Starting your weight loss journey is much easier to think about than it is to do, which is why many people turn to weight management treatment to give them a helping hand.
Weight loss medications can help you to lose weight consistently until you reach a healthy BMI range.
So which is the better weight loss medication — Orlistat or Saxenda?
Today we’ll look at both of them in more detail and work out what sets them apart from one another.
What is Orlistat?
Orlistat is a type of medication known as a fat binder, which tells you what you need to know about how it works.
It binds to a third of the fat in your food so it can’t be digested and is passed out of your system with your poo.
This helps to reduce your fat and calorie intake, helping you to lose weight over time.
For Orlistat to be at its best, you’ll need to reduce your daily fat intake and spread the fat you do eat as equally as possible between your three daily meals.
What is Saxenda?
Saxenda is one of a group of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Like other medications of this type, it works with the hormones produced in your pancreas which control your blood sugar levels.
By doing this, Saxenda helps reduce your hunger and keeps you feeling fuller for longer, helping you stick to a lower-calorie diet and lose weight consistently.
What’s the difference between Orlistat and Saxenda?
As you can tell, Orlistat and Saxenda are very different medications that are used to reach the same goal.
Aside from how they work, the most obvious difference between them is that Orlistat is available as capsules while Saxenda is an injectable medication.
Another difference is how often you’ll take your medication, you’ll need to remember to take Orlistat capsules three times a day but Saxenda is only injected once a day, which may be easier for some patients to manage.
Which is better for weight loss?
When deciding which medication will be best for your weight loss journey there are a few things your prescriber will have to consider.
For example, they will need to be sure that your treatment will fit into your lifestyle and that you can take it safely.
If you’re scared of needles or won’t be able to inject Saxenda at the same time every day, your prescriber may decide that it isn’t the right treatment for you.
On the other hand, if you won’t be able to take Orlistat with three meals a day or won’t be able to reduce your daily fat intake to the recommended amount, your prescriber may decide against this treatment.
At the end of the day, the best weight loss treatment for you is one you will be able to take properly over a prolonged period of time, so it’s impossible for us to give a one size fits all answer to this question.
Now we know more about the differences between Orlistat and Saxenda, you may want to learn more about which medication you think would be right for you.
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