What is it and what is it used for?
These 120mg capsules are a prescription-only weight loss aid for adult patients with a BMI over 30 or for those with
associated risk factors (such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol) and a BMI above
28. It is currently the only approved weight loss medication in the UK and combined with a healthy lower-calorie,
reduced-fat diet and exercise it can help you lose more weight than by dieting alone.
How does it work?
Unlike an appetite suppressant, the drug reduces the amount of fat absorbed by your body from your food. This active
ingredient is what's known as a dietary fat binder. Contrary to popular belief, it does not bind to the fat in the
food, rather it binds to the enzymes in your stomach that break down fats. It attaches to the stomach enzyme lipase,
effectively blocking it from breaking down and digesting some fat molecules. This then causes approximately one
third of the fat in the meal not to be absorbed and pass through your system.
How effective is this treatment?
The capsules work by blocking the enzyme that breaks down fat in the stomach. This means that fat in the diet cannot
be fully absorbed, assisting in weight loss. When used correctly, clinical studies have found that it can achieve
50% more weight loss compared to dieting alone. Results are also seen quickly, with it increasing fat excretion from
the body within 24-48 hours of starting the medication. This treatment may be suitable for you if you have a body
mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or above; or a BMI of above 28 kg/m² with risk factors such as high blood pressure,
cholesterol or diabetes.
Can I take this treatment?
The 120mg weight loss capsules are for those who are medically obese, that is, with a BMI of 30 and above. It is
especially useful for those who suffer from a chronic disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high
cholesterol. You should not take this medication if you are pregnant.
Body Mass Index (BMI) and Weight Loss Capsules
For this treatment to be clinically appropriate for you, in most cases your BMI must be over 30. If you suffer from
diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol you are eligible to take this medication with a BMI
of over 28.
You can
quickly calculate your BMI by entering your height and weight into our BMI calculator.
How should I take this treatment?
Swallow a pill whole with water three times a day, either before, during or up to one hour after meals. It is not
recommended you take the medicine for more than 6 months and if you don’t see any results after 3 months,
discontinue the treatment. You should not take a slimming capsule if you skip a meal or if you eat a meal deficient
in fat.
Taking this treatment makes it more difficult for your body to absorb certain vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E and K,
as a result these should be supplemented daily. Not many multivitamins contain all the vitamins and minerals
required to fully replenish your micronutrient levels. We recommend OneVit Complete, a daily multivitamin specifically formulated
to account for the nutrient depletions commonly experienced with this treatment. Take OneVit Complete once per day, at least 2 hours before or after
taking a weight loss capsule, such as at bedtime.
Is it effective? How fast does it work?
The drug starts working immediately. With a healthy diet and an exercise regime, it can help you lose 5% of your
initial body weight after three months of treatment.
It begins to work as soon as you take it and you can see results depending on your lifestyle changes.
How does it help lose weight that I already have?
The drug prevents your body absorbing a quarter of the fat molecules that you eat. Without this extra fat, your body
starts to utilise stored fat to obtain energy for daily activity.
Does taking this treatment mean I can eat anything I like?
This treatment should be taken as a weight loss aid, not as the centre of a weight loss regime. It still takes a
healthy diet, exercise and self motivation to achieve the goals possible while taking this medication. Having a high
fat diet when taking these capsules can also increase your risk of unwanted side effects. If taken as recommended by
the manufacturer, you should be able to lose an extra 50% on top of your current weight loss.
Can I skip a capsule if my meal has no fat in it?
Yes, it is recommended to take a capsule with meals that contain fat. If you are having a meal that contains very low
or zero fat such as a green salad without dressing, you should skip your capsule. It can be the case that if your
diet is very low on fat already, you may only need to take one or two capsules per day.
What if I forget a capsule?
Not to worry, weight loss is a slow gradual process. Missing one capsule will not harm your weight loss program as
each capsule affects only the meal that it is taken before. This means that missing one will not have any knock on
effects for continuing the treatment.
Should I skip meals whilst taking this treatment?
It is not recommended to skip meals during the day. Maintaining a scheduled diet and avoiding unnecessary snacking is
the best way to achieve a healthy weight loss plan. A study from The Journal of Nutrition looked into the
optimal schedule for eating throughout the day. It found that having breakfast as the largest meal of the day and
scaling down the portions sizes throughout the day followed by a long overnight fast is the most optimal schedule.
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
The capsules do not directly interact with alcohol, so it is not dangerous to drink alcohol when taking it. It is
however, very important to note that alcohol contains a high volume of calories and will negatively impact your
weight loss regime if not moderated. The effects of alcohol can also affect your decision making when eating and
snacking.
Weight Loss resources