You can buy Orlistat (Xenical/Alli) as an over-the-counter alternative to Wegovy in the UK.
However, Orlistat is a very different type of weight-loss medication, and research suggests it’s not as effective as Wegovy in supporting weight loss.
Wegovy and Orlistat are weight-loss medications approved for use in the UK. However, they are different medications with distinct dosing schedules, costs, and mechanisms of action on the body.
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. Lipases are gut enzymes that break down fat from food, enabling the gut to transport fat into the body to be burnt for energy or stored in our fat cells for later use.
Orlistat blocks lipases, preventing some of the dietary fat from our meals from being digested. This leads to fewer calories being absorbed, which can support weight loss.
Orlistat is a prescription medication produced by two pharmaceutical companies in the UK:
Wegovy is a weight-loss jab manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It’s a weekly weight-loss injection with semaglutide as the active ingredient.
Semaglutide is a that helps reduce hunger and appetite, allowing you to eat fewer calories, lose weight, and manage your blood sugar levels.
Wegovy is approved in the UK for individuals living with obesity to help them eat fewer calories and lose weight.
The over-the-counter version of Orlistat will cost around £18 a month, so it’s a very affordable medication.
In comparison, buying Wegovy and the injectable pens required for four weeks from Second Nature will cost £229 a month, rising to £299.
Orlistat is an affordable medication that is generally well-tolerated. However, it’s less effective than Wegovy. Wegovy is twice as effective as Orlistat for weight loss after one year.
So, if you’re looking for the most affordable weight-loss pill you can purchase over the counter, then Orlistat could be an option.
However, if you have a higher budget and are looking for the most effective weight-loss injection in the UK, semaglutide is a better choice.
Semaglutide is designed as an additional tool for weight management and, in most cases, shouldn’t be considered a lifelong medication.
Instead, it should be used to help you kickstart your weight loss and healthy journey while you commit to living a healthier lifestyle.
Ideally, we’d be able to lose weight without medication and lifestyle changes would be enough to support weight loss in the long term.
We’d generally recommend trying Second Nature’s before considering a weight-loss jab.
Changing your habits is the most sustainable way to achieve long-term weight loss, and it’s also less expensive.
At Second Nature, we’ve been trusted by the NHS since 2017 to support people with type 2 diabetes and obesity to lose weight, manage their blood sugar levels, and lead healthier lifestyles for the long term.
In 2022, the NHS in the BMJ that compared the weight loss outcomes of five providers in the National Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Second Nature was more than twice as effective at supporting weight loss than the other four providers.
However, if you’ve decided to try semaglutide (when it’s available) but need support in making positive changes to your lifestyle, Second Nature could be an option for you. But it’s worth noting that we have strict eligibility criteria.
Second Nature has been approved for use in the UKAs the brand name Xenical costs £30 a month, Wegovy has a counter at its entrance. However, its cost is significantly lower than Wegovy.
Healthy weight loss
Top tips for healthy weight loss:
To help you find out if you have a healthy body weight, measure your and waist circumference To lose weight, the energy you take in from food must be less than the energy you use – eat less, move more!
Set yourself realistic goals to achieve a healthy weight. Even small amounts of weight loss can have significant health benefits and can help to set you on a path to a healthier future. Guidelines recommend that you should try to lose weight gradually, about 1-2 lbs (approximately 0.5-1.0 kg) a week
Weight loss can reduce your risk of: heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
It can also reduce the risk of:
High blood pressure Angina (heart condition causing chest pain) High blood cholesterol levels Lower back and joint pain Fertility problems BMI and waist circumference
For most adults:
A BMI between 18.5 and 25 is defined as healthy. A BMI of over 25 is defined as overweight. A BMI of over 30 is defined as obese.
Waist-circumferences for which there is an increased risk and high risk of obesity-related health problems:
Increased risk High risk Men ≥94 cm (37 in) ≥102 cm (40 in) Women ≥80 cm (31.5 in) ≥88 cm (34.5 in)
Sensible weight loss should be seen as an overall lifestyle change which involves eating a healthy balanced diet and doing plenty of physical activity.
Guidelines recommend that you should try to lose weight gradually, about 1-2 lbs (approximately 0.5-1.0 kg) a week. This way, the weight is more likely to stay off. This rate of weight loss is based on using up 600 kcal per day more than you take in. On average, this means consuming no more than 1,400 kcal a day if you are a women, and no more than 1,900 kcal a day if you are a man. The amount of weight you lose will depend on how much weight you need to lose and how active you are.
Further information can be found on the manufacturers
Side Effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Orlistat.
The majority of unwanted effects related to the use of Orlistat result from its local action in your digestive system. These symptoms are generally mild, occur at the beginning of treatment and are particularly experienced after meals containing high levels of fat. Normally, these symptoms disappear if you continue treatment and keep to your recommended diet.
