Don’t know where to start

[ChilledProsecco]

I’m 53, post-menopausal, only 5’1” and weigh around 11st (don’t weigh myself). BMI around 30.

I have high blood pressure (treated) and take a statin as my cholesterol was 5.9 & I have a strong family history of heart disease (my mum has a bypass in her 50’s).

I’m fairly fit, running 5K’s & do plenty of walking.

So I meet the criteria for weight loss medication but don’t know where to start.

I think the NICE guidance would say Semuglatide tablets.

But would I be better off on injectables?

And could anyone recommend a company? Thinking Juniper or MedExpress.

TIA

Semaglutide tablets (Rybelsus) are only used off label for weight loss, so I’m not sure that they would be a first recommendation from anywhere. The NICE guidelines for weight loss treatments are aimed at the NHS rather than private prescribers. They list the three available injectables and also Orlistat as a tablet.

There are many private prescribers, have a look at https://monj.co.uk which lists many of them and gives you an idea of the price ranges. The medication is the same wherever you get it from so there’s no need to pay more for it than necessary. Some, like Juniper, are a subscription service so it’s useful to know what you’re signing up to (and how to cancel) before hand.

I'm the same age as you but quite a lot taller, also post menopause. I was BMI 36-7 when I started on Mounjaro nearly 7 months ago, now it's just over 27. Like you, I didn't use to weigh myself but I bought a set of scales the day I collected my first pen. You'll definitely need to know your actual weight for starting and some (most?) online pharmacies will require a picture of you on the scales to prove your weight.

If you can afford it, Mounjaro is proven to be more effective than Wegovy but since the price hikes the cost issue is very real.

I get mine in person from a local independent pharmacy, which is not the norm, but I have issues with deliveries to my house and didn't want the monthly stress of hoping my pen arrives.