Jump to: Core approach differences | NHS partnership and clinical evidence | Professional support | Pricing comparison | Long-term outcomes | Take home message
The primary difference between Second Nature and Team RH lies in their approaches to weight loss and the level of professional support they offer.
Second Nature is an NHS-partnered programme that uses psychology-based habit formation guided by registered healthcare professionals.
In contrast, Team RH offers a basic calorie-counting app without clinical validation or the services of qualified health coaches.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS since 2017, delivering weight-loss programmes to over 250,000 patients, with peer-reviewed research showing an average weight loss of 6.2 kg at 12 months (non-medication programme).
In contrast, Team RH offers a £7.99 monthly subscription service based on calorie tracking, but without published clinical evidence or guidance from healthcare professionals.
For those seeking support while taking weight-loss medications like Mounjaro, the differences become even more significant.
Second Nature’s medication-supported programme includes registered dietitians and nutritionists experienced in GLP-1 management, whereas Team RH’s basic GLP-1 plan lacks qualified healthcare oversight.
Second Nature vs Team RH: At-a-glance comparison
| Feature |
Second Nature |
Team RH |
| Core approach |
Psychology-based habit formation |
Calorie counting and tracking |
| NHS partnership |
NHS-commissioned since 2017 |
No NHS partnership |
| Clinical evidence |
Multiple peer-reviewed publications |
No published clinical studies |
| Professional support |
UK-registered dietitians and nutritionists |
App messaging (48-hour response target) |
| Medication support |
Comprehensive Mounjaro programme with professional oversight |
Basic GLP-1 guidance without healthcare qualifications |
| App features |
Habit tracking, 300+ recipes, educational content |
Calorie tracking, barcode scanner, recipe database |
| Community |
Professionally moderated groups |
Facebook community group (not professionally moderated) |
| Standard pricing |
£28-£38/month |
£7.99/month (12-month commitment required) |
| Medication programme |
£229-£299/month (includes medication cost, £100 off the first month) |
No medication provision, but programme for people who’ve purchased medication elsewhere |
| Long-term data |
6.2kg average weight loss at 12 months (NHS trial) |
No published long-term outcome data |
| Regulatory issues |
None reported |
ASA ruling in 2023 for misleading advertising |
This guide explains these key differences in detail to help you make an informed decision based on your personal health goals, support needs, and budget.
Core approach differences
Second Nature and Team RH represent fundamentally different approaches to weight loss, which explains their substantial price difference and expected outcomes.
Second Nature builds its programme around behavioural psychology and sustainable habit formation, addressing the underlying reasons why we struggle with weight.
Rather than focusing solely on what to eat, it helps you understand why you eat and how to develop healthier relationships with food through structured support from qualified healthcare professionals.
Research consistently shows that long-term weight management depends on psychological factors, such as habit formation, emotional regulation, and environmental design; all core components of Second Nature’s approach.
Team RH offers a more traditional calorie counting approach through their mobile app.
Their programme centres on tracking daily calorie intake, with basic guidance around meeting protein and fibre targets.
While calorie awareness can help with short-term weight loss, research shows that without addressing underlying behaviours, this approach often leads to weight regain when tracking stops.
The fundamental difference is that Second Nature aims to change your relationship with food permanently, while Team RH provides a tracking tool that requires consistent use to maintain results.
NHS partnership and clinical evidence
Second Nature has been an NHS partner since 2017, delivering digital weight-loss programmes across two-thirds of NHS Health and Care boards in the UK.
This partnership required meeting strict clinical standards and demonstrating consistent patient outcomes.
The programme’s effectiveness has been validated through peer-reviewed research published in the British Medical Journal, showing that participants lose an average of 6.2 kg at 12 months in our non-medication programme.
For those on medication-supported programmes, Second Nature has published research in JMIR Formative Research showing average weight loss of 6.5kg (6.4% of body weight) after 3 months.
Team RH doesn’t have NHS partnerships and has not published any clinical research validating their approach.
Their effectiveness claims primarily rely on customer testimonials and before-and-after photos, rather than controlled studies or peer-reviewed evidence.
This lack of clinical validation raises questions about the programme’s evidence base and effectiveness for sustainable weight loss beyond short-term results.
Professional support
The qualifications and expertise of those supporting your weight loss journey significantly impact both safety and outcomes.
