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MHRA approves Wegovy pill, UK’s first oral GLP-1: Over 55,000 people already on Simple Online Healthcare's waitlist
GLP-1 pills could bring more than 100,000 new patients into obesity treatment within months of launch
- More than 55,000 people have already registered interest in oral GLP-1 weight-loss treatments through Simple Online Healthcare
- 61% of non-GLP-1 users say they would prefer a daily pill to a weekly injection
- Simple Online Healthcare estimates oral GLP-1s could attract 120,000-130,000 UK patients within three months of launch, including around 100,000 people new to treatment
11.06.2026, Glasgow, Scotland. Ahead of today’s MHRA approval of the Wegovy pill, more than 55,000 people have already joined Simple Online Healthcare's waitlist for oral GLP-1 weight-loss treatments, underlining growing demand for what looks set to become the next major evolution of obesity care.
New research from Simple Online Healthcare suggests oral treatments will significantly expand access to obesity care:
- Nearly half of existing GLP-1 users prefer a pill format
- However, existing patients remain focused on effectiveness – 88% saying they would only switch if tablets deliver equal or higher results.
61% of people not currently using GLP-1 medications say they would prefer a daily pill
Drawing on patient research, UK prescribing trends and launch patterns observed in the United States, Simple Online Healthcare estimates oral GLP-1 treatments could reach 120,000-130,000 UK patients within the first three months of launch, with around 100,000 expected to be entirely new to obesity management medication. Looking further ahead, findings also indicate meaningful switching intent among existing patients, with up to 500,000 open to changing treatment if price and real-world outcomes meet expectations.
Abdal Alvi, Chief Clinical Officer at Simple Online Healthcare, said: "We welcome the MHRA’s approval of the Wegovy pill. For many people, a tablet may feel more familiar and less daunting than an injection, and oral GLP-1s have the potential to widen access to effective obesity treatment.
However, it is important that patients understand these are still powerful prescription medicines. They need to be used correctly, under appropriate clinical supervision, and alongside lifestyle change and ongoing support. While a tablet may appear simpler, patients should be aware that the tablets work under specific conditions - for example, taken fasted, with a specific amount of water and taken whole. Even small changes in how it is taken will considerably affect how well the medication works."
The full findings are published in The Promise of the Pill, Simple Online Healthcare's latest report examining public attitudes towards the future of GLP-1 treatment in the UK.
ENDS-
Notes to Editors
About Simple Online Healthcare: Originating in Scotland and independently funded to this day, Simple Online Healthcare (trading in the UK as Simple Online Pharmacy) is one of the fastest-expanding digital healthcare organisations in the UK. The business was built on the principles of community pharmacy, where its co-founders Addy Mohammed and Karim Nassar began their careers, with a clear purpose: to make high-quality healthcare accessible, safe, and patient-centred.
Since launching in the UK, Simple Online Healthcare has expanded to Australia and Germany, and in the past two years alone, the company has grown annual revenue from £20.6 million to £155m million while strengthening clinical capabilities and patient safeguards. Simple offers a range of digital-first healthcare services, with a particular focus on weight management and metabolic health, having supported more than 1 million patients to date. The company was the first online pharmacy in the UK to prescribe injectable weight-loss medication such as Saxenda and has since become a leader in GLP-1 treatments.
These services are designed as part of long-term health improvement pathways, combining prescription medication with structured support from a multi-disciplinary team. Patients benefit from screening, suitability checks, post-prescription monitoring, and ongoing guidance, ensuring that treatment is safe, personalised, and sustainable.
The business was recognised in 2024 and 2026 in the Financial Times’ FT1000 list of fastest growing companies in Europe, has been shortlisted for the 2026 Scotland Business of the Year in the medium-size business and fast growth categories, and was included in the 2026 Sunday Times 100 list of fastest-growing UK companies. Co-founder Addy Mohammed is also shortlisted for the 2026 EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards, reflecting his outstanding leadership and vision.
A selection of imagery is available here.
For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
New data: Weight-loss pill interest surges ahead of UK launch - but patients refuse to trade convenience for results
A new report from Simple Online Healthcare reveals strong appetite for oral GLP-1 treatments, but patients demand the same effectiveness, safety and clinical support as injections. 61% of UK adults not currently using GLP-1s say they would prefer a daily pill to a weekly injection, but around 88% of current patients say they would only switch if oral GLP-1s deliver the same or higher effectiveness as injections.
- Considering this research and patient attitudes, oral GLP-1s could reach 120,000–130,000 patients in the UK within three months of launch, including ~100,000 patients new to GLP-1s, with longer-term switching potential of up to 500,000 patients based on price and real-world outcomes.
- Men remain more open to tablet-based treatment after reviewing potential oral format trade-offs, with 31% still preferring a pill compared with 21% of women. 41% of current GLP-1 patients believe a pill format could reduce the stigma associated with treatment.
28.05.2026. Glasgow, Scotland. The prospect of a daily weight-loss pill is generating significant interest among UK adults as oral GLP-1 treatments move closer to the UK market, following promising new data presented at the European Congress on Obesity 2026 and recent launches in the United States. However, new research from Simple Online Healthcare suggests that while existing GLP-1 patients welcome greater choice, they are approaching oral GLP-1s with caution and high expectations.
In a new report, The Promise of the Pill, Simple Online Healthcare surveyed 3,488 existing GLP-1 patients alongside 2,000 UK adults not currently using GLP-1 medication to understand how people feel about the imminent arrival of tablet-based obesity treatments.
The findings reveal substantial early enthusiasm for a pill format, but also show that patients are outcome-focused above convenience, and unwilling to compromise on clinical effectiveness. When presented with real-world trade-offs, including side effects and weight loss efficacy, preference for tablets fell dramatically. However, drawing on US and UK market data alongside this research into UK patient and non-patient attitudes - including willingness to initiate treatment, switching propensity and price sensitivity - we estimate oral GLP-1 treatments could reach approximately 120,000–130,000 patients within the first three months of launch.
Around 100,000 of these are expected to be new to the category, driven by increased familiarity with oral formats and reduced perceived treatment friction. Looking further ahead, our findings also indicate meaningful switching potential among existing patients, with up to 500,000 expressing openness to changing treatment if price and real-world outcomes meet expectations.
Strong interest - but not at any cost
Before receiving any additional information about a pill format, 61% of UK adults who are not currently using GLP-1s said they would prefer a daily pill over a weekly injection, compared with just 9% who would choose an injectable option.
Among current patients, 49% initially said they preferred a pill, and nearly two-thirds (65%) said they would be likely to switch from injections if a tablet became available. However, that enthusiasm proved conditional.
When asked about efficacy expectations, 64% expect a GLP-1 pill to have similar levels of weight loss, approximately 20% of body weight. Indeed, 88% patients said they would only consider switching if oral GLP-1s were as effective or more effective as injections.
When respondents were presented with publicly available information about real-world trade-offs, including daily dosing requirements, potential side effects and uncertainty around comparative outcomes, preference for tablets fell sharply:
- Among non-users, pill preference dropped from 61% to 27%
- Among existing patients, pill preference fell from 49% to 23%
The findings suggest that oral GLP-1s are viewed not as the simpler alternative initially anticipated, but as another treatment option which must be evaluated per patient and must meet the same clinical standards as injections.
Abdal Alvi, Chief Clinical Officer at Simple Online Healthcare, “Oral GLP-1 medicines have the potential to widen access to obesity treatment by offering patients an alternative format which, for some people, may feel more familiar and easier to incorporate into everyday life. As the treatment landscape evolves, greater choice is likely to help more patients engage with evidence-based obesity care. However, these remain powerful prescription medicines which require ongoing clinical oversight, monitoring and support to help patients manage expectations, adherence and long-term health outcomes safely. We expect patient preference between injectable and oral GLP-1 treatments will ultimately depend on individual circumstances and priorities. Perceptions around effectiveness, tolerability, convenience and cost will all remain important factors in treatment decisions, alongside the quality of clinical support patients receive throughout their journey.”
Oral GLP-1s could lower practical and psychological barriers
The report also suggests that oral GLP-1s may help some patients feel more comfortable engaging with treatment. Around 41% of current patients believe a pill would attract less judgement than injections, compared with 12% of non-users. This is significant in a treatment category where stigma remains common: 66% of patients hide their treatment from some or all friends and family
- Nearly 80% say they have been accused of laziness
- 21% say stigma affected their decision to seek treatment
One of the more striking findings was a consistent gender divide in attitudes towards oral GLP-1s. Among both patients and non-patients, men were typically more open to the idea of switching from injections to tablets, both before and after respondents were presented with information about daily dosing requirements, side effects and potential trade-offs in effectiveness.
