Skip to main content

GLP-1 weight loss · London

Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg), by a specialist obesity clinician.

A private, medically supervised daily GLP-1 programme. Consultant led, with monthly review, dietetics and behavioural support. When Wegovy or Mounjaro are unavailable or unsuitable, Saxenda remains a licensed, evidence-based option.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private Saxenda programme costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£2,400–£4,500, self-pay.

Item Indicative range
Specialist obesity consultation (initial) £280–£450
Baseline bloods (HbA1c, TFT, lipids, LFT, U&E, amylase) £180–£320
Saxenda 6 mg/mL, box of 5 pre-filled pens (self-pay) £180–£320
Monthly medical review with weight and BP check £150–£220
Dietitian and behavioural support (per session) £120–£180
Comprehensive 12-month programme (all-in) £2,400–£4,500

Prices vary by clinic (Cleveland Clinic London, HCA Wellington, King's Private Endocrinology, Voy Health, Numan and specialist obesity clinics), by clinician and by how much support you want alongside the drug. Insurance rarely covers obesity pharmacotherapy directly.

Eligibility

When Saxenda is the right step - and when it is not.

NICE and licence criteria, plus the contraindications that end the conversation before a prescription is issued.

  • BMI 30 or higher

    The core NICE and licence threshold for obesity pharmacotherapy in adults. Verified at the specialist consultation.

  • BMI 27–29.9 with a weight-related condition

    Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

  • You prefer a daily injection pattern

    Some patients tolerate a daily dose better than a weekly one, either for side effects or for the discipline of a fixed routine.

  • Wegovy or Mounjaro are unavailable

    Global shortages of semaglutide and tirzepatide are common. Saxenda remains a reliably stocked, licensed option in the meantime.

  • A bridge before bariatric surgery

    A structured 6 to 12 month medical loss to lower operative risk before sleeve gastrectomy or bypass.

  • Not for cosmetic weight loss

    We do not prescribe for a normal BMI, and we do not treat pregnancy, type 1 diabetes, or personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2.

  • Active pancreatitis or severe gastroparesis

    Both are absolute contraindications. History of pancreatitis needs specialist review before any GLP-1 is offered.

  • Red flag: severe abdominal pain

    New severe upper abdominal pain radiating to the back on treatment needs urgent review. Pancreatitis is rare, but real.

Drug options

Saxenda sits inside a family of GLP-1 options.

Realistic outcomes on liraglutide 3.0 mg (SCALE trial): mean weight loss of around 8 percent at 56 weeks, with about 30 percent of patients losing at least 10 percent. Newer weekly drugs do more, when they are in stock.

  • Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg) daily

    A first-generation GLP-1 receptor agonist. Daily subcutaneous injection, escalating over 4 weeks: 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 and 3.0 mg. The full dose is 3.0 mg once daily.

  • Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) weekly

    The newer generation GLP-1. Once weekly, greater mean weight loss (STEP trials ~15 percent), often better tolerated. Subject to global supply.

  • Mounjaro (tirzepatide) weekly

    A dual GIP and GLP-1 agonist. Weekly injection, greatest mean weight loss to date (SURMOUNT ~20 percent). Now our first-line choice where available.

  • Non-drug pathways

    Allurion swallowable balloon, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty and bariatric surgery. Considered alongside pharmacotherapy where appropriate.

Safety and expectations

What to expect - honestly.

Side effects, contraindications, the stop rule at 16 weeks, and what happens when treatment ends.

  • Gastrointestinal side effects

    Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation are common at start and during each dose escalation. Slow titration and small, protein-first meals help most patients.

  • Pancreatitis is rare

    Severe upper abdominal pain radiating to the back, with or without vomiting, needs same-day review. Saxenda is stopped and lipase checked.

  • Gallstones during rapid loss

    Rapid weight loss of any cause increases gallstone risk. Reported in around 2 percent on liraglutide 3.0 mg in trials.

  • Hypoglycaemia on insulin or sulphonylurea

    If you are on insulin or a sulphonylurea, the diabetes team must reduce those doses before starting Saxenda to avoid hypoglycaemia.

  • Injection site reactions

    Redness, itching or a small nodule are common and usually settle. Rotate sites (abdomen, thigh, upper arm) and use a fresh needle each dose.

  • Thyroid C-cell warning

    A rodent-model signal. Contraindicated in personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.

  • Not in pregnancy or breastfeeding

    Stop at least two months before planned conception. Reliable contraception is discussed at the initial visit.

  • Weight regain on discontinuation

    Weight regain is common when Saxenda is stopped without a structured maintenance plan. This is a chronic-disease drug, not a short course.

  • 16-week stop rule

    If you have not lost at least 4 percent of baseline weight by 16 weeks on 3.0 mg, we stop and reconsider the strategy honestly.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Most UK insurers exclude obesity drugs from standard cover. Consultations and bloods are sometimes covered on higher tier or corporate plans.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about Saxenda.

Quick answers on Wegovy comparisons, insurance, cost, dosing pattern, discontinuation and side effects.

  • What is the difference between Saxenda and Wegovy?

    Both are GLP-1 receptor agonists from the same manufacturer. Saxenda is liraglutide, a daily injection at 3.0 mg, with around 8 percent mean weight loss over 56 weeks in the SCALE trial. Wegovy is semaglutide, a once-weekly injection at 2.4 mg, with around 15 percent mean weight loss over 68 weeks in the STEP trials. Wegovy is more effective and less frequent, but supply is intermittent, so Saxenda remains a valuable option when Wegovy or Mounjaro are unavailable.

  • Will UK private medical insurance cover Saxenda?

    Rarely. Most UK private insurers exclude obesity pharmacotherapy from standard policies, treating it as a lifestyle prescription. Some corporate schemes and higher tier plans do cover a specialist consultation and bloods, though the drug itself is usually self-pay.

  • How much does a Saxenda programme cost per year in London?

    A comprehensive 12-month programme is typically £2,400 to £4,500. That includes the initial specialist consultation (£280 to £450), baseline bloods (£180 to £320), monthly medical reviews (£150 to £220 each), dietitian input, and the drug itself at £180 to £320 per box of 5 pens (roughly one box per month at 3.0 mg).

  • Why choose daily Saxenda over weekly Wegovy or Mounjaro?

    Three reasons. First, availability: Wegovy and Mounjaro have suffered persistent global shortages, whereas Saxenda supply has been reliable. Second, tolerance: a smaller daily dose can be gentler on the gut than a larger weekly bolus for some patients. Third, control: if a serious side effect appears, a daily drug clears from the system faster than a weekly one.

  • What happens when I stop Saxenda?

    Weight regain is the rule, not the exception. In the SCALE Maintenance trial, patients who stopped liraglutide regained a significant proportion of the lost weight within a year. Obesity is a chronic condition, and the maintenance conversation is part of your care from month one: continue at a maintenance dose, step down to a different GLP-1, or transition to intensive lifestyle support with pre-planned check-ins.

  • What are the most common side effects?

    Nausea (about 40 percent), diarrhoea (20 percent), constipation (20 percent), vomiting (15 percent) and headache. Most are mild to moderate, most are worst during dose escalation, and most settle within two to four weeks on a stable dose. Slow titration, small protein-first meals and adequate hydration reduce the impact. Serious side effects (pancreatitis, gallstones) are rare and covered at consent.

Related

Looking for something else?