Habitual vs Second Nature

Jump to: Quick comparison | Clinical evidence | Support and coaching | Medication options | Pricing | Aftercare and maintenance | Who should choose each | Frequently asked questions | Take home message

Second Nature and Habitual are both UK weight-loss programmes that combine GLP-1 medication (Mounjaro or Wegovy) with app-based behavioural support. This makes them more directly comparable to each other than to prescription-only services like ZAVA or pharmacy providers like Boots.

The key differences come down to clinical evidence, professional qualifications, and programme depth.

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

Habitual has an NHS partnership for type 2 diabetes remission and a growing user base, but hasn’t published programme-specific weight-loss outcomes.

Both providers offer app-based daily lessons, habit tracking, and peer support communities alongside medication.

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

Habitual vs Second Nature: quick comparison

Clinical evidence and outcomes

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. Results for the full cohort, including those who dropped out, would be lower.

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.²

Second Nature has been commissioned by the NHS since 2017, currently working with 43 ICBs and Health Boards across the UK for weight management and type 2 diabetes prevention.

Habitual

Habitual partners with the NHS on the Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission programme, delivering total diet replacement plans. Their LinkedIn profile references “active clinical research,” and their website describes them as a “trusted NHS weight loss partner.”³

However, Habitual has not published programme-specific weight-loss outcomes in a peer-reviewed journal, either for their medication programme or their soups and shakes plan.

Their website references the clinical trial data for the medications they prescribe (up to 22.5% weight loss with Mounjaro, 20.7% with Wegovy 7.2mg) rather than data from their own programme.³

This doesn’t mean Habitual’s programme is ineffective. Their Trustpilot reviews include accounts of significant weight loss, and their NHS partnership for diabetes remission demonstrates clinical credibility in that space. It means there’s no independently published data comparing their specific programme outcomes to medication alone.

Support and coaching

Both providers offer app-based programmes with daily content and peer support, but the type of professional guidance differs.

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

The programme uses the COM-B behaviour change model (capability, opportunity, motivation) and is structured across four phases. Health coaches receive specific training in GLP-1 side effect management.¹

Daily educational content covers nutrition (using a balanced plate model rather than calorie counting), physical activity, sleep, and the psychological aspects of eating behaviour, including resources for emotional eating and stress management.

Habitual

Habitual’s app delivers daily science-backed behavioural lessons covering nutrition, exercise, sleep, and psychology. The programme follows a phased structure: getting comfortable with medication in month one, practising new habits in months two to four, embedding those habits through months five to eight, and maintenance support from month nine onwards.³

Peer support is provided through WhatsApp groups rather than within the app itself. Habitual’s Trustpilot reviews frequently mention named coaches who provide support via the platform, and reviewers consistently rate the customer service and coaching positively.⁴

One area where Habitual is less transparent is coach qualifications. Their website doesn’t publicly document the professional registrations of their coaching team (such as HCPC, AfN, or equivalent), which makes it difficult to assess the level of clinical expertise behind the day-to-day support.

A note on the apps

Both apps offer habit tracking and educational content. Habitual adds gamification features: you earn points for tracking habits, build daily streaks, and can redeem rewards (including discounts on future months) in an in-app shop.

Some people find this motivating; others may prefer Second Nature’s more straightforward approach. This comes down to personal preference.³

Medication options

Both providers prescribe Mounjaro and Wegovy. Habitual requires all new patients to start on the lowest dose, following the manufacturer’s recommended titration schedule.

If you’re switching from another provider on a higher dose, Habitual asks you to contact them before purchasing.³

Habitual also offers an 800-calorie soups and shakes total diet replacement plan, which is based on the approach used in the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission programme. This is a different type of intervention from GLP-1 medication and may suit people who want to try a non-injection approach first.

Second Nature doesn’t offer meal replacement plans but does offer a standalone behaviour change programme without medication from £33 per month.

Both providers offer Wegovy 7.2 mg, which was approved by the MHRA in January 2026.⁵

Pricing

Pricing changes frequently, so check each provider’s website for the most current figures. As a general guide at the time of writing:

Second Nature

• Wegovy programme: £99-£249 per month, depending on dose (all-inclusive)
• Mounjaro programme: pricing available on the Second Nature website
• Non-medication programme: from £33/month (12-month subscription)

Second Nature’s monthly fee includes medication, delivery, dietitian coaching, app access, and peer support.

Habitual

• Medication programme: pricing varies by dose (check their website for current figures)
• Soups & shakes plan: available as a separate subscription

Habitual offers loyalty pricing: you can earn points in the app by tracking habits and redeem them for discounts in future months. This means your effective monthly cost may decrease over time.³

Both providers bundle programme access with medication rather than charging separately for coaching. Pricing is broadly comparable, though it varies by dose and any discounts applied.

Aftercare and weight maintenance

Research shows that around two-thirds of people regain weight within a year of stopping semaglutide without ongoing support.⁶ Both providers address this, though in different ways.

Second Nature

Transition support is built into the programme. The later phases focus on consolidating habits and preparing for life after medication. Your dietitian continues to support you through the process of reducing or stopping medication.

