Weight loss injections: the slimming jab and what you need alongside it

By Gijs Bodenstaff · Last reviewed: 21 October 2026

Losing weight with injections means that, alongside an adjusted eating pattern and more exercise, you use a weight loss injection prescribed by your doctor. On this page you can read which active substances exist, what is reimbursed in October 2026, which side effects come with them and what studies show when you stop. You will then see how support from Overgewicht Nederland B.V. fits alongside your doctor's treatment.

Transparency: the coaching programme on this page is provided by Overgewicht Nederland B.V. in Amersfoort. If you sign up via the form, we pass your details on to them. Prices according to the provider, reference date 21-10-2026. Read more about this site and the programme.

In brief

There are three weight loss injections registered for weight management: semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide; all three on prescription only (Apotheek.nl, 15-09-2026; EMA).
Only liraglutide is reimbursed under conditions, after at least a year of combined lifestyle intervention (GLI) (Zorginstituut Nederland, 03-02-2026).
A recommendation on semaglutide and tirzepatide is expected in early 2027; nothing has been decided (Zorgkiezer, 20-10-2026).
In studies, a large part of the lost weight came back after stopping (STEP 1 extension, 2022; SURMOUNT-4, 2023).
No medicines are prescribed or sold via this site.

No advertising: this page is about support. We name active substances. Brand names appear only in brackets, so that you recognise them. In the Netherlands there is an advertising ban on prescription medicines (Ondernemersplein, accessed 21-10-2026). Whether a medicine suits you is something you decide together with your GP (huisarts) or specialist.

Which weight loss injections are available in 2026

A weight loss injection is a medicine in a pre-filled pen. You inject it under the skin yourself, usually in your stomach, thigh or upper arm. In the Netherlands there are three active substances: semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide. They differ mainly in how often you inject and in reimbursement.

According to the European registration, these medicines are intended for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or with a BMI of 27 to 30 and at least one weight-related condition. Think of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sleep apnoea. Liraglutide is also registered for young people aged 12 and over with obesity and a weight above 60 kilos (EMA, 31-07-2025). According to the registration, all medicines go together with a reduced-calorie diet and more exercise. If you first want to know your own BMI, use the calculator to calculate your BMI.

Weight loss injections for obesity: form, frequency and reimbursement, as of October 2026. Source: Apotheek.nl (15-09-2026), EMA (02-2026 and 31-07-2025), Zorginstituut Nederland (03-02-2026), Zorgkiezer (20-10-2026).
Active substance	Brand for recognition	Form and frequency	Covered in 2026
Semaglutide	(Wegovy)	Pen, 1x per week	No, not for obesity
Tirzepatide	(Mounjaro)	Pen, 1x per week	No, not for obesity
Liraglutide	(Saxenda)	Pen, 1x per day	Yes, under conditions after 1 year of GLI

You will also come across semaglutide (Ozempic). In the Netherlands that medicine is registered for diabetes, not as a weight loss product (IGJ via NOS, 18-08-2026). Besides the injections, there are tablets and capsules for overweight. You can read more about them under losing weight with a weight loss pill or tablet.

Weight loss injections are prescription only

All three weight loss injections are prescription medicines. Only a doctor may prescribe them, usually your GP (huisarts) or a medical specialist. GPs work according to the NHG guideline (NHG-Standaard): a medicine only comes into the picture if a year of lifestyle treatment has produced too little result. How that decision is made and which stopping rules apply can be read under weight loss medication according to the NHG guideline.

The guideline of the Partnerschap Overgewicht Nederland is clear about this. Medication is an addition to a combined lifestyle intervention (GLI), not a treatment in itself. Do not start it if a supervised lifestyle intervention cannot be followed, because the weight loss is linked to the number of contact moments (richtlijnendatabase, 10-07-2023). When you go to your GP (huisarts), take along your weight, your waist circumference, your current medication and your previous attempts to lose weight. You can read more about that step under help with overweight through your GP.

Losing weight with injections is one of the routes within medical weight loss. Other routes are a lifestyle programme, tablets and weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery). You can find an overview of all routes under medical weight loss: the routes side by side.

Reimbursement and costs of weight loss injections in 2026

Of the three weight loss injections, one is reimbursed from basic health insurance (basisverzekering): liraglutide (Saxenda). This only happens if you have first followed a combined lifestyle intervention (GLI) for at least a year. In addition, your BMI must be 40 or higher, or 35 or higher with an additional condition such as cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea or osteoarthritis (Zorginstituut Nederland, 03-02-2026). The number of people with a reimbursed obesity medicine grew from about 3,800 in 2021 to over 27,000 in 2024 (same source).

Semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are not reimbursed for obesity. The Zorginstituut discussed both medicines on 5 October 2026. A recommendation is expected in early 2027, but the timing is uncertain and nothing has been decided yet (Zorgkiezer, 20-10-2026). The Zorginstituut only wants to assess any reimbursement for people with a BMI of at least 30 (Medisch Contact, 06-11-2025).

We deliberately do not state what a medicine costs if you pay for it yourself. Prices vary widely by medicine and dose, and publishing prices of prescription medicines can count as advertising. Ask your pharmacy for a current price. If you want to keep the route to reimbursement open, start with the GLI your GP can prescribe.

Side effects of weight loss injections

The most frequently reported side effects affect the stomach and bowels. With semaglutide, 10 to 30 in 100 people experience nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain or vomiting. Headache and tiredness also occur (Apotheek.nl, 15-09-2026). For tirzepatide and liraglutide, the EMA mentions similar complaints in more than 1 in 10 users (EMA, 02-2026 and 31-07-2025).

Rarely: with semaglutide, among other things, gallstones, hair loss, dizziness and low blood sugar, especially if you also use other blood-sugar-lowering medicines or insulin.
Very rarely: inflammation of the pancreas. You notice this through severe abdominal pain that does not go away. In that case, call your doctor immediately.
Tirzepatide: low blood sugar occurs mainly in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin (EMA, 02-2026).

Never adjust your dose yourself. Your doctor does that. How to cope with side effects in your daily life, for example eating enough when you feel nauseous, can be read under support with GLP-1 medication.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

You do not use semaglutide if you are pregnant or want to become pregnant. If you become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Whether semaglutide passes into breast milk is unknown (Apotheek.nl, 15-09-2026). For tirzepatide, the product information recommends contraception for women who can become pregnant, and stopping at least a month before a planned pregnancy (EMA, accessed 21-10-2026). So always discuss a wish to have children with your doctor early on.

Fake products and weight loss pens from web shops

Selling weight loss injections without a doctor's prescription is not allowed. The IGJ (Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate) receives reports of suspicious websites every month, can impose fines and take sites offline. The inspectorate's message is short: do not do it (NOS, 19-08-2023). According to the Dutch government (Rijksoverheid), weight loss products are among the products that are often counterfeited and mainly sold online by illegal sellers.

This is how to recognise a reliable supplier: a legal online pharmacy is listed by the CIBG on aanbiedersmedicijnen.nl and displays the European logo that links to that list. In addition, since 9 February 2019 prescription medicines have had a unique code and a feature that shows whether the packaging has been opened before (Rijksoverheid, 09-05-2025). Never buy a pen via social media, marketplace sites or a web shop without a prescription.

Supplements with GLP-1 in their name are something different. They are not medicines, they may not claim to treat a disease and, according to experts, they come nowhere near the effect of real GLP-1 medicines (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 01-08-2025).

Preserving muscle during GLP-1 injections

When you lose weight with a weight loss injection, you do not only lose fat. In a joint advisory from 2025, four American organisations for lifestyle medicine, nutrition and obesity warn of loss of muscle and bone mass with GLP-1 therapy. Their priority: enough protein and strength training to preserve muscle. They do not regard medication alone as a complete solution (The Obesity Society et al., 06-2025). We do not give a percentage of muscle loss, because our sources do not show this unambiguously.

What can you do yourself? Consciously choose a source of protein at your meals, even if you are not very hungry, and train your muscles a few times a week. How much protein suits you is something to discuss with your GP (huisarts) or a dietitian. If you want to see how your body is changing, you can measure it. An InBody measurement is less exact than a DEXA scan, but is mainly useful for following your own progress if you always measure under the same conditions (Merrigan et al., 2022). Read more about having your body fat percentage measured in Amersfoort.

What studies show after stopping weight loss injections

You always stop or taper off in consultation with your doctor. What happens to weight afterwards has, however, been well researched. In both large studies below, a large part of the lost weight came back after stopping. The researchers of the STEP 1 extension see that as confirmation that obesity is a chronic condition for which ongoing treatment seems necessary (Wilding et al., 2022). The figures are averages from studies and not an expectation for you.

Weight during and after stopping a weight loss injection in two studies (averages). Source: Wilding et al., Diabetes Obes Metab (2022); Aronne et al., JAMA (12-12-2023, via TCTMD).
Study	On the medicine	After stopping
STEP 1 extension, semaglutide	