If you’ve lost the same ten kilograms more than once, you already know this isn’t just about willpower. Weight is one of the biggest health problems of our time, and the science behind it has changed a lot in the last five years.

Key takeaways

  • About 68% of South African women and 31% of men are overweight or obese, and adult obesity worldwide has more than doubled since 1990.
  • If you’re carrying excess weight, you don’t need an “ideal” weight to benefit: losing 5 to 10% can improve blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. But weight loss isn’t right for everyone, which is why it starts with a doctor.
  • Newer weekly injections can help, but most of the weight returns when treatment stops, so any plan has to cover keeping it off.
2.5bnadults worldwide were overweight in 20221World Health Organization
890madults worldwide were living with obesity1World Health Organization
68%of South African women are overweight or obese2SA Demographic and Health Survey
31%of South African men are overweight or obese2SA Demographic and Health Survey

The pictureA global problem, and a South African one

In 2022, 2.5 billion adults worldwide were overweight, and 890 million were living with obesity. Adult obesity has more than doubled since 1990.1

South Africa sits near the top of that curve. In the last national health survey, about 68% of women and 31% of men were overweight or obese.2

The effectsWhat extra weight does

It’s not about how you look. Excess weight, especially around the middle, raises the risk of a long list of conditions.3

Type 2 diabetesHigh blood pressureHeart diseaseFatty liverSleep apnoeaJoint painSeveral cancers

For men, it has another effect that’s often missed: it lowers testosterone. Men carrying more weight have consistently lower levels, which can feed tiredness, low drive and further weight gain.4

The good newsSmall losses make a big difference

You don’t need to reach an “ideal” weight to benefit. Losing 5 to 10% of your starting weight can improve blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.5

Starting weight100 kgAn example for someone carrying excess weight.
A worthwhile goal5 to 10 kgEnough to improve blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.5

Weight loss isn’t right for everyoneMany people are already at a healthy weight for their body, and losing more can do more harm than good. That’s why every Oryx plan starts with a doctor, who looks at your health as a whole, not just the number on the scale. If food or weight is something you find hard to talk about, tell your doctor. They’re there to help, not to judge.

The evidenceWhat the newest treatments have shown

Weekly weight-loss injections have changed what’s possible. In one major trial, adults using one alongside diet and exercise support lost an average of 14.9% of their weight over 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% on a dummy injection.6

Average weight lost over 68 weeks

Weekly injection, with diet and exercise support14.9%
Dummy injection, with the same support2.4%

Results from the STEP 1 trial.6

But there’s a catch. When people in that trial stopped treatment, they regained about two-thirds of the weight they’d lost within a year.7 Any plan worth starting has to cover how you’ll keep the benefit, not just how you’ll get it.

Getting the weight off is half the plan. Keeping it off is the other half.

Be careful where you buyResearchers who tried to buy these injections from illegal online sellers found vials containing up to 39% more medicine than the label said, and half the orders never arrived.8

How Oryx helpsA plan for losing it and keeping it off

An Oryx doctor looks at the whole picture and will ask about your weight history, waist, blood pressure, blood results and what you’ve already tried. If a prescription is appropriate, they’ll tell you exactly what it is, what to expect and how you’ll keep the results.

More about weight loss at Oryx

Programmes fromR3,600per month

QuestionsFrequently asked questions

How much weight do I need to lose to see a health benefit?

It depends, and for some people the answer is none. Many people are already at a healthy weight for their body, and losing more can do harm. If you are carrying excess weight, losing 5 to 10% of your starting weight can improve blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. That’s why the first step is a doctor, who will look at your health as a whole and tell you honestly whether weight loss is right for you.

Do weight-loss injections work?

In one major trial, adults using a weekly injection alongside diet and exercise support lost an average of 14.9% of their weight over 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% on a dummy injection.

What happens when you stop weight-loss injections?

In that trial, people who stopped treatment regained about two-thirds of the weight they’d lost within a year. That’s why a good plan covers how you’ll keep the benefit.

Is it safe to buy weight-loss injections online?

Researchers who bought them from illegal online sellers found vials with up to 39% more medicine than the label said, and half the orders never arrived. A prescription from a doctor, dispensed by a licensed pharmacy, avoids that risk.

Does weight affect testosterone?

Yes. Men carrying more weight have consistently lower testosterone, which can feed tiredness, low drive and further weight gain.

How much does the Oryx weight programme cost?

Weight programmes start from R3,600 a month. Your doctor will give you the full cost before you commit.

Ready for a plan that covers keeping it off? Start with the free two-minute eligibility check.

The free eligibility check takes two minutes, it’s private, and there’s no obligation. If you’re a good fit, you’ll speak to one of our doctors.

Start your free eligibility check

Questions first?WhatsApp +27 74 789 8383hello@oryx.health

References

  1. World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight fact sheet
  2. National Department of Health, Stats SA, SAMRC and ICF. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016: key findings
  3. NIDDK. Health risks of overweight and obesity
  4. Wu FCW et al. Hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis disruptions in older men are differentially linked to age and modifiable risk factors: the European Male Aging Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008
  5. NIDDK. Prescription medications to treat overweight and obesity
  6. Wilding JPH et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med 2021
  7. Wilding JPH et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: the STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes Obes Metab 2022
  8. Ashraf AR et al. J Med Internet Res 2024;26:e65440