Is weight loss medication worth the cost? Effectiveness, costs and realistic expectations

Short answer: Weight-loss medication costs money, but in clinical trials it results in an average weight loss of 15 to 21 per cent – significantly more than lifestyle changes alone. Whether the cost is worth the investment depends on your health risks and the support you seek alongside the treatment.

The cost of weight-loss medication is the most commonly cited barrier for people considering starting a weight-loss programme. In our customer satisfaction survey, 40% of customers cited price as a barrier before starting, more than any other factor. That’s understandable: weight-loss medication is a significant expense and you want to know whether it will pay for itself. In this article, we take an honest look at what weight-loss medication costs, what clinical benefits it offers and how to weigh up the pros and cons.

Why price is the biggest barrier

Price is a greater concern than any other hesitation people have before starting self-medication. In our customer satisfaction survey, 40% of customers cited price as a barrier, more than ‘feeling nervous about starting online’ (36%) or concerns about safety (31%). Even after starting the programme, price remains a recurring topic: a small proportion of customers spontaneously mention costs as an area for improvement in open-ended responses.

Nevertheless, a large proportion of customers are so satisfied in hindsight that they would recommend Goodweigh to someone in a similar situation. The question, therefore, is not whether price plays a role – because it certainly does – but whether the investment is proportionate to what you get in return.

What is the cost of weight-loss medication and why

The cost structure of a medical weight-loss programme generally consists of three components: the medication itself, medical supervision and postage. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are patent-protected substances that are relatively expensive to produce, which is reflected in the price. In addition, you pay for ongoing monitoring by a healthcare professional, which is necessary to track dosage and side effects. An overview of the various weight-loss medicines shows that the active ingredient and route of administration differ for each medicine, which also influences the price.

In the Netherlands, these medicines are not reimbursed for weight management; reimbursement under basic health insurance applies only to type 2 diabetes in specific situations. An Irish study into a managed access programme for liraglutide illustrates how healthcare systems are grappling with the question of when and for whom GLP-1 medication should be reimbursed – a debate that is taking place in virtually every European country.

Alternative routes to weight loss also cost money and time. A programme with a dietitian often takes months or even years; a gym membership is an ongoing expense; and bariatric surgery is sometimes reimbursed but is more invasive and irreversible. None of these routes is free; the question in each case is what you get in return for your money.

What are the benefits: the clinical data

The clinical data forms the basis for weighing up cost against results. The STEP 1 study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that weekly semaglutide leads to an average weight loss of around 15 per cent of body weight over 68 weeks. The SURMOUNT-1 study, also published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that tirzepatide results in an average weight loss of 20.9% over 72 weeks.

By way of comparison, lifestyle intervention alone – such as dietary and exercise changes without medication – yields a more modest result on average in the long term. A comparative review in *Current Obesity Reports* shows that lifestyle interventions alone typically result in 5 to 10 per cent weight loss, compared with 15 per cent or more with pharmacological treatment. These are averages and individual results vary, but the difference in effect size is what you’re paying for.

What about people who choose based on price?

Customers who choose primarily on the basis of price are generally satisfied in retrospect, although our research shows that customers who chose a programme for its reliability or support are slightly more satisfied. That difference says a lot about managing expectations.

Anyone who knows in advance that a programme requires time, patience and support starts with realistic expectations that are subsequently confirmed. This does not mean that choosing based on price is the wrong choice; it mainly means that it is worthwhile to find out in advance exactly what the support entails. Anyone who looks into this via how the Goodweigh programme works starts with a more realistic picture of what lies ahead.

The illegal route: a real risk

Cheaper sounds appealing, but the illegal route to GLP-1 medication carries risks that are not worth the saving. Online, semaglutide and similar medicines are offered outside mainstream channels, without a prescription, without medical supervision and without any guarantee of authenticity or correct dosage.

Research published in the *Journal of Medical Internet Research* into semaglutide products sold online without a prescription revealed that the actual purity differed significantly from what was claimed: between 7.7% and 14.37% of the claimed active ingredient, compared with a claim of 99%. Endotoxins were also found in some products. Furthermore, without medical supervision, you run the risk of side effects not being detected in time.

The wider costs of being overweight

In addition to the cost of treatment, there is also the cost of not treating the condition. Being overweight is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, joint problems and mental health issues. A systematic review in the *International Journal of Obesity* shows that the economic costs of obesity, through healthcare costs and lost productivity, are rising sharply worldwide.

This is no cause for guilt, but it does provide a useful context when weighing up the options. According to the Pharmacotherapeutic Compass, medical supervision when taking weight-loss medication is particularly important because the effects and side effects vary from person to person, and that supervision is a factor in what value you get for your money.

How do you weigh up the options?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but asking yourself a few questions can help you make the right choice. How long have you been trying to lose weight using other methods, and what results have you achieved? What are the health risks associated with your current weight? What level of medical supervision do you want, and what is the cost to you of staying as you are?

Would you like to know what a Goodweigh programme involves and what’s involved? Take a look at the costs of the medical weight-loss programme or read more about the Goodweigh weight-loss programme. If you’re still unsure, start the intake process and find out, with no obligation, whether it suits your situation.