Jump to: Quick comparison | How each service works | Clinical evidence | Support and coaching | Medication options | Pricing | Who should choose each | Frequently asked questions | Take home message
SheMed is a women-focused prescription service that pairs GLP-1 medication with blood testing and app-based check-ins.
Second Nature is a dietitian-led weight management programme that combines medication with structured behaviour change support.
The biggest difference between the two is the type of programme that’s provided alongside the medication, and how you’re supported during treatment.
SheMed’s model centres on clinical oversight, with blood tests at baseline and periodic intervals, weekly app check-ins, and a side-effect care package.
Second Nature pairs medication with registered dietitian coaching, a behavioural programme based on the COM-B model, peer support groups, and a structured plan for maintaining weight loss after medication.
Second Nature has been commissioned by the NHS since 2017 and has published 12-month outcomes in a peer-reviewed journal.1 SheMed has a clinical trial in progress but has not yet published programme-specific outcomes data.
SheMed has a 4.3/5 Trustpilot rating from over 5,300 reviews. Second Nature has a 4.5/5 rating from over 7,800 reviews spanning eight years of operation.
This guide was written by Second Nature, so it naturally reflects our perspective. We’ve aimed to present SheMed’s offering as fairly and accurately as possible.
SheMed also has a male-focused sister brand, HeMed (hemed.com), which offers a similar programme for men.
Important safety information: Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are prescription-only medications for managing obesity and overweight with weight-related conditions. This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new medication or weight-loss programme.
SheMed vs Second Nature: quick comparison
| Feature |
Second Nature |
SheMed |
| Service type |
Structured weight management programme with medication |
Women-focused prescription service with clinical monitoring |
| NHS partnership |
✓ Commissioned across 43 ICBs and Health Boards since 2017 |
✗ Private service only |
| Published clinical evidence |
✓ Peer-reviewed research in JMIR and BMJ1,2 |
✗ No published programme-specific outcomes |
| Primary support model |
Registered dietitians and nutritionists (HCPC/AfN), 5 days/week via in-app messaging |
Clinical team (nurses and doctors); app-based check-ins and clinician-written content |
| Behaviour change programme |
✓ COM-B model, 4-phase structured programme with daily content |
✗ No structured behaviour change programme (weekly check-ins and educational content in app) |
| Peer support |
✓ Small in-app peer support groups |
✗ No peer support groups |
| Health screening |
Health questionnaire and prescriber review |
At-home blood test at baseline, 6, and 12 months |
| Medication options |
Mounjaro, Wegovy (including 7.2 mg) |
Mounjaro, Wegovy (including 7.2 mg) |
| Starting price |
From £149/month (Wegovy, all-inclusive) |
From £69/month (Wegovy, introductory) |
| Pharmacy partner |
GPhC-registered (Blueco Healthcare) |
GPhC-registered (eMed Healthcare UK) |
| CQC registration |
Yes |
Yes (via eMed) |
| Trustpilot rating |
4.5/5 from 7,800+ reviews |
4.3/5 from 5,300+ reviews |
How each service works
SheMed: women-focused prescription service
SheMed is a UK-based online platform marketed primarily at women, though its support page states the programme is open to all genders. Their sister brand, HeMed, offers a similar programme for men.
The process starts with a two-minute online quiz covering BMI and health conditions.
If you’re potentially eligible, SheMed sends an at-home blood test kit. The blood test measures markers including cholesterol, liver function, thyroid activity, and diabetes risk.
Once your results are reviewed by a clinician, your medication is prescribed and delivered, along with a side-effect care package containing sharps bins, needles, and over-the-counter medicines for common side effects.
SheMed’s clinical team is led by Nurse Rachael Joy (BSc Hons, NIP, ACP) and Dr Matthew Noble.
Prescribing and clinical services are provided through eMed, a CQC-registered provider with a GPhC-registered pharmacy partner.
After starting, you complete weekly check-ins through the SheMed app, covering weight, mood, and symptoms.
The app also provides clinician-written content on diet, exercise, and women’s health. Additional blood tests are included at 6 and 12 months.
Second Nature: programme provider with medication
Second Nature pairs medication with a structured behaviour change programme. You’re assigned a registered dietitian or nutritionist available five days a week through in-app messaging and placed in a small peer support group.
The programme runs across four phases using the COM-B behaviour change model, covering nutrition (using a balanced plate model rather than calorie counting), physical activity, sleep, and the psychological aspects of eating behaviour. Daily educational content is delivered through the app.1
Everything is bundled into a single monthly fee: medication, delivery, coaching, app access, and peer support.
Clinical evidence
Second Nature
Second Nature has published programme-specific outcomes in peer-reviewed journals. Our 2025 study in JMIR Formative Research found1:
- 19.1% average weight loss at 12 months for active subscribers (around 20 kg)
- 77.7% achieved at least 10% weight loss
- 61.5% achieved at least 15% weight loss
- 69% reported no side effects by month 12
These are completer results, not intent-to-treat. An NHS evaluation in the BMJ also found Second Nature achieved substantially higher weight loss than four other providers in the National Diabetes Prevention Programme.2
SheMed
SheMed has not published programme-specific weight-loss outcomes in a peer-reviewed journal.