Second Nature provides access to UK-registered dietitians and nutritionists who specialise in weight loss and behaviour change.
These qualified healthcare professionals have completed years of clinical training and must maintain registration with either the British Dietetic Association or the Association for Nutrition.
Your dedicated health coach offers support five days a week through both group and private messaging, providing personalised guidance based on your specific challenges and health history.
Team RH’s support structure is significantly different. The programme offers basic in-app help with a target response time of 48 hours and access to a Facebook community group that isn’t professionally moderated.
Although some marketing may imply coaching support, the service doesn’t include one-on-one coaching from qualified healthcare professionals.
The founder, Richie Howey, has a background as a personal trainer but does not appear to hold formal healthcare qualifications comparable to registered dietitians or nutritionists.
This difference in professional support becomes particularly important when dealing with complex health conditions or taking weight-loss medications, where qualified guidance can significantly impact safety and effectiveness.
Pricing comparison
The pricing difference between these programmes reflects their fundamentally different service models.
Team RH pricing:
- Monthly subscription: £7.99/month (requires 12-month minimum commitment)
- Annual payment: £79.99 upfront
- What’s included: App access, calorie tracking tools, basic support through app messaging, Facebook group access
Second Nature pricing:
- Non-medication programme: £28-£38/month after £9.99 trial
- Mounjaro programme: £229-£299 monthly (£100 off first month; increases with higher doses)
- What’s included: Medication costs, dedicated health coach support from registered dietitians/nutritionists, comprehensive app with 300+ recipes, habit-tracking tools, educational content
Team RH’s significantly lower price point reflects its limited service offering; essentially a calorie-tracking app with minimal professional support.
Second Nature’s higher cost includes both comprehensive behavioural support from qualified healthcare professionals and, in the medication programme, the cost of prescription medications like Mounjaro.
When considering value rather than just price, it’s worth noting that Second Nature’s NHS partnership required demonstrating cost-effectiveness, meaning the programme had to prove its outcomes justified its cost within a healthcare context.
It’s also important to note that Team RH requires a 12-month minimum commitment and has been subject to an Advertising Standards Authority ruling in 2023 for failing to disclose this commitment in their advertising adequately.
Long-term outcomes
The ultimate measure of any weight-loss programme is not just initial results but sustainable, long-term outcomes.
Second Nature’s approach to sustainable outcomes includes:
- Building psychological skills that support lifelong weight management
- Addressing emotional and environmental triggers for overeating
- Developing healthy habits that continue after programme completion
- Regular progress monitoring with healthcare professionals
This approach has produced documented results of 6.2kg average weight loss maintained at 12 months in NHS trials; a significant achievement considering many weight-loss programmes show substantial regain within this timeframe.
Team RH does not publish long-term outcome data, making it difficult to assess the sustainability of their results beyond initial weight loss.
Research on calorie-tracking approaches generally indicates that while they can yield short-term results, maintaining these outcomes typically requires ongoing tracking indefinitely.
The focus on psychological habits versus calorie tracking represents fundamentally different approaches to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
While Second Nature aims to change your relationship with food permanently, calorie-tracking programmes typically require ongoing vigilance to maintain results.
For those using weight-loss medications, Second Nature’s approach includes comprehensive transition planning for life after medication, addressing one of the most common concerns about GLP-1 treatments: what happens when you stop.
Take home message
When choosing between Second Nature and Team RH, consider what type of support you need for your weight loss journey.
Second Nature offers a comprehensive, psychology-based programme with support from registered healthcare professionals and a strong evidence base backed by NHS partnership. This approach addresses the underlying behaviours that drive weight gain for sustainable, long-term results.
Team RH provides a basic calorie-tracking approach at a significantly lower price point but without clinical validation or qualified healthcare support. This might suit those who are comfortable managing their own nutrition with minimal guidance and primarily need a tracking tool.
The substantial price difference reflects fundamentally different service models; professional healthcare support versus self-guided app tracking.
Your choice should consider not just your budget but also the level of support you need and your goals for sustainable weight management.
For those seeking evidence-based support from qualified healthcare professionals, particularly when using weight-loss medications, Second Nature’s comprehensive approach offers significant advantages, despite the higher investment.
Second Nature's Mounjaro programme
Second Nature provides Mounjaro as part of our Mounjaro weight-loss programme
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) 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.
