UK weight loss medicine prices
The number
The UK reference intake for protein is 0.75g per kg of body weight a day for an adult who is not losing weight. That is a floor, not a target. When you are losing weight fast, your body breaks down muscle as well as fat, and more protein slows that down. Reviews of weight loss trials put the useful range at 1.2 to 1.6g per kg a day, with the higher end for people doing resistance exercise. The British Dietetic Association protein sheet gives the background on sources and the reference intake.
| Your weight | 1.2g per kg | 1.6g per kg | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70kg | 84g | 112g | Three palm-sized portions plus a snack |
| 85kg | 102g | 136g | Four portions plus a snack |
| 100kg | 120g | 160g | Four to five portions plus a snack |
| 120kg | 144g | 192g | Use 1.2g per kg of your goal weight instead |
Why it matters more on the medicine
Body composition data from the semaglutide trial showed about 40% of the weight lost was lean mass. For tirzepatide it was about 25%. Lean mass includes water, but muscle is a chunk of it. Protein and resistance exercise are the two things shown to shift that ratio towards fat. The strength guide covers the exercise half.
Protein also keeps you fuller than carbohydrate or fat for the same calories, steadies blood sugar, and feeds hair, skin and nails. Our hair loss guide explains why low protein shows up on your pillow three months later.
Protein first
The single most useful habit on these medicines: eat the protein on your plate before anything else. If you only manage half the meal, the half you ate was the half that matters. Build each meal around one protein source, add vegetables, and let the carbohydrate be the thing you leave.
What 100g of protein looks like
| Food | Portion | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Greek yoghurt, 0% fat | 170g pot | 17g |
| Eggs | 2 large | 13g |
| Chicken breast | 120g cooked | 37g |
| Tinned tuna | 1 small tin, 100g drained | 25g |
| Cottage cheese | 150g | 17g |
| Lentils, cooked | 150g | 13g |
| Tofu, firm | 150g | 18g |
| Skimmed milk | 300ml | 10g |
| Protein shake | 1 scoop in water | 20 to 25g |
| Edamame beans | 100g | 11g |
A day that hits 100g on a small appetite
- Breakfast: 170g Greek yoghurt with a few berries. 17g.
- Mid-morning: a boiled egg. 6g.
- Lunch: tinned tuna with a little mayonnaise and cucumber, no bread if you cannot face it. 25g.
- Afternoon: a glass of milk or a small protein shake. 10 to 25g.
- Dinner: 120g chicken or 150g tofu with vegetables. 20 to 37g.
- Evening: cottage cheese on two crackers. 10g.
None of those is a big meal. That is the point. Six small protein hits suit a stomach that empties slowly far better than two large meals.
Shakes and bars
A shake is a tool, not a meal plan. On a day when solid food will not go down, a scoop of whey or pea protein in water or milk gets 20g in with no chewing. Pick one with under 5g of sugar a serving. Bars are convenient but many carry 20g of sugar and little protein, so read the label.
Kidneys and other worries
High protein does not harm healthy kidneys. If you already have kidney disease, ask your GP or a renal dietitian before raising protein. Constipation often gets worse when protein goes up and fibre and fluid do not, so read the fibre guide alongside this one.
Paying for your own medicine? The lowest first-order prices today, with delivery included: Mounjaro from £88.00, Wegovy from £44.00, Wegovy pill from £53.00, Foundayo from £46.00.
Compare every price Discount codesSources
- Protein: food fact sheet (British Dietetic Association)
- Protein requirements during weight loss (review) (Leidy et al, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2015)
- Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1) (Wilding et al, New England Journal of Medicine, 2021)
- Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1) (Jastreboff et al, New England Journal of Medicine, 2022)
- Composition of foods integrated dataset (McCance and Widdowson) (Public Health England)