Second Nature vs WeightWatchers GLP-1 Support Programme

Jump to: Quick comparison | How each service works | Clinical evidence | Support and coaching | Nutrition approach | Pricing | Who should choose each | Frequently asked questions | Take home message

WeightWatchers and Second Nature both offer programmes designed to support people taking GLP-1 weight-loss medications, but they work in fundamentally different ways.

Second Nature is an all-in-one service: it prescribes Mounjaro or Wegovy, delivers the medication, and provides dietitian-led coaching alongside a structured behaviour change programme.

Published research of our programme in JMIR Formative Research reports an average weight loss of 19.1% at 12 months with semaglutide and behavioural support.¹

WeightWatchers offers a GLP-1 companion programme in the UK. It doesn’t prescribe or supply medication; you get your prescription from a GP, pharmacy, or another provider, and use WeightWatchers’ programme for behavioural support alongside your treatment.²

This is an important distinction. If you want medication and support from a single provider, Second Nature does both. If you already have a prescription and want to add structured support, WeightWatchers’ GLP-1 programme is designed for that.

This guide was written by Second Nature, so it naturally reflects our perspective, but we’ve aimed to present WeightWatchers’ strengths and limitations as fairly as possible.

WeightWatchers vs Second Nature: quick comparison

How each service works

Second Nature: medication and programme in one

Second Nature prescribes Mounjaro or Wegovy (including the newer 7.2 mg Wegovy dose) through a GPhC-registered pharmacy partner, delivers medication to your door, and pairs it with a structured behaviour change programme.

You’re assigned a registered dietitian or nutritionist available five days a week through in-app messaging.

The programme runs across four phases using the COM-B behaviour change model, covering nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and the psychological aspects of eating behaviour.¹

Everything is bundled into a single monthly fee: medication, delivery, coaching, app access, and peer support.

WeightWatchers: companion programme for GLP-1 users

In the UK, WeightWatchers’ GLP-1 programme is a companion service, not a prescriber.

You get your medication from your GP, a pharmacy, or another online provider, then use WeightWatchers’ programme for behavioural support alongside your treatment.²

The GLP-1 programme includes access to their app with GLP-1-specific features: meal tracking focused on protein and fibre targets (1g protein per kg of starting body weight), injection logging (tracking medication, dose, injection site, and side effects), on-demand strength training videos, and a library of GLP-1-specific recipes and articles.²

Community support comes through GLP-1-specific virtual workshops (complimentary for GLP-1 members) and WW’s Connect social platform, where you can join a dedicated GLP-1 community.²

WeightWatchers also still offers its core Points-based programme for people not taking medication, and it can be used alongside the GLP-1 programme.

Clinical evidence

Second Nature

Second Nature has published programme-specific outcomes in peer-reviewed journals. Our 2025 study in JMIR Formative Research examined 12-month outcomes for participants using semaglutide with behavioural support and found¹:

• 19.1% average weight loss at 12 months for active subscribers
• 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 (people who stayed on the programme for 12 months), not intent-to-treat.

Separately, an NHS evaluation published in the BMJ found that Second Nature achieved substantially higher weight loss than four other providers in the National Diabetes Prevention Programme.⁴

WeightWatchers

WeightWatchers is often described as the most studied commercial weight management programme in the world, with decades of research on its core programme. For the GLP-1 companion programme specifically, the evidence is more recent and still emerging.

Their website references a 6-month clinical trial of 180 participants taking semaglutide or tirzepatide alongside the WW Clinic programme (Heinberg et al.).

The manuscript is under review but has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. The study was funded by WW International.²

WW also cites internal data from a study of 3,250 Clinic patients, reporting that those prescribed a GLP-1 lost an average of 21% of their body weight at 12 months.⁵ This figure is based on self-reported member data that has not been independently verified.

For the core programme (without medication), independent research published in The Lancet found that WeightWatchers participants lost around 2.6kg more than a self-directed group at 12 months.⁶

NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme

Both providers participated in NHS programmes, with different outcomes. Second Nature was identified as the most effective provider in the National Diabetes Prevention Programme, based on NHS-published data in the BMJ.⁴ WeightWatchers was removed from the programme in 2022 following comparatively weaker results.³

This relates to their non-medication programmes, not their GLP-1 offerings specifically. However, it provides context on each provider’s track record for supporting sustained behaviour change.