Among current GLP-1 users, 59% of men initially preferred a daily pill compared with 46% of women. After reviewing the trade-offs, 31% of men still preferred a pill versus 21% of women. Women also reported a greater number of concerns overall, particularly around the practicalities of daily dosing and maintaining a strict routine.
Report availability
The Promise of the Pill is the second report in Simple Online Healthcare’s ongoing research programme examining public attitudes to GLP-1 treatment in the UK. It explores familiarity, consideration and perceptions of oral GLP-1s, including expected effectiveness, side effects, and cost, and following the recent publication of Simple Online Healthcare’s Stigma Study 2026: Breaking the Silence.
ENDS-
Notes to Editors
About Simple Online Healthcare:
Originating in Scotland and independently funded to this day, Simple Online Healthcare (trading in the UK as Simple Online Pharmacy) is one of the fastest-expanding digital healthcare organisations in the UK. The business was built on the principles of community pharmacy, where its co-founders Addy Mohammed and Karim Nassar began their careers, with a clear purpose: to make high-quality healthcare accessible, safe, and patient-centred.
Since launching in the UK, Simple Online Healthcare has expanded to Australia, Germany and Denmark, and in the past two years alone, the company has grown annual revenue from £20.6 million to £155m million while strengthening clinical capabilities and patient safeguards. Simple offers a range of digital-first healthcare services, with a particular focus on weight management and metabolic health, having supported more than 340,000 patients to date.
The company was the first online pharmacy in the UK to prescribe injectable weight-loss medication such as Saxenda and has since become a leader in GLP-1 treatments. These services are designed as part of long-term health improvement pathways, combining prescription medication with structured support from a multi-disciplinary team. Patients benefit from screening, suitability checks, post-prescription monitoring, and ongoing guidance, ensuring that treatment is safe, personalised, and sustainable.
The business was recognised in 2024 and 2026 in the Financial Times’ FT1000 list of fastest growing companies in Europe, has been shortlisted for the 2026 Scotland Business of the Year in the medium-size business and fast growth categories. Co-founder Addy Mohammed is also shortlisted for the 2026 EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards, reflecting his outstanding leadership and vision.
About the survey: Conducted by Simple Online Healthcare in April 2026
- Nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK adults not currently using GLP-1 medications
- Survey of 3,488 current GLP-1 patients from Simple Online Healthcare’s patient database
- Respondents were questioned before and after being shown publicly available information about oral GLP-1 treatment requirements and trade-offs
- Oral GLP-1 treatments have launched in the United States and are widely expected to reach the UK market following regulatory approvals
- A selection of imagery and associated charts/graphics can be found here.
For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
Article 24/6/2025 - Simple Online Healthcare launches in Denmark as revenue triples
Via Businesswire
- Glasgow-headquartered scaleup Simple Online is one of the UK’s fastest-growing healthcare groups, offering scalable, regulated digital clinics across the UK, Germany, and Australia
- Addy Mohammed-led Simple Online Healthcare triples annual revenue to £66m and marked its 10-year anniversary in April with record monthly revenue of £10m
GLASGOW, Scotland - Simple Online Healthcare has launched in Denmark after tripling its revenue. Headquartered in Glasgow, Simple Online is one of the UK’s fastest-growing healthcare groups, offering scalable, regulated digital clinics across the UK, Germany, and Australia. In the UK, it operates as Simple Online Pharmacy.
Led by CEO and Co-founder Addy Mohammed, Simple Online Healthcare reported revenue of £66 million in the year to 28th February 2025 [2024: £20.6m], and marked its 10-year anniversary in April with record monthly revenue of £10 million.
Addy Mohammed said: “We’re proud of how far we’ve come in our first ten years, and we think it’s notable that we’ve remained fully self-funded during that time. Denmark represents our third international market, and we are planning further expansion over the next twelve months.”
CFO Michael Hope said: “We’ve scaled rapidly in recent years, investing across geography, supply chain, technology, and talent. Financial discipline and patient retention are underpinning our growth, allowing us to invest in new markets and our digital platform, creating an improved patient experience, differentiation, and operational efficiencies.”
Addy Mohammed co-founded Simple Online Healthcare alongside university friend Karim Nassar, who is Simple Online's Chief Growth Officer, in 2015, building on their experience of owning and operating community pharmacies across Scotland to offer consumers a convenient patient-first pharmacy service with medications delivered direct to their door. The company has a headcount of 130, and plans to make additional hires this year.