Habitual

Habitual’s programme includes a maintenance phase starting in month nine, designed to help you keep weight off after the initial loss period. Their website states that the programme provides “the support you need to keep it off” in the later phases.³

The details of what this maintenance phase includes (whether coaching continues and which app features remain available) aren’t fully documented on their website.

If long-term aftercare is important to you, it’s worth asking Habitual directly about what happens when you complete or stop the programme.

Who should choose each option

Second Nature may suit you if:

• You want 1-to-1 coaching from HCPC or AfN-registered dietitians and nutritionists
• Published, peer-reviewed clinical outcomes are important to you
• You want a programme built on the COM-B behaviour change framework
• You prefer in-app peer support groups rather than WhatsApp
• You want a non-medication programme option alongside or instead of GLP-1 treatment

Habitual may suit you if:

• You’re interested in their gamified app with points, streaks, and rewards
• You want the option of a soups and shakes total diet replacement plan as an alternative to medication
• You value their NHS partnership for type 2 diabetes remission
• You prefer WhatsApp-based peer support
• Loyalty pricing and in-app discounts appeal to you

Frequently asked questions

Is Second Nature or Habitual more effective for weight loss?

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

Habitual has not published comparable programme-specific outcomes. Both providers prescribe the same medications, so the difference in results is likely due to the type and intensity of support alongside medication.

Do both providers work with the NHS?

Yes, but in different areas. Second Nature has been commissioned by the NHS since 2017 for weight management and type 2 diabetes prevention, currently across 43 ICBs and Health Boards.²

Habitual partners with the NHS on the Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission programme, delivering total diet replacement plans.³ Both providers’ medication programmes are private services, separate from their NHS work.

Does Habitual offer dietitian support?

Habitual’s Trustpilot reviews frequently mention named coaches who provide support, and reviewers rate this positively.⁴

However, their website doesn’t publicly document the professional registrations (such as HCPC or AfN) of their coaching team. Second Nature’s coaching comes from HCPC-registered dietitians and AfN-registered nutritionists available five days a week.

Can I get Wegovy 7.2 mg from both providers?

Yes. Both Second Nature and Habitual offer Wegovy, including the 7.2 mg dose approved by the MHRA in January 2026.⁵ This dose is for patients who have been stable on 2.4mg for at least four weeks and need further weight loss.

What is Habitual’s soups and shakes plan?

Habitual offers an 800-calorie total diet replacement plan using soups, shakes, and porridge. This approach is based on the protocol used in the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission programme, and has published evidence supporting its use for diabetes remission and weight loss.³

Second Nature doesn’t offer meal-replacement plans but does offer a standalone behaviour-change programme without medication.

How do the apps compare?

Both apps offer daily educational content and habit tracking. Habitual adds gamification: you earn points for logging habits, build streaks, and redeem rewards in an in-app shop (including discounts on future months). Their app also includes recipes with auto-generated shopping lists.

Second Nature’s app focuses on food and mood tracking, 300+ recipes, and daily articles, with coaching delivered directly within the app rather than via WhatsApp.

Which provider has better reviews?

Both are rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot. Second Nature has a 4.5/5 rating from over 7,800 reviews. Habitual has a 4.6/5 rating from over 1,183 reviews.⁴ Second Nature’s higher review volume reflects its longer time in the market.

Can I switch from Habitual to Second Nature (or vice versa)?

Yes. You can switch providers, though you’ll need a new clinical assessment. Note that Habitual requires new patients to start on the lowest dose regardless of previous treatment, unless you contact them in advance to discuss starting on a higher dose.³

Is Habitual cheaper than Second Nature?

Pricing is broadly comparable, as both providers bundle programme access with medication. Habitual offers loyalty discounts through its in-app rewards system, which can reduce your effective monthly cost over time. Check both providers’ websites for current pricing at your dose level.

Are both services safe and regulated?

Yes. Second Nature works with a GPhC-registered pharmacy partner. Habitual’s prescribing and dispensing is handled by The Independent Pharmacy (GPhC: 9012559). Both services require a medical assessment before prescribing and monitoring patients with regular check-ins.

Take home message

Second Nature and Habitual are both programme-based providers that combine GLP-1 medication with app-based behavioural support. They’re more similar to each other than either is to a prescription-only service.

The main differences are in clinical evidence, professional qualifications, and programme structure. Second Nature has published peer-reviewed research in JMIR showing 19.1% average weight loss at 12 months, and its coaching comes from HCPC and AfN-registered dietitians and nutritionists using the COM-B behaviour change model.¹

Habitual offers a gamified app experience, an NHS partnership for type 2 diabetes remission, the option of a soups and shakes plan alongside medication, and competitive pricing with loyalty discounts.

Their coaching team is well-reviewed on Trustpilot, though their professional registrations and programme outcomes haven’t been published.

If published clinical evidence and named professional qualifications are priorities for you, Second Nature has a stronger track record.

If you’re drawn to Habitual’s app features, pricing model, or soups and shakes option, their growing user base and positive reviews suggest many people are getting good results.

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. 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.
3. Habitual. GLP-1 Weight Loss Programme.
4. Habitual. Trustpilot reviews.
5. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. (2026). Medicines regulator approves up to 7.2mg dose of semaglutide (Wegovy) for patients with obesity only.
6. Wilding, J.P.H., et al. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 24(8), 1553-1564.