HomeOrlistat vs Ozempic: What’s The Difference? Health Hub

Orlistat vs Ozempic: What’s The Difference?

Pharmacy2U Team | minute read
Woman in the park smiling and excising

Compared to other weight loss medications currently in the market, Orlistat, under the brand name Xenical among others, has been around for a long time. Approved for use by the European Medicines Agency in 2009, this medication can be obtained with a prescription or over-the-counter with pharmacist supervision here in the UK. 

But how does this weight loss aid differ from other common prescription weight loss medications in the market today? In this article, we compare orlistat with Ozempic, one of the biggest names in the weight loss aid conversation, and other weight loss medications containing the active ingredient semaglutide. 

What is orlistat?

Orlistat, also sold under the brand name Xenical, is a medication that reduces the body's absorption of fats by acting as a lipase inhibitor. Lipase is an enzyme in the digestive tract that breaks down fat from food into smaller particles, which can then be absorbed by the intestines. By inhibiting the production of lipase, orlistat limits how much of the fat from food is absorbed into the body. 

Used in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet, orlistat decreases the body's consumption of calories and encourages a higher rate of weight loss compared to dieting and exercising alone.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a brand name for a medication containing the active ingredient semaglutide. Ozempic is not licensed for use for weight loss purposes in the UK and is only prescribed as a treatment for type-2 diabetes. 

Semaglutide is licensed for prescription as a weight loss medication under the brand name Wegovy.

Semaglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone which encourages the release of insulin after meals and helps to regulate blood sugar levels. This results in a longer lasting feeling of fullness after meals, by slowing down the rate at which food moves through the stomach. 

How does orlistat compare to Ozempic, or semaglutide?

Orlistat, the active ingredient in Xenical, works very differently from semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. While orlistat interacts with the way the body absorbs dietary fat, semaglutide increases weight loss by slowing down the rate at which food moves through the stomach making the user feel fuller for longer. 

Semaglutide was first designed as a medication for diabetes, as it works to increase the production of insulin and reduce blood sugar levels. A side effect of this interaction was weight reduction, which prompted a new set of trials. The conclusion of which was that semaglutide then became licensed under the brand name ‘Wegovy’, with doses tailored specifically to aid weight loss.

Orlistat, on the other hand, has always been licensed and used for weight loss. Successful weight loss has been seen to reduce blood pressure, which can help to prevent the onset of type-2 diabetes. 

Orlistat is prescribed in pill form and is taken with or shortly after three meals a day. It is prescribed at a dose of 120mg. Semaglutide brands licensed for prescription in the UK come in injection pen form and are administered once a week. The initial dose is low and increases gradually over the medication course.

Orlistat for weight loss

Orlistat has been shown to significantly improve the weight loss results of a calorie-reduced diet and exercise regime. Users of orlistat might expect to lose as much as 10% of their starting body weight over 6 months of the medication. 

Semaglutide, on the other hand, has been shown to support a weight loss of as much as 16% of a user’s starting body weight, most of which happens in the first 9 months of use. 

Like all weight loss medications, it is advised that patients take these medications alongside a calorie-reduced diet and a personal exercise plan rather than as a replacement for this programme. 

Which is right for you?

Semaglutide and orlistat are very different weight loss medications, both with the potential to provide significant weight loss elevation when used with a weight loss plan including exercise and a healthy diet. However, which is right for you will largely depend on your personal circumstance and the opinion of a registered medical professional. 

Should you choose to undertake a consultation with Pharmacy2U, there are certain criteria in place to ensure you’re eligible for specific medications:

  • To be eligible for Wegovy, you must either have a BMI of over 30, or have a BMI of over 27 and are at risk of having a serious condition related to high body weight.

  • To be eligible for Xenical (which uses the active ingredient orlistat), you must either have a BMI of over 30, or a BMI or over 28 and be at risk of a serious condition related to high body weight.

While you can get a lower dose of orlistat, under the brand name Alli, over the counter at pharmacies, the dosage is significantly lower than prescribed orlistat. 

Start a consultation with Pharmacy2U

If you meet the criteria, you might be suitable for a prescription to a weight loss medication such as orlistat or semaglutide. Start your assessment with our online consultation form. One of our registered healthcare practitioners will look at your case and offer you a recommended course of action, which might include a prescription for a weight loss medication. 

Our tailored consultancy service works in tandem with your NHS records and we will communicate any medical decisions such as prescription with your doctor so everything is appropriately documented.