Simple Online was one of the first providers of weight loss medications in the UK. The business has invested significantly in its weight management programme and is one of the leading providers of GLP-1 medications Wegovy and Mounjaro, which are prescribed alongside comprehensive holistic weight management support.
“We know global healthcare systems are struggling,” says Mohammed, “with the top issues being long waiting times, insufficient staff, and cost of treatments. We are using technology to give patients quick and discrete access to the care they need, at a much lower cost than traditional healthcare models. Combining technology with a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals, we can provide the personalised level of care you’d receive in a community pharmacy.”
Simple Online has invested over £2 million into technology and systems during 2025, with Mohammed commenting: “Digital healthcare is evolving rapidly, and we’re continuing to invest in technology to enhance the patient journey and deliver best-in-class care.”
“Our vision is to make healthcare affordable and accessible,” says Mohammed. “We support our patients with the personalised tools and knowledge to make long-term lifestyle changes.”
The global online pharmacy market is valued at almost £100 billion in 2025, and is forecast to grow to around £400 billion by 2033.
Simple Online’s board includes former Skyscanner CFO Shane Corstorphine, and the company is set to further strengthen its executive leadership team this year.
Demand For GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications rises 400% overnight following Cardiovascular Study Results
Simple Online Pharmacy, one of the UK’s leading providers of weight care medications have seen demand for GLP-1 medications Wegovy and Mounjaro jump almost 400% overnight, following a new medical study highlighting that such medications can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The online healthcare provider, recently named as one of Europe’s fastest growing companies by the FT 1000 has the capability to scale as per demand, having a large pool of expert clinicians to draw on, and brought in four times the normal level of clinical staff to meet the demand.
As one of the largest and most experienced online providers of weight care and weight care medications, Simple Online Pharmacy puts a huge emphasis on monitoring patient experience and gathering patient insights. Interestingly 2024 has seen a significant shift in male demand for weight care medications, with nearly double the proportion of men starting GLP-1 treatment Jan - May 2024 compared to the same time period last year. This trend has continued following the cardiovascular focussed medical study, with the proportion of men wishing to start treatment using GLP-1s increasing by 50% overnight. Given that one in eight men and one in 14 women die from coronary heart disease, this trend could well continue, and suggests that the health benefits highlighted by the recent medical study will significantly expand the demographics that wish to use GLP-1 treatment.
The BHF also states that CHD kills more than twice as many women in the UK as breast cancer and around 26,000 people under the age of 75 die from CHD in the UK each year.*
Rebecca Moore, COO at Simple Online Healthcare explains; "We have already witnessed huge demand for these revolutionary GLP-1s for the treatment of obesity and our patients have widely reported that they have experienced many additional health benefits. This study highlights that we are only just beginning to understand the impact that this medication could have and it is particularly interesting that it may also shift the demographic for those seeking treatment”
Find out more via https://www.simpleonlinepharmacy.co.uk/
-ends-
Notes To Editors
Mounjaro Images here - please credit; https://www.simpleonlinepharmacy.co.uk/
Wegovy Image here -- please credit; https://www.simpleonlinepharmacy.co.uk/
*British Heart Foundation UK Cardiovascular Disease Factsheet

Simple Online Pharmacy is firmly established as one of the World’s leading online providers of weight loss medication, having diagnosed, prescribed & dispensed anti-obesity medication to 120k patients in the UK since 2015; more than any other online provider and with established operations in Germany and Australia making them one of only a handful of international players. With over a quarter of adults in England clinically obese, and even higher rates in Scotland at 30%, and over 1m hospital admissions in 2020 where obesity was a factor, national obesity levels are already having a significant impact on the health of our nation. Obesity levels are predicted to rise to 40% of the population by 2040; it is also predicted that 42 million, or 71% of the population will be overweight or obese by this date.

For Further Information:
[email protected]
Press Release 9/5/2023 - Digital Healthcare Pioneer and One of the UK’s Leading Providers of Weight Loss Medication, Simple Online Pharmacy, Reports Another Year of Strong Growth
Simple Online Healthcare Group, which trades as Simple Online Pharmacy in the UK, released annual results today augmenting its position at the forefront of the UK’s emerging digital healthcare market. The online pharmacy specialist, which has not received any external funding or debt to date reported, revenues of over £24 million to 28th February 2023, delivering annual revenue growth of 55%.
With 1 billion health related searches happening every day on google and 35% of global internet users saying that they research health issues and healthcare products on the web (DataReportal), the digital health market is predicted to grow to $657 bn by 2025, up from $175 bn in 2019 (Statista). Digital Pharmacy is one of the largest growth areas, estimated at £79bn global market value in 2022 (GMI).
Founded in 2015 by local community pharmacists Addy Mohammed and Karim Nassar, having identified a need in the market for a patient-first, online healthcare service delivering medications direct to consumers quickly and conveniently. Simple Online Pharmacy provides a digital doctor service, an online pharmacy shop, and a free delivery service for NHS England patients who require their medications to be organised into medication pouches. These pouches, known as compliance aids, assist with medication adherence and minimise dosing errors.
As a pioneer in digital healthcare, Simple Online Pharmacy has combined pharmacist expertise, community pharmacy insight and innovative pouch robotic technology and is rated as “excellent” on Trustpilot.
With NHS primary care services under unrelenting pressure, Simple Online Pharmacy’s affordable and convenient private online doctor service is increasingly being used by patients to get fast and effective treatment for low risk ailments that they would previously have had to see their GP to obtain medication for. Many patients prefer to pay a little more for medication (the pricing includes review by a UK registered prescriber) rather than waiting days or even weeks for a GP appointment, during which time their condition may have worsened, as these quotes from patients leaving Trustpilot reviews for Simple Online Pharmacy show:
“I would have had to wait in the GP surgery to be seen (often over 20 mins as they are very busy). Just for them to spend a few minutes repeating the prescription. Everything arrived by post in the time it would have taken me to even get an appointment so now that appointment can go to someone who needs it more. “
“Will be definitely using again as I have no time to sit hours and hours on the phone, day after day, to get a GP appointment when I know exactly what I need”
“The cost over an NHS prescription EASILY recouped in terms of time trying to get an appointment, worsening of condition in the meantime, travel to surgery, waiting time there and waiting time at the pharmacy after”
In addition, with NHS cutbacks, some specific brands or types of medication can be obtained privately that are no longer available on the NHS: “I get a regular prescription online that isn’t funded by my GP anymore. I find repeat ordering simple and quick. Great service and quick delivery.”
Online dispensing and pharmacy services are particularly popular with treatments for common lifestyle conditions such as hair loss, erectile dysfunction, acne, and menopause, are instances where patients appreciate the discrete and convenient prescribing and delivery of their medications.
Simple Online Pharmacy is now firmly established as one of the UK’s leading online providers of weight loss medication, having diagnosed, prescribed & dispensed anti-obesity medication to 118k patients since 2015; more than any other online provider. With over a quarter of adults in England clinically obese, and even higher rates in Scotland at 30%, and over 1m hospital admissions in 2020 where obesity was a factor, national obesity levels are already having a significant impact on the health of our nation. Obesity levels are predicted to rise to 40% of the population by 2040; it is also predicted that 42 million, or 71% of the population will be overweight or obese by this date. Weight management is a key investment area for Simple Online Pharmacy, and their new comprehensive weight loss service ‘renu’ is launching later this month.
Renu builds on the existing weight care offering by delivering safe and effective new generation anti-obesity medication (including; Orlistat oral capsules and Saxenda and the soon to be launched Wegovy injectables) alongside clinician and dietician-led personalised health coaching and 24 hour expert support.
Simple Online Pharmacy also specialises in modular medication devices (known as compliance aids) that assist patients on a high number of medications through having their medication doses packaged into pouches for specific times through the day. There is no additional reimbursement from the NHS for re-packaging medication into these compliance aids (unlike many European countries where this service is specifically funded), therefore many community pharmacies are unable to fund making them at a local level. This is making it increasingly difficult for patients and their carers to get hold of these critical compliance aids. Without them, there is a higher risk of patients not adhering to critical medication, or taking medication incorrectly. With the advent of highly efficient robotics, running a centralised hub service where all patients’ medication is managed and re-packaged into innovative pouch compliance aid packaging, this invaluable service for NHS patients can be provided at a very low cost which is absorbed by Simple Online Pharmacy.
Co-Founder Addy Mohammed, explains; “You can see from our results and the reviews our patients are leaving us, that we are running an increasingly invaluable service providing an affordable alternative to the NHS for low risk medications in our Online Doctor Service, and ensuring that patients continue to have access to the critical compliance aid service. Knowing that we are helping ease pressure on the NHS and local pharmacies gives us great satisfaction and we are committed to working alongside other healthcare professionals to deliver a health service that meets all the needs of the modern patient.”
“Pharmacy is still very much going through its online revolution and we are incredibly proud of being one of the major pioneers in this industry. Both Karim and myself have our roots in community pharmacy, and through engaging with thousands of patients over the years we believe we have a unique insight into the challenges and problems that need to be solved for our online customers. Taking a patient-first approach and focussing on providing a discrete, affordable, convenient and high quality service frequently brings us reviews and feedback from customers that blow us away, and is echoed in our business results.”
The last couple of years have seen a period of significant investment in the business. In September 2021 former Skyscanner executives Shane Corstorphine and Jules Pancholi were appointed as Non-executive Directors and Rebecca Moore joined as COO in October 2022. The Simple Online Healthcare business has also expanded into other territories, notably acquiring Australian online doctor service Simple Online Doctor in 2020 and expanding into Europe in 2022 with the acquisition of the Kapsel and Dr Felix brands. The business is planning further international expansion this year.
As of 1st May 2023, Simple Online Pharmacy has served almost 500,000 patients in the UK alone.
The business remains privately owned and is fully self funded. Staff are set to share in the businesses success following the introduction of a staff share ownership scheme for all employees.
Simple Online Pharmacy - Patient Survey Results into the Impact of Weight Loss Medications
Embargoed until 00.01am Thursday 23rd November 2023
- Simple Online Pharmacy helped patients lose 113 metric tonnes of weight
- saving the NHS nearly £7 million annually
- Or nearly £35 million (including weight loss medication costs)
- 27% of patients chose to go private because the NHS process was too difficult/too long
- 3 out of 4 are more committed to making lifestyle changes when paying for weight care medication themselves
- Over 50% of patients anticipate staying on weight loss medication for 1-2 years, while 18% anticipate staying on it for 10 years or more.
- 97% saw an improvement in at least one aspect of their health with weight loss
- 1 in 5 patients required less medication for other health conditions
- 1 in 2 patients noted a change in attitudes from others, following weight loss
- 81% reported their overall mental wellbeing had improved since losing weight
Simple Online Pharmacy has today released a first of its kind, fully comprehensive patient survey into the impact of using weight loss medications. Alongside findings on patient health and lifestyle impact, the company announced that it has helped patients lose 113 metric tonnes of weight through the prescribing of weight care medications. This weight loss, if maintained, saves the NHS £6,893,221 annually in reduced healthcare costs together with a further NHS cost-avoidance of £28m attributed to weight care medication costs privately funded by patients.*(based on external study calculations)

The wide ranging and extensive survey conducted in October 2023 was distributed to over 25,000 patients who have experienced a significant reduction in BMI through taking weightcare medication. Over 400 individuals took part and findings were split into five sections, and alongside the key insights listed above, in-depth full results are available on each link below.

NHS versus Private
27% of respondents (in the BMI 35+ category) opted to pay privately having found the NHS process simply too difficult (even though their BMI level indicates they could qualify for NHS treatment) while 28% of respondents didn’t know they could get weight loss medications via the NHS. Paying privately can be a benefit as 75% of patients felt that paying for weight loss medication made them more likely to stick to long-term lifestyle changes.
Weight Management Options Considered and Tried by Patients
Weight loss medication is not the first method tried by this patient group - in line with NHS guidance the majority of respondents have previously tried; calorie restriction (75%), exercise (69%) and weight loss groups (62%).The NHS website for treatment of obesity suggests “The best way to treat obesity is to eat a healthy reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly”. It also states “You may benefit from joining a local weight management programme with group meetings or online support. (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/). However this survey data suggests that for the vast majority of our patients living with obesity, these methods do not work. The majority of patients have been living with obesity for over 5 years, and have unsuccessfully tried all of the regularly suggested methods of weight loss.
Interestingly, many patients had considered more extreme, surgical methods to lose weight - in the higher BMI categories of 35 and above, 25% had considered bariatric surgery through the NHS.
At Simple Online Pharmacy we support our patients to build healthy life-long habits into their lifestyle through our holistic app renu. When asked which factors influence the food that they bought, price, at 38%, was selected as the most important factor, and an even greater proportion selected price in the higher in the 40+ BMI category: a staggering 47%
Physical and Mental Health Impact
97% felt that they had noticed at least one area of their health improve with weight loss, increased mobility and improved energy levels often being cited. Patients with a BMI of 35 and above selected mobility as the biggest improvement area, with 63% in the BMI 40+ category selecting this. 1 in 4 patients agreed they needed less medication for other conditions as a result of their weight loss.
Attitudes / Weight Stigma
A substantial number (81%) of patients reported that their mood, confidence levels and emotional wellbeing had improved since losing weight. 71% noticed that their self-esteem had improved, and more than 2/3rds of patients felt they had a more positive body image after losing weight.
54% of patients surveyed stated that attitudes towards them had changed since they lost weight, with 49% of those describing reduced weight related stigma, bias or discrimination.
People felt that, once they had lost weight, they were seen as more capable, competent and taken more seriously. Some felt more included, and for some they received less negative comments and felt people were less judgmental of them. Almost a sixth of people surveyed felt that people were nicer to them; more positive, friendly and respectful. The comments shared by patients of the differences they had observed were stark and shocking; here are a selection of respondents comments;
“I think people respect thin people more. Its an unconscious bias but it’s definitely there”
“At meetings I have found more attention being paid to my input”
“I work as a physio in the NHS. Now I look like I can follow the health advice I provide and am perceived fitter and I feel taken more seriously professionally as a result”
“I feel that as a larger person, people treat you differently in a negative way. Like I am stupid, useless. As I was losing weight people start talking to me and acknowledging me.”
Creating and Sustaining Healthy Habits
87% agreed that using weight loss medication as part of their weight loss journey made them “more aware of what they are eating”. Furthermore 84% had sustained an improvement in physical activity levels. These answers suggest people find it easier to create healthy habits with the support of a medication.
When asked about healthy eating, 65% of people surveyed felt that the rising costs of food made it harder to eat healthier. 68% stated that more affordable healthy food options would make the biggest difference to them, followed by 65% selecting ‘discounts on healthy food”. On the flip side 37% felt that “Buy One, Get One Free” offers on unhealthy foods influenced their decisions to buy; suggesting that it may be more important to make healthy food affordable, rather than banning the promotion of unhealthy food.
Sleep also plays a pivotal role in forming healthy habits; when asked what factors made it difficult to buy healthy food, the most selected reason (40%) was simply being tired; more than 50% of patients also reported that improved sleep was the most significant lifestyle improvement they noted from losing weight.
Simple Online Pharmacy was one of the first UK prescribers of weight loss medications, and is one of the biggest private prescribers of weight loss medications in the UK. To date, they have diagnosed, prescribed and dispensed anti-obesity medications to over 120,000 UK patients.
Rebecca Moore - COO and Podcast co-host, Simple Online Pharmacy "As one of the UK's leading private weightcare medication prescribers we see it as our responsibility to constantly improve the help and support we give to our patients, and to elevate the understanding of the impact of these medications for all healthcare professionals and the public, more broadly. This deep dive survey gives us extensive, real world insight into weight loss experiences, covering everything from accessing support, to the unexpected lifestyle impacts of using these medications, to the weight related stigma people living with obesity can regularly face.”
Simple Online Pharmacy is committed to offering the most effective weight management solution and continue to invest in this; from the introduction of holistic weight management app renu earlier this year, to the soon to be launched renu Podcast featuring eminent guests such as Dr Stuart Flint, Associate Professor of the Psychology of Obesity at the University of Leeds, and co-hosted by Sarah Le Brocq, Founder of All About Obesity.

Notes To Editors
It should be noted that this survey does not meet the conditions for a medical study. Whilst the overall responses have been reviewed by our clinical team, we cannot validate that each individual response that a patient submitted was correct and accurate. This survey is therefore purely a representation of patient opinion and observations on their own health.
- Link to survey including methodology and key insights
- Infographic of key insights
- Links to in depth findings:
- NHS vs Private Weight Loss
- Why Patients Chose Weight Care Medications & Other Methods They Have Tried
- Creating and Sustaining Healthy Habits
- Physical Health and Mental Health Impact
- Changes in Attitude Towards Self and From Others Resulting from Change in Weight
- Quotes cannot be attributed to individuals - only to Simple Online Pharmacy patients, as the survey is anonymous
- Press pack images and infographics here