What is the Cottingham (Waltham) Weight Loss Service?

If you’re looking to lose weight for health reasons, our service provides a range of weight loss options to support you on your journey including:

• Free consultation

Our trained professionals conduct private consultations to assess your needs and provide healthy living advice.

• Medicinal support

For those who may benefit, and where clinically suitable, we offer private prescription treatments to complement your lifestyle changes.

How our Weight Loss Service works

To receive weight loss treatment and advice, the process is quick and simple. Just follow these steps:

1.Book your appointment online

You can easily book an appointment at a Cottingham (Waltham) pharmacy by selecting your pharmacy and your preferred date and time.

2. Attend your consultation

One of our trained pharmacy members will talk through your health history and weight loss goals with you, offering support and advice and prescribing medication if needed.

3. Start your treatment

If you’ve opted for prescription weight loss treatment, you’ll need to make your first payment and collect it from the pharmacy.

4. Attend follow-up appointments

To ensure the treatment is effective and assess your overall health, you will need to attend follow-up appointments at the pharmacy.

What to expect from your initial consultation

You will be asked questions about your medical history, including any medical conditions you may have and medication you may take. They will also weigh and measure you to check your Body Mass Index (BMI) and determine if you’re eligible for weight loss medication.

You’ll need to bring some form of identification with you such as a passport or driving license. This is because if you are prescribed medication, they’ll need to verify your age and identity first.

Who is weight loss treatment suitable for?

Weight loss treatment is designed to help you manage conditions such as type 2 diabetes or heart problems. It can also help those who are overweight or obese and need to lose weight for health reasons.

You are classed as overweight if your BMI is 25 or above, obese if your BMI is 30 or above and severely obese if your BMI is 40 or above. Being overweight, obese or severely obese could mean you’re at higher risk of the following conditions:

• type 2 diabetes
• coronary heart disease
• pneumonia
• some types of cancer, including breast cancer and bowel cancer
• stroke
• high blood pressure (hypertension).

However, it’s important to note that BMI has limitations as it only measures weight and not fat, meaning people who are very muscular can have a high BMI. It also doesn’t take factors such as ethnicity, age, blood pressure and body fat distribution into account which can also impact your risk of developing these conditions. That’s why our trained team members will take the whole picture into account to decide the best treatment plan for you.

Are you eligible for our Weight Loss Service?

Weight loss pills and injections aren’t suitable for everyone. Therefore, it’s important to check whether you’re eligible before you ask for a prescription.

• Orlistat (Xenical)

To be eligible for orlistat, you’ll need meet the following criteria:

• You’ve previously made significant effort to lose weight through lifestyle changes
• You have a BMI of 30 or more, or a BMI of 28 or more and a weight related condition such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.

• Liraglutide (Saxenda)

You’ll only be prescribed liraglutide if all the following apply:

• You’re not 75 or over
• You don’t have certain health conditions such as liver, kidney problems or inflammatory bowel disease
• You have a BMI of 30 or more, or if you’re of Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin, a BMI of 30 or more.

• Semaglutide (Wegovy)

You can only take semaglutide if:

• You’re aged between 18 and 75
• You have a BMI of 30 or more, or if you’re of Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin, a BMI of 30 or more.

• Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)

To be eligible for tirzepatide, you’ll need to meet at least one of the following criteria:

• You have type 2 diabetes
• You have a BMI of 30 or more
• You have a BMI of 27 or more and a health condition such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension), pre-diabetes or heart problems.

Who should not use the Weight Loss Service?

As mentioned above, weight loss medication isn’t suitable for everyone. If you fall into any of the following categories, you typically won’t be able to access the Weight Loss Service.

• You’re under 18

Although it’s possible for children and teenagers to access weight loss medication if recommended by a doctor, this is generally only in exceptional circumstances.

• You’re pregnant or breastfeeding

Weight loss medications are generally contraindicated for pregnancy and breastfeeding, meaning they should not be used because they may pose risks to the mother and baby.

• You have or have had an eating disorder

If you have an eating disorder, such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder, it is dangerous to take weight loss medication. These medications can reinforce harmful thoughts, behaviours and body image issues, meaning they should be avoided.

• You haven’t tried changes to lifestyle first

It’s recommended that before trying weight loss medication, you should make changes to your lifestyle first. This can help form healthy habits and determine whether medication is actually necessary.

• You take certain medications

Some medications don’t interact well with weight loss medication. It’s therefore important to inform your healthcare professional of your medical history so they can determine whether weight loss medication is a good option for you.

• You have certain medical conditions

Weight loss medication can also be harmful for people with certain medical conditions, such as kidney or liver disease. Make sure to check with your prescriber whether it’s safe for you if you have any medical conditions.