Their website references clinical trial data from the manufacturers of Wegovy and Mounjaro, including the STEP UP trial for Wegovy 7.2 mg and the SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial.
These are important studies, but they reflect the medication’s efficacy in controlled trial settings, not SheMed’s specific programme outcomes.
SheMed has stated on its website that it’s conducting a clinical study, which is a positive step. As a growing service, this is not unusual. It does mean there’s no independently published data on how SheMed’s specific model compares to medication alone.
Support and coaching
This is the most significant difference between the two services.
Second Nature
Day-to-day support is provided by HCPC- or AfN-registered dietitians and nutritionists, available five days a week via in-app messaging. Coaches receive specific training in GLP-1 side-effect management. You’re placed in a small peer support group within the app.1
The programme delivers daily educational content covering nutrition, medication management, physical activity, sleep, and the psychological aspects of eating, including resources for emotional eating and stress.
The programme also includes structured guidance for maintaining weight loss if you decide to taper or stop medication. This matters because a 2022 study found that roughly two-thirds of people regain weight within a year of stopping semaglutide without structured support.3
SheMed
SheMed’s support centres on clinical monitoring rather than behavioural coaching. After starting, you log into the SheMed app for weekly check-ins covering weight, mood, and symptoms.
The app provides clinician-written content on diet, exercise, and women’s health, but it does not include peer support groups or one-to-one coaching from a dietitian.
The blood testing is a genuine differentiator. Knowing your baseline cholesterol, liver function, and blood glucose levels can be clinically valuable, and tracking how these markers change over 12 months can provide useful data for both you and your clinician.
This is something most private weight-loss providers, including Second Nature, do not currently include as standard.
However, blood testing alone doesn’t address the behavioural side of weight management. Knowing your cholesterol level is useful; having a dietitian help you change the eating patterns that affect it is a different kind of support.
SheMed’s model is closer to a supervised prescription service (like ZAVA or Simple Online Pharmacy) than to programme providers like Second Nature, Voy, or Habitual.
Medication options
Both providers prescribe Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide), the two most effective GLP-1 weight-loss medications currently available in the UK.
Both offer Wegovy 7.2 mg, the higher dose approved by the MHRA in January 2026.4 The STEP UP trial published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology found that this dose achieved an average weight loss of 20.7% at 72 weeks among adherent participants, with 33.2% losing at least 25% of their body weight.5
Neither service allows you to request a specific dose. Both follow clinical guidelines for gradual titration, starting at a lower dose and increasing based on your response and tolerance.
SheMed allows switching between Mounjaro and Wegovy mid-programme if you and your clinician agree it’s appropriate.
Pricing
Pricing changes frequently in this market, so check each provider’s website for the most current figures.
SheMed
SheMed advertises Wegovy pricing from £69 for the first month (introductory offer), with ongoing costs varying by dose. Mounjaro is available at a higher price point.
The price includes medication, the app, weekly check-ins, clinical oversight, and the side-effect starter kit. Blood tests are included at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.
SheMed also offers a 3-month commitment plan and a maintenance programme for lower doses.
Second Nature
Second Nature charges an all-inclusive monthly fee covering medication, delivery, dietitian coaching, app access, and peer support:
- Wegovy programme: £99–£249 per month depending on dose
- Mounjaro programme: pricing available on the Second Nature website
- Non-medication programme: from £33/month
SheMed’s starting price is lower, which reflects the difference in what’s included. SheMed provides a prescription with clinical monitoring and blood testing. Second Nature’s price includes the prescription plus dietitian coaching, a structured programme, peer support groups, and daily app content.
Who should choose each?
SheMed may suit you if:
- You want blood testing included to track health markers over time
- You prefer a women-focused service with female-specific health content
- You’re comfortable managing your own nutrition and habits and mainly need medication with clinical monitoring
- You’re looking for a lower-cost entry point for the first few months of treatment
- You value the convenience of a side-effect care package delivered alongside your medication
Second Nature may suit you if:
- You want dietitian-led coaching alongside your medication from day one
- Published, peer-reviewed clinical outcomes are important to you
- You want a structured behaviour change programme, not just a prescription
- You value in-app peer support from others at a similar stage
- You want a provider with current NHS weight management partnerships and a long track record
- You want the option of a non-medication programme (from £33/month)
Frequently asked questions
Is SheMed or Second Nature more effective for weight loss?
Second Nature has published peer-reviewed research showing 19.1% average weight loss at 12 months with semaglutide and dietitian-led support.1
SheMed has not published comparable data. Both providers prescribe the same medications, so any difference in outcomes is likely due to the support provided alongside medication.
Is SheMed only for women?
SheMed markets itself as a women-focused service, but its support page states the programme is open to all genders. Their sister brand HeMed (hemed.com) offers a similar service specifically for men.
Does SheMed have NHS approval?
