How weight loss injections help you to lose weight

Embarking on a weight loss journey can feel intimidating — especially if you've tried a myriad of diets and exercise programs in the past. While you might experience initial weight loss with these methods, weight regain is also incredibly common.

If diet and exercise changes aren't making enough of an impact on your body weight (because diets generally don't work for sustainable weight loss!), you're probably on the lookout for an alternative — this is where weight loss medications can help.

Weight loss injections have been available in Australia for a number of years now but have become increasingly popular recently. And, while the thought of self-administering an injection can feel daunting, this treatment can help you lose weight and improve your health.

To gain a better understanding of how these medications work and the average weight loss you can expect, we've compiled a handy guide for you. Here's what you need to know about weight loss injections.

Do injections work for weight loss?

Yes! In fact, weight loss injections can be incredibly effective.

While weight gain is most commonly managed with reduced calorie diet and exercise programs, stubborn weight gain might not be able to be fixed with lifestyle changes alone.

How do weight loss medications work?

Losing weight through diet and exercise alone can be incredibly difficult and at times, it might feel like your body is working against you. This is where weight loss injections can be incredibly helpful as they help to target the body’s metabolic patterns, helping to lose weight sustainably. ^[1]

The medication is made up of a molecule that mimics the hormone glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor. GLP-1 is an appetite hormone that your body naturally produces to help regulate hunger.

This medication works like GLP-1 by suppressing your appetite and increasing the feeling of being full. This makes it easier for your body to maintain a lower weight, meaning you won't have to fight so hard to keep the weight off.

In Australia, this class of medication have been available since 2017 that can assist with weight loss. When combined with lifestyle changes (such as eating a healthy diet and establishing a new workout routine), you can expect to see immediate and lasting changes in your body weight.

Who can use a weight loss injection?

There are a few parameters for using weight loss injections and healthcare professionals will generally use your body mass index (BMI) to figure out whether this type of medication is suited for your personal situation.

To be eligible for a weight reduction medication, like an injection, a healthcare professional will need to establish where you're at with your weight and where you fall on the BMI scale.

How to access weight loss treatment

After chatting with a healthcare professional, you may be advised to try injections for weight loss, alongside behavioural and lifestyle changes — such as making long-term shifts with your diet and adding more physical activity into your day.

When used as part of a holistic weight management program, these injections can be a great way to kick-start your initial body weight loss. Plus, by making a range of lifestyle changes you can combat other health issues you might also be navigating (such as high blood pressure or cholesterol levels).

How are weight loss injections administered?

Before you begin taking this weight loss medication, your practitioner will run you through how to administer it. While it can feel intimidating to self-administer the injection, the needle in the injection pen is tiny and only feels like a small prick.

Each pen is pre-filled with your medication that needs to be administered for the duration of your treatment. When you're done, simply dispose of the pen in a sharps container or a sturdy screw-top and puncture-resistant plastic container.

The medication should be injected into the subcutaneous (fatty) layer under the skin, such as your upper thigh, upper arm or abdomen, and rotated regularly. The medication is administered via injection because it is protein-based. If taken orally, it would be quickly broken down by your digestive system, making it ineffective.

If you have any issues with self-administering the injection, be sure to check in with your health practitioner and they will be able to provide you with tips on this.

What is the name of the medication?

Unfortunately, Australia’s TGS (Therapeutic Goods Administration) regulations prevent us from being able to share the names of these treatments.

What we can say, is they are safe and effective treatments that GPs across Australia happily recommend to patients wanting to lose weight, along with implementing health lifestyle changes.

How long should you use weight loss injections?

Your practitioner will monitor your progress closely over the first 12 weeks of your treatment. Typically, your treatment will last anywhere from 9-12 months.

What diet should you follow while on this medication?

Your healthcare provider will help you create a diet plan to support your weight loss when using this treatment. Given your appetite is lowered, you might notice you're only craving smaller portions as you're feeling fuller, sooner.

In general terms, you can expect to be recommended a healthy balanced diet that is low in unhealthy fats and sugars and rich in nourishing grains, fruits and vegetables.

What are the side effects of weight loss injections?

While this treatment is completely safe, there are some common side effects you might encounter. The most common are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation.

Plus, the less common side effects to watch out for include:

• Hypoglycaemia (if you're also taking diabetes medications)
• Pancreatitis
• Gallbladder problems
• Thyroid problems
• Kidney impairment
• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts

Make sure to speak with your practitioner and explain your medical history thoroughly to ensure this treatment is right for you.