Jump to: How much does Orlistat cost? | What is Orlistat? | How much weight will I lose on Orlistat? | How do you get Orlistat in the UK? | Orlistat compared with the weight-loss injections | Frequently asked questions
You can buy orlistat from most UK pharmacies for roughly £18 to £50 a month, depending on the strength and where you buy it, if you meet the eligibility criteria.
It comes in two strengths. The 60 mg version, sold as Alli, is available without a prescription.
Because it’s a pharmacy medicine, you buy it directly from the pharmacist rather than off the shelf, after a short consultation to check it’s suitable for you.
The 120 mg version (Xenical, or unbranded orlistat) is stronger and needs a prescription.
Second Nature now offers the 60 mg dose of orlistat as well as Wegovy, Mounjaro, and the Wegovy pill, so you can choose the option that fits you with support from a registered dietitian and our clinical team.
Orlistat leads to more modest weight loss than injections, but it’s taken as a tablet rather than injected and costs less.
Important safety information: Orlistat (Alli, Xenical) is a weight-loss medication that reduces the amount of fat the body absorbs from food. This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult a pharmacist or your healthcare provider before starting orlistat or any weight-loss medication.
How much does Orlistat cost?
Orlistat costs roughly £18-£50 per month, depending on the strength and where you buy it.
The 60 mg dose (Alli) is the cheaper option, at around £18 a month from a pharmacy.
The 120 mg dose costs more because it needs a prescription. Unbranded orlistat starts at around £18 per month, while branded Xenical can cost closer to £50 per month.
Some pharmacies also add a prescription or consultation fee on top. Prices vary between pharmacies, so it’s worth comparing a few registered UK pharmacies before you buy.
What is Orlistat?
Orlistat is a weight-loss medication that changes how much fat we digest, rather than making us feel less hungry, as GLP-1 medications do.
When we eat, enzymes called lipases break down the fat in our food so the body can absorb it.
Orlistat blocks some of these lipases, so around a third of the fat we eat passes through the gut undigested and leaves the body in our stool.
Because the body absorbs less fat from each meal, orlistat can support weight loss when combined with changes to what we eat.
Unlike the weight-loss injections, orlistat doesn’t change our appetite, which is the main reason its average results are more modest.
Orlistat comes in two strengths. Alli is the 60 mg pharmacy version, made by Haleon.
Xenical is the 120 mg prescription version, also sold as the unbranded drug orlistat.
How much weight will I lose on Orlistat?
In a study of 237 people using the 60 mg dose (Alli) without a prescription, the average weight loss was around 5% of body weight after two months, and about 80% of people were satisfied with their result.1
The 120 mg dose has been studied over longer periods. In the XENDOS trial, people taking orlistat 120 mg alongside lifestyle changes lost an average of around 10% of their body weight after one year, compared with around 6% in the group who made the same dietary changes with a placebo.2
GLP-1 weight-loss injections produce larger average weight-loss results. Wegovy (semaglutide) led to an average weight loss of 20.7% at its highest dose in the STEP UP trial, and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) led to 22.5% in SURMOUNT-1.3,4
These injections work differently from orlistat. Rather than limiting how much fat we absorb, they mimic the appetite hormones our bodies produce after eating, which reduce hunger and quieten food noise.
That difference in how they work is why the injections lead to more weight loss on average, and why orlistat tends to suit people who want a tablet, a lower cost, or a medication that doesn’t affect appetite.
How do you get Orlistat in the UK?
For the 60 mg dose (Alli), you don’t need a prescription, but you can’t buy it over the counter.
Because it’s a pharmacy medicine, you buy it directly from the pharmacist, who checks your height, weight, and medical history to make sure it’s suitable for you.
It’s available to adults with a BMI of 28 or above. BMI, or body mass index, is a measure of weight relative to height.
For the 120 mg dose, you need a prescription. You can get one from your GP, or through an online pharmacy where you complete a health questionnaire that a prescriber reviews, usually within a day or two.
The 120 mg dose is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 28 or above if you also have a weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or raised cholesterol.5
Orlistat is also available on the NHS in some areas. Your GP can tell you whether you are eligible where you live.