No. SheMed is a private service only. Second Nature has been commissioned by the NHS since 2017, currently across 43 ICBs and Health Boards for weight management and type 2 diabetes prevention.2
NHS commissioning is not a requirement to prescribe weight-loss medications safely, but it does reflect an additional level of institutional validation of a provider’s clinical approach and governance standards.
Does SheMed have published clinical evidence?
Not yet. SheMed states on its website that it’s conducting a clinical study, which is a positive step. However, they have not yet published programme-specific outcomes in a peer-reviewed journal.
The clinical trial data they reference on their website (such as the STEP UP trial and SURMOUNT-5) relate to the medications themselves, not to SheMed’s programme specifically.
What qualifications do SheMed’s clinical team have?
SheMed’s team includes nurses and doctors. Their Chief Clinical and Strategy Officer is Nurse Rachael Joy (BSc Hons, NIP, ACP), and their Chief Medical Officer is Dr Matthew Noble. Clinical and prescribing services are provided through eMed, a CQC-registered provider.
SheMed does not employ dietitians or nutritionists. Second Nature’s coaching team comprises UK-registered dietitians and nutritionists who hold HCPC or AfN registration and have specialist training in GLP-1 medication support.
Does SheMed include blood tests?
Yes. SheMed includes an at-home blood test at baseline, with additional tests at 6 and 12 months. These measure markers including cholesterol, liver function, thyroid activity, and diabetes risk.
This is a genuine strength of SheMed’s model. Most private weight-loss providers, including Second Nature, do not include blood testing as standard.
Can I switch from SheMed to Second Nature?
Yes. You can switch providers, though you’ll need a new clinical assessment. If you’re already on a stable dose, you won’t necessarily need to restart from the lowest dose. Second Nature can advise on the process.
Can I get Wegovy 7.2 mg from both providers?
Yes. Both offer the 7.2 mg dose, approved by the MHRA in January 2026.4 This dose is for patients who have been stable on 2.4 mg for at least four weeks and need further weight loss.
What happens when I stop taking medication?
Second Nature builds transition support into its programme, with your dietitian guiding you through reducing or stopping medication. Second Nature also offers a non-medication programme for continued support at £33/month.
SheMed offers a maintenance programme, but their support model is primarily built around medication and clinical monitoring rather than behavioural habit change.
Research shows that around two-thirds of people regain weight within a year of stopping semaglutide without ongoing behavioural support.3
Is SheMed regulated?
Yes. SheMed’s prescribing and clinical services are provided through eMed, which is CQC-registered. Their pharmacy partner is eMed Healthcare UK, which is GPhC-registered (registration number 9012578).
Second Nature is also CQC-registered, with a GPhC-registered pharmacy partner, Blueco Healthcare (registration number 9013068).
Take home message
SheMed and Second Nature serve different needs. SheMed offers a women-focused prescription service with blood testing, clinical monitoring, and a lower starting price, but without a structured behavioural programme.
Second Nature combines medication with dietitian-led coaching, a four-phase behaviour change programme, peer support, and published clinical outcomes.
The blood testing at baseline, 6, and 12 months is a genuine advantage of SheMed’s model that most other providers don’t include.
If you mainly need medication with clinical monitoring and you’re confident managing your own nutrition and lifestyle changes, SheMed may work for you.
If you want a structured programme with published outcomes and professional coaching alongside your medication, Second Nature is built for that.
Second Nature's Mounjaro and Wegovy programmes
Second Nature provides Mounjaro or Wegovy as part of our Mounjaro and Wegovy weight-loss programmes.
Why choose Second Nature over other medication providers, assuming you're eligible?
Because peace of mind matters.
We've had the privilege of working with the NHS for over eight years, helping people across the UK take meaningful steps toward a healthier, happier life.
Our programmes are designed to meet people where they are, whether that means support with weight loss through compassionate one-to-one health coaching, or access to the latest weight-loss medications (like Mounjaro and Wegovy) delivered alongside expert care from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, psychologists, dietitians, and personal trainers.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: real, lasting change comes from building better habits, not relying on quick fixes. We're here to support that change every step of the way.
With over a decade of experience, thousands of lives changed, and a long-standing record of delivering programmes used by the NHS, we believe we're the UK's most trusted weight-loss programme.
We hope to offer you something invaluable: peace of mind, and the support you need to take that first step.
References
- Richards, R., et al. (2025). A Remotely Delivered, Semaglutide-Supported Weight Management Program: 12-Month Outcomes. JMIR Formative Research, 9(1), e72577.
- Ross, J.A.D., et al. (2022). Uptake and impact of the English National Health Service digital diabetes prevention programme. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care, 10(3), e002736.
- Wilding, J.P.H., et al. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 24(8), 1553-1564.
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. (2026). Medicines regulator approves up to 7.2 mg dose of semaglutide (Wegovy) for patients with obesity only.
- Rubino, D.M., et al. (2025). Once-weekly semaglutide 7.2 mg in adults with overweight or obesity: the STEP UP randomised clinical trial. The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.
