Losing weight and keeping it off is mostly about habits you can keep up, with medicine as an extra option for some people. This page brings together our weight management guides.
Our weight management guides
- How to lose weight safely: what the evidence says works
- Weight-loss plateau: why it happens and how to get past it
- Weight-loss medicines explained: orlistat, Wegovy, Zepbound and more
- Ozempic vs Mounjaro: how they compare
The basics in brief
- Aim for about 1–2 lb (0.5–1 kg) a week.
- Losing 5–10% of your weight brings real health benefits.
- Protein, vegetables, fewer sugary drinks, regular activity and good sleep make the biggest difference.
See a doctor if
You’ve gained or lost weight without trying, you have a condition such as diabetes or heart disease, or you’d like to discuss whether weight-loss medicine is right for you. Prescription weight-loss medicines need an assessment and a prescription from a doctor.
Information on this page is general and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist.