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

Short answer: Weight-loss medication costs money, but in clinical trials it leads to an average weight loss of 15 to 21 per cent, which is significantly more than can be achieved through lifestyle changes alone. Whether the cost is worth the investment depends on your health risks and the level of support you are seeking in connection with the treatment.

The cost of weight-loss medication is the barrier most frequently cited by people considering starting treatment. In our customer satisfaction survey, 40 per cent of customers cited price as a barrier before they started, which was more than any other factor. This is understandable: weight-loss medication is a significant expense, and people want to know whether it’s worth it. In this article, we take an honest look at what weight-loss medication costs, what clinical results it delivers, and how to weigh up the pros and cons.

Why price is the biggest barrier

Price outweighs all other concerns before people start taking weight-loss medication. In our customer satisfaction survey, 40 per cent of customers cited price as a barrier, which was more than those who said it was ‘exciting to start online’ (36 per cent) or had safety concerns (31 per cent). Even after people have started, price remains a recurring topic: a small proportion of customers spontaneously mention costs as something that could be improved in their 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 matters – because it does – but whether the investment is proportionate to what one gets in return.

How much do weight-loss medicines cost, and why?

The cost structure of a medical weight-loss programme usually consists of three parts: the medicine itself, medical supervision and delivery. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are patented substances that are relatively expensive to manufacture, which affects the price. In addition, you pay for ongoing monitoring by a healthcare professional, which is necessary to monitor dosage and side effects. An overview of the various weight-loss medicines shows that the active ingredient and route of administration vary between medicines, which also affects the price.

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

Alternative approaches to weight loss also cost money and time. Treatment with a dietitian often lasts for months or even years; a gym membership is a recurring cost; and bariatric surgery is sometimes reimbursed but is more invasive and irreversible. None of these approaches is free; the question is always what value for money they offer.

What are the benefits: the clinical data

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

So what about those who choose based on price?

Customers who choose primarily on the basis of price are generally satisfied in retrospect, although our survey shows that customers who chose on the basis of reliability or support are slightly more satisfied. This difference says something, above all, about managing expectations.

Those who know in advance that a treatment process requires time, patience and support start with realistic expectations that are later confirmed. This does not mean that it is wrong to choose based on price, but rather that it is particularly valuable to familiarise oneself in advance with what the support entails. Anyone who familiarises themselves with this via how the Goodweigh process works starts with a more realistic picture of what lies ahead.

The illegal route: a real risk

Cheaper may sound tempting, but the illegal route to GLP-1 medicines carries risks that are not worth the saving. Semaglutide and similar medicines are offered online outside the regular channels, without a prescription, without medical supervision and without any guarantee of authenticity or correct dosage.

A study in the *Journal of Medical Internet Research* of semaglutide products sold online without a prescription showed that the actual purity deviated significantly from what was stated: between 7.7% and 14.37% of the stated active ingredient, compared with a claimed 99%. Endotoxins were also found in some products. Without medical supervision, you also 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. Obesity 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 productivity losses, are rising sharply worldwide.

This is no cause for guilt, but it provides a useful context when weighing up the pros and cons. According to Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas, medical guidance on weight-loss medication is particularly important because efficacy and side effects vary from person to person, and that guidance affects value for money.

How do you weigh up the options?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but a number of questions can help you make a decision. How long have you been trying to lose weight using other methods, and what results have you achieved? What health risks are associated with your current weight? What level of medical guidance would you like in this context, and what does it cost you to stay as you are?

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