Support and coaching

Second Nature

Day-to-day support is provided by registered dietitians and nutritionists (HCPC or AfN registered), available five days a week via in-app messaging. Health coaches receive specific training in GLP-1 side effect management.¹

You’re placed in a small peer support group within the app. 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.

WeightWatchers

The GLP-1 programme offers several types of support. GLP-1-specific virtual workshops are available for free, and the Connect social platform offers a community of GLP-1 users for peer support and shared experiences.²

The app itself provides ongoing guidance through GLP-1-specific articles, recipes, and a curated foods list. Injection tracking lets you log your medication, dose, injection site, and any side effects, which can help you spot patterns and discuss them with your prescriber.

In the US, WeightWatchers’ Med+ programme includes access to obesity-trained clinicians, registered dietitians, and personal trainers.

The UK GLP-1 programme appears to offer a more limited support model focused on workshops, community, and app-based content rather than 1-to-1 clinical coaching.²

Nutrition approach

The two programmes take different approaches to nutrition, which is worth understanding before choosing.

Second Nature: balanced plate model

Second Nature uses a balanced plate model: roughly half vegetables, a quarter protein, a quarter complex carbohydrates, and a serving of healthy fats.

There’s no points system, no calorie counting, and no foods are off-limits. The focus is on learning which foods are filling and nutritious rather than tracking numbers.¹

This approach is designed to be sustainable after medication stops, because it doesn’t rely on a tracking system you might abandon.

WeightWatchers: Points system with GLP-1 adaptations

WeightWatchers uses its Points system, which assigns numeric values to foods based on calories, sugar, protein, and saturated fat.

For GLP-1 users, the programme adds specific protein targets (1g per kg of starting body weight) and fibre targets (four servings per day).²

The Points system has evolved considerably over the years. Many fruits and vegetables are “zero points,” which encourages higher intake of these foods.

The GLP-1-specific adaptations recognise that protein intake is particularly important during GLP-1 treatment to preserve muscle mass.

Some people find the structure of a points system helpful for accountability. Others find that assigning numbers to food can create an unhealthy relationship with eating. Research on this is mixed, and it often comes down to personal preference and history with food.

Pricing

These services are structured differently, which makes direct price comparison difficult.

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

WeightWatchers

WeightWatchers’ UK GLP-1 programme is a membership fee for the behavioural support only. You pay for your medication separately through whichever provider prescribes it:

• WW membership: check the WeightWatchers website for current UK pricing
• Medication cost: paid separately to your prescriber (varies widely by provider and dose)

Your total monthly cost with Weight Watchers will be the WW membership fee plus any medication costs you pay elsewhere.

Depending on where you get your prescription, the combined cost could be higher or lower than Second Nature’s all-inclusive fee.

Who should choose each option

Second Nature may suit you if:

• You want medication and behavioural support from a single provider
• You want 1-to-1 coaching from HCPC or AfN-registered dietitians and nutritionists
• Published, peer-reviewed clinical outcomes are important to you
• You prefer a nutrition approach without points or calorie counting
• You want a provider with current NHS weight management partnerships

WeightWatchers may suit you if:

• You already have a GLP-1 prescription and want to add structured behavioural support
• You’re familiar with WeightWatchers and trust the brand
• You find a points-based system helpful for accountability
• You want access to a large GLP-1 community and virtual workshops
• You prefer a well-known programme with 60+ years of heritage

Frequently asked questions

Can I get Mounjaro or Wegovy through WeightWatchers in the UK?

No. WeightWatchers’ UK GLP-1 programme does not prescribe or supply medication.

It’s a companion programme designed to support people who already have a prescription from another provider, such as a GP, online pharmacy, or service like Second Nature.²

In the US, WeightWatchers does prescribe medication through its Med+ Clinic, but this service is not available in the UK.

Is Second Nature or WeightWatchers more effective for weight loss with GLP-1s?

Second Nature has published peer-reviewed research showing 19.1% average weight loss at 12 months with semaglutide and dietitian-led support.¹

WeightWatchers cites internal data showing 21% average weight loss at 12 months for Clinic patients on GLP-1s, but this is based on self-reported data that hasn’t been independently published.⁵

The two figures aren’t directly comparable because they come from different study designs and populations.

Does WeightWatchers offer dietitian support in the UK?

The UK GLP-1 programme offers virtual workshops and community support through the app and Connect platform. It doesn’t appear to include 1-to-1 coaching from registered dietitians in the UK, though the US programme does.

