In short
- As part of the UK government’s push to tackle obesity, the NHS has allowed several weight loss drugs to be prescribed on the NHS to certain patients.
- The NHS aims to help people lose weight to prevent worse outcomes.
- Orlistat is one of the weight loss treatments available through the NHS.
Last Updated: 25/06/2025
As part of the UK government’s push to tackle obesity, the NHS has allowed several weight loss drugs to be prescribed on the NHS to certain patients. Normally, NHS weight loss prescription are available to people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or a people with a BMI of 28 or higher and a weight-related medical condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
The NHS aims to help people lose weight to prevent worse outcomes. Bariatric surgery (such as gastric bands) can be used in treating obesity, but can also come with their own side effects and complications. Indeed, the chance of surgery complications only increases the heavier the patient is. Rather than relying on potentially risky surgeries, the NHS is better prescribing Orlistat or another weight loss medication that may help reduce the risk factors of both obesity and any possible surgeries.
What is Orlistat?
Orlistat is one of the weight loss treatments available through the NHS. The generic equivalent to Xenical, both are weight loss medications that block your body’s ability to absorb fats from food you eat.
When you eat foods, your body absorbs various nutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Foods which are high in fats, such as cheese, processed foods and red meat, can be unhealthy, and too much fat can cause you to gain weight. During digestion, fats are broken down by enzymes called lipases.
Orlistat works by inhibiting the action of lipases. This means it “clogs up” lipase enzymes, preventing them from being broken down and prevents around one-third of the fats you eat from being digested. This leaves the fats to pass into the bowel undigested, to be flushed from the body.
Clinical trials have shown that, combined with a calorie-reduced diet and exercise, Orlistat can help you lower your body weight. While Orlistat may not be as suitable for long-term use, it can help you make a start on your weight-loss journey.
Orlistat is available through the NHS with a doctor’s prescription. You can also purchase Orlistat privately through our Online Doctor service, or we can handle your NHS prescription. Either way, we can arrange delivery straight to your door, in plain, discreet packaging. Items ordered can be sent next-working day delivery, at an extra cost.
Other NHS Weight Loss Treatments
There are other weight loss treatments available through the NHS, including Saxenda. Rather than preventing your body from absorbing certain nutrients, Saxenda mimics the actions of a specific hormone, making you feel full. Instead of a pill, Saxenda is taken as a daily injection. Clinical studies have shown that Saxenda helped over 60% of those treated to lose at least 5% of their body weight, when combined with a reduced calorie diet and increased exercise.
As with Orlistat, Saxenda is also available to be privately purchased through our Online Doctor service.
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