Other options are available that might be suitable

As well as weight loss medication, there are other ways you can lose weight. These include:

• A balanced diet

To lose weight, eating a healthy diet is essential. You can do this by swapping unhealthy choices such as processed food or sugary drinks for:

• Lots of fruit and vegetables
• Starchy foods, e.g. potatoes, rice, bread, pasta, preferable high fibre and wholegrain
• Some dairy or dairy alternative products
• Some protein, e.g. meat, fish, eggs, beans, lentils
• Only small amounts of high-fat or high-sugar foods

You should avoid fad diets that suggest cutting out one or more of these food groups completely as they aren’t sustainable in the long term and aren’t healthy. Very low calorie diets are also not a suitable or safe method to lose weight. It’s important to remember weight isn’t always a measure of health – a balanced diet is key.

• Regular exercise

Exercise can help you to maintain a healthy weight by burning energy. Adults are recommended to do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, such as walking, cycling or swimming. Or, you can do 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity a week, such as running, competitive sport or circuit training.

• Mindful eating

Eating more mindfully, i.e. eating slower without distractions, can help you to lose weight. This can help with digestion and recognising your fullness cues, reducing risk of overeating.

• Surgery

Weight loss surgery, known as bariatric surgery, is generally only an option for severe cases of obesity. To be eligible, you typically have to have tried all other non-surgical options and have a BMI of 40 or more.

Our available Weight Loss Service treatments

Here at Cottingham (Waltham), we offer a variety of weight loss pills and injections including

• Orlistat
• Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
• Wegovy (Semaglutide)
• Saxenda (Liraglutide).

Each of these medications is different, so it’s important to compare your options and consider which may be best for you. We can also offer support and advice with this.

Brand name	Mounjaro	Wegovy	Saxenda	Xenical
Main ingredient	Tirzepatide	Semaglutide	Liraglutide	Orlistat
Starting dosage	2.5mg, once a week on the same day	0.25mg, once a week on the same day	0.6mg, once a day	120mg, three times a day with meals
Side effects	Nausea, diarrhoea, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), vision changes, pancreatitis			Fatty/oily stool, toilet urgency, oily discharge, excess wind
Efficacy	Loss of up to 22.5% of body weight after 72 weeks of use	Average loss of 15% of body weight after 68 weeks of use	Loss of at least 5% of total body weight on maximum dose over 12 weeks	Loss of up to 10% of body weight in first six months
How long to take it for	Review after six months, can take for a maximum of two years with Cottingham (Waltham) or until healthy BMI  is reached	Review after six months, can take for a maximum of two years with Cottingham (Waltham) or until healthy BMI is reached	Review after three months. If lost at least 5% of body fat, can continue treatment for a maximum of 4 years with Cottingham (Waltham) or until healthy BMI is reached

 

How much does our Weight Loss Service cost?

The cost of our Weight Loss Service varies from person to person. A consultation with one of our trained team members about your weight is free. We can offer you free advice and tips on how you can lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Weight loss medication private prescriptions vary in cost depending on which medication you choose and which plan you choose.

Weight Loss FAQs

Is weight loss medication prescription only?

For the most part, yes. While there are lower-strength weight loss pills which you can buy over the counter, such as Alli and Orlos, you will still need to answer a few questions from the trained pharmacy team member to make sure it’s the right medication for you.

What tips can help you lose weight?

There are a number of things you can do to lose weight in a healthy, achievable and sustainable way:

• Look for recipes that are quick and easy to make while still providing a balanced meal
• Swap sugary drinks for water or no added sugar alternatives
• Look for food labels that are predominantly green rather than red or amber
• Get 7-9 hours of sleep a night
• Join a club or exercise group that meets regularly
• Plan your meals in advance.

Generally, most people should aim to lose weight gradually, as this makes you more likely to see long-term success without putting your health at risk by trying to lose too much weight at once. A target of 1-2 pounds a week can be a good place to start.

Are weight loss injections safe?

Yes, weight loss injections including Mounjaro, Wegovy and Saxenda have been tested at clinical trials and approved for prescription in the UK. It’s important, however, to check with your prescriber that it’s the right choice for you, considering possible side effects and contraindications before use.

Are weight loss treatments available on the NHS?

Yes, the NHS categorises weight management services into four tiers. Tier 1 and 2 services are generally focused more on providing advice and guidance on nutrition and physical activity. Weight loss medication is typically only available for patients in tiers 3 and 4, which have stricter eligibility criteria.

Why book a consultation with Cottingham (Waltham)?

At Cottingham (Waltham), we pride ourselves on providing top-quality healthcare services in our local communities. We are a family-run business who put our customers first, assisting in getting them the help and support they need. Our Weight Loss Service is comprehensive, with a number of different options available. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today.