Second Nature provides HCPC-registered dietitians and AfN-registered nutritionists available five days a week through in-app messaging.

Why was WeightWatchers removed from the NHS programme?

In 2022, WeightWatchers was removed from the NHS National Diabetes Prevention Programme following comparatively weaker results.³ This relates to their core non-medication programme, not their GLP-1 offering, which launched later.

Second Nature remains an NHS-commissioned provider for weight management and diabetes prevention.

Is the Points system suitable while taking GLP-1 medication?

WeightWatchers has adapted its Points system for GLP-1 users by adding protein targets (1g per kg of starting body weight) and fibre targets (four servings daily).²

These are sensible adaptations, as protein is important for preserving muscle mass during GLP-1 treatment. Whether you prefer tracking Points or following a balanced plate model without numbers is a personal choice.

Can I use both services together?

In theory, you could get your prescription through Second Nature and use WeightWatchers’ GLP-1 community features separately.

In practice, you’d be paying for two behavioural programmes, which is unlikely to offer enough additional benefit to justify the cost.

Has WeightWatchers published research on GLP-1 outcomes?

WeightWatchers has conducted a 6-month clinical trial of 180 participants on GLP-1 medication (Heinberg et al.), but the manuscript is under review and has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. The study was funded by WW International.²

They also cite internal observational data from 3,250 patients.⁵ Until the Heinberg study is published, there’s no independently verified programme-specific evidence for their GLP-1 offering.

How do the apps compare?

Both apps offer meal tracking and educational content. WeightWatchers’ app includes GLP-1-specific features like injection logging (tracking medication, dose, site, and side effects), protein and fibre tracking, on-demand strength training videos, and access to over 12,000 recipes.

Second Nature’s app focuses on food and mood tracking, 300+ recipes, daily articles, and in-app messaging with your dietitian. Coaching is delivered directly within the app rather than through separate workshops.

What happens when I stop taking medication?

Second Nature builds transition support into its programme, with your dietitian guiding you through the process of reducing or stopping medication.

WeightWatchers’ core programme is available independently of medication, so you could continue using WW after stopping GLP-1 treatment.

Research shows that around two-thirds of people regain weight within a year of stopping semaglutide without ongoing behavioural support.⁷

Which provider has a better track record for long-term results?

Second Nature’s published research shows strong 12-month outcomes, and their NHS partnerships since 2017 provide independent validation of their approach.^1,4

WeightWatchers has more extensive long-term research on its core programme, including an independent Lancet study showing modest weight-loss advantages over self-directed approaches.⁶ Their GLP-1-specific outcomes are still emerging.

WeightWatchers’ removal from the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme in 2022 raises questions about their non-medication approach, though their GLP-1 programme is a different and newer offering.³

Take home message

Second Nature and WeightWatchers serve different needs when it comes to GLP-1 weight-loss treatment in the UK.

Second Nature is a single provider for both medication and behavioural support. It prescribes Mounjaro or Wegovy, delivers medication to your door, and pairs it with dietitian-led coaching and a structured behaviour change programme. Published research shows 19.1% average weight loss at 12 months.¹

WeightWatchers offers a companion programme for people who already have a GLP-1 prescription. It provides GLP-1-adapted nutritional guidance using the Points system, app-based injection and meal tracking, virtual workshops, and a large online community. It doesn’t prescribe medication in the UK.²

If you want an all-in-one service with published clinical outcomes and registered dietitian support, Second Nature provides that.

If you already have a prescription and want to add the structure and community of a well-known programme alongside your treatment, WeightWatchers’ GLP-1 programme is worth considering.

References

1. Richards, R., et al. (2025). A Remotely Delivered, Semaglutide-Supported Weight Management Program: 12-Month Outcomes. JMIR Formative Research, 9(1), e72577.
2. WeightWatchers. GLP-1 Programme (UK).
3. NHS England Diabetes Prevention Programme — WeightWatchers was removed as a provider in 2022. Second Nature’s BMJ-published outcomes from the same programme are referenced separately (ref 4).
4. Ross, J.A.D., et al. (2022). Uptake and impact of the English National Health Service digital diabetes prevention programme. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, 10(3), e002736.
5. WW International. (2025). WeightWatchers for Business Annual Report.
6. Jebb, S.A., et al. (2011). Primary care referral to a commercial provider for weight loss treatment versus standard care: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 378(9801), 1485-1492.
7. Wilding, J.P.H., et al. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 24(8), 1553-1564.