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
headache abdominal pain/discomfort urgent or increased need to open the bowels flatulence (wind) with or without discharge oily discharge, oily or fatty stools liquid stools low blood sugar levels (experienced by some people with type 2 diabetes) upper respiratory infections flu (influenza)
Report any of your symptoms to your doctorategic team at your nearest hospital
Report any of your symptoms to our team at
or phone if you have difficulty breathing or will not be drinking water until after treatment is finished.
Or contact our
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if you are not sure if you are taking any medicines.
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Find out morein the contact forms on the market pages.
Alli Orlistat Capsules Highlights:
alli is an FDA approved weight loss supplement that helps block about 25 percent of the fat you eat from being absorbed
Acts as an effective weight loss product and diet pill for both women and men
For every 5lbs you lose through diet and exercise, alli can help you lose 2 to 3 more
alli weight loss supplement works in the digestive tract and is minimally absorbed into the bloodstream, so there are no direct effects on the cardiovascular or central nervous system
alli capsules are a weight loss pill for overweight adults, 18 years and older, when used along with a reduced calorie and low fat diet.
alli (orlistat 60 milligram capsules) is your smart edge for weight loss. Among weight loss products, it's the only FDA-approved over-the-counter weight loss aid. Orlistat, the active ingredient in alli, is a lipase inhibitor and works by binding to specific enzymes that break down fats. As a result, about 25 percent of the fat you consume is not absorbed and passes through the digestive system. Since the calories associated with this unabsorbed fat are not used, the number of calories that enter your system is reduced. You're ready with alli by your side. alli (orlistat 60 milligram capsules) is a weight loss aid for overweight adults, 18 years and older, when used along with a reduced-calorie and low-fat diet. Read and follow label directions.
alli orlistat 60 mg capsules weight loss pill refill pack (120 capsules) contains: A read me first brochure and up to 40-day supply. It is designed for people who are already using alli and have previously purchased the starter pack. Helps you lose more weight than dieting alone. Read the enclosed brochure for other important information. Diet and exercise are the starting points for any weight loss program.
Contains:Does not contain any of the 8 major allergens
May Contain:
Product Warning:Adult Use Only
Product Form:Capsule
Package Quantity:120
TCIN: 17042759
UPC:353100469254
otineThe capule specification does not contain all the prescription medications that are available, and no specific medication information available. If you have any questions about theSpecification, you should consult your doctor or your health care provider.
The side effects of the orlistat 60 mg capsule consist of:
These symptoms are potentially life-threatening because they last for more than four hoursUse only prescribed medications to prevent further long-term problems
The price of Orlistat in the UK varies depending on the pharmacy you visit. It's recommended to pay a little extra to get a better discount.
Orlistat is sold by a pharmacy in Dubai. It is available in the following dosage forms:
Orlistat Oral Jelly: This is a generic medication and is also available as an online prescription.
Orlistat Tablets: Orlistat Tablets contain the same active ingredient as the brand-name drug Orlistat but are formulated to work in different ways.
Orlistat Oral Jelly: Orlistat tablets contain the same active ingredient as the brand-name drug Xenical but are also formulated to work in different ways.
Orlistat Oral Tablets: Orlistat tablets contain the same active ingredient as the brand-name drug Xenical but are also formulated to work in different ways.
Orlistat Oral Capsules: Orlistat capsules contain Orlistat which is an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of obesity. They contain Orlistat as their active ingredient.
Orlistat Injection: Orlistat Injection contains Orlistat which is an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of obesity. It contains the same active ingredient as Xenical but is formulated to work in different ways.
Orlistat Tablets: Orlistat tablets contain the same active ingredient as the brand-name drug Xenical but are also formulated to work in different ways.
Orlistat Oral Suspension: Orlistat oral suspension contains Orlistat which is an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of obesity. They contain the same active ingredient as Xenical but are formulated to work in different ways.
Orlistat Oral Jelly: Orlistat oral Jelly contains the same active ingredient as the brand-name drug Xenical but are also formulated to work in different ways.
Xenical India Limitedhas received a licence to manufactureorlistat 60mgby All India Pharmaceutical Union Limited (formerlyAll India Pharma Limited).
The Companyis a member of the All India group of companies.
Indications and usesOrlistat is used to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly the risk of type 2 type 1 diabetes in obese, overweight, and obese women. It also may be used in combination with other medicines to treat type 2 diabetes, when other medicines are ineffective. Orlistat is used to treat obesity and overweight and to reduce the risk of diabetes. It is a part of the class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.is also a registered trademark of All India Pharmaceutical Union Limited.owns a company under the name All India Pharma.A company is a group of companies that combine or have an entirely new business. The Company develops and operates a product, orlistat 60mg, for the treatment of obesity and overweight and also for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.It is a part of the class known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. All India Pharma is a subsidiary of All India Pharma Limited.