Orlistat compared with the weight-loss injections
Here is how orlistat compares with the two weight-loss injections Second Nature offers.
|
Orlistat (Alli, 60 mg) |
Wegovy (semaglutide) |
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) |
| How it’s taken |
Tablet, up to 3 times a day with meals |
Injection, once a week |
Injection, once a week |
| How it works |
Blocks around a third of the fat you eat from being absorbed |
Mimics the GLP-1 appetite hormone to reduce hunger |
Mimics the GLP-1 and GIP appetite hormones to reduce hunger |
| Average weight loss |
Around 5% over 2 months (60 mg); around 10% at 1 year (120 mg) |
20.7% at the top dose (STEP UP) |
22.5% (SURMOUNT-1) |
| Prescription needed |
No for 60 mg; yes for 120 mg |
Yes |
Yes |
| Offered by Second Nature |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Second Nature also offers the Wegovy pill, an oral form of semaglutide, for people who would prefer a tablet to an injection.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS since 2017, combining weight-loss medication with support from registered dietitians to help you choose the right option and build habits that last. Take our 3-minute eligibility quiz, and a clinician will review your answers.
Frequently asked questions
Does Second Nature offer orlistat?
Yes. Second Nature offers the 60 mg dose of orlistat (Alli) alongside Wegovy, Mounjaro, and the Wegovy pill.
A clinician helps you choose the option that suits you, and you receive support from a registered dietitian throughout the process.
Do you need a prescription for orlistat?
Not for the 60 mg dose (Alli). You can buy it without a prescription, but only from the pharmacist after a short consultation, rather than off the shelf.
The 120 mg dose is a prescription-only medicine, so you need a prescription from your GP or an online prescriber.
How long can you take orlistat for?
The 60 mg dose is intended for short-term use, and treatment isn’t usually continued beyond six months.
If you have not lost at least 5% of your body weight after three months, it’s worth reviewing with a clinician whether orlistat is right for you.
How quickly does orlistat work?
Most people who respond to orlistat start to see weight loss within the first few weeks.
In trials, the average weight loss with the 60 mg dose was around 5% of body weight after two months, alongside lifestyle changes.1
What are the side effects of orlistat?
The most common side effects are digestive, because the fat that orlistat blocks passes out in your stool.
They include oily spotting, wind with some discharge, an urgent need to go to the toilet, and oily or fatty stools.
These are usually worse after high-fat meals and tend to settle if you reduce the amount of fat in your diet.
Does orlistat work without dieting?
Orlistat only affects fat digestion, so it has little effect on its own and works best when paired with a lower-fat diet. Eating high-fat meals while taking it also worsens the digestive side effects.
Is orlistat or Wegovy better for weight loss?
On average, Wegovy leads to more weight loss. It produced an average of 20.7% at its top dose in the STEP UP trial,3 compared with around 5-10% for orlistat, depending on the dose.1,2
Orlistat is a tablet rather than an injection, costs less, and doesn’t affect appetite, which is why some people prefer it.
Can you take orlistat together with Mounjaro or Wegovy?
These medications aren’t usually taken together. They work in different ways, and most people use one at a time.
A clinician can help you decide which is the best fit for you and your health.
Can you get orlistat on the NHS?
Orlistat is available on the NHS in some areas for people who meet the eligibility criteria. Your GP can tell you whether you can get it where you live.
Take home message
Orlistat is a weight-loss tablet that blocks around a third of the fat you eat from being absorbed.
With the 60 mg dose, the average weight loss in trials was around 5% of body weight, and with the 120 mg dose it was around 10% over a year, alongside lifestyle changes.1,2
Orlistat’s average weight loss is more modest than the weight-loss injections, which led to an average weight loss of 20.7% (Wegovy) and 22.5% (Mounjaro) in their trials, because they reduce appetite rather than block fat.3,4
Orlistat still suits some people. It’s a tablet rather than an injection; it costs less and doesn’t change appetite. In return, the average weight loss is smaller, and meals higher in fat can cause digestive side effects.
Whichever medication you choose, it’s essential to combine it with healthy lifestyle changes.
Research shows that people are more likely to avoid regaining weight when medication is combined with structured support to change eating and activity habits than when it is taken on its own.
Second Nature offers orlistat, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and the Wegovy pill, along with support from registered dietitians, so you can choose the right option and build the habits to maintain your weight loss.
A peer-reviewed study in JMIR Formative Research found that active members on Second Nature’s semaglutide-supported programme lost an average of 19.1% of their body weight at 12 months, with 77.7% achieving at least 10% weight loss.6
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.
