes! And we’ve even put together a handy selection of all the weight loss patches we offer here. The most obvious patch to use as an alternative to weight loss injections, UK or otherwise, would be the Slim Trim Appetite Suppressant Patch. Like a weight loss injection, this patch works in several ways to support your journey to lose excess weight:
Appetite suppression: If you're still starving hungry when you know you've already consumed a healthy amount of calories, then an appetite suppressant could help. The Slim Trim Appetite Suppressant Patch contains brown seaweed and lotus leaf extract, both tried and tested weight loss supplements that may help reduce hunger naturally.
Improved mood: Someone who gets a lot of pleasure from your food? Don't worry, the patch also contains natural mood-boosters saffron and mucuna pruriens L-Dopa to brighten your outlook. A happier mood means you're less likely to go in search of snacks as a pick-me-up.
Regulating blood sugar levels: This clever patch also contains chromium picolinate, an essential mineral for proper insulin action and blood sugar control. Using this patch could help to stabilise your blood sugar levels, reducing hunger pangs and the blood sugar drops that can trigger cravings for that after-lunch chocolate bar or high-carb foods like bread and biscuits.
What about boosting your metabolism?
If you've got an excellent exercise routine in place, but that excess weight just won't shift then perhaps your metabolism needs some support? The Metabolism Plus Patch could help because it contains Green Tea, a well-known and researched anti-oxidant that has been shown to help support fat and sugar metabolism.
While we're certainly not claiming these patches are the same as weight-loss injections, they do offer a gentle, natural way to support your body as you lose weight, with many of the benefits of weight loss injections UK people are looking for, and far fewer potentially debilitating side effects.
Is it worth trying NAD as a natural alternative to weight loss injections, UK or otherwise?
Another supplement you could try to help you lose weight is NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). Our super effective NAD Recovery Patch, which also contains vitamin C and a complex of B vitamins to maximise efficacy, is here.
Long hailed for its anti-aging properties, NAD can help to protect your cells from oxidative stress and promotes cellular repair. But it's also worth taking as a slimming aid to help manage both the physical and mental causes of weight gain.
NAD helps convert nutrients into energy, maximising the use your body gets from the calories you consume. So if you're eating less, it can help to combat sluggishness and fatigue. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels (much like weight loss injections UK or otherwise), so you won't get the dramatic blood sugar spikes that can trigger snacking.
Additionally, NAD has been used in addiction therapy substance for alcohol and opioid addiction. Many addictions, including overeating, can involve the disruption of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which can influence cravings and reward-driven eating. NAD could help to curb these cravings by improving dopamine regulation, providing a similar effect to weight-loss injections on your appetite.
Are there any other benefits trying a supplement Vs weight loss injections UK people should know about?
While increasing your exercise levels and following a lower calorie diet is always recommended in the first instance if you need to lose weight, it doesn’t work for everyone. Weight loss surgery, such as gastric sleeves and bands is sometimes offered as an alternative (if you’re considering this, read 5 essential ways to support your health after gastric sleeve or other bariatric surgery here), but there are risks with surgery and often you can’t enjoy food in the same way.
The weight loss injections UK health providers are now offering are an excellent option for some people. However, they do come with a hefty cost if you need to obtain them privately; you could be looking at up to £2400 for a year's supply. And they might also not be for you if you're at all anxious about needles (needle phobia is believed to affect as much as 10% of the population according to Anxiety UK).
While our range of weight loss patches might not offer such dramatic results as weight loss injections, they have the advantage of being non-invasive and contain natural ingredients much less likely to trigger any unwanted side effects. The patches work best when used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise, which research shows is the best way to maintain weight loss. If you want an alternative to injections that could help you stick to healthy habits that will improve your overall long-term health, patches could be the right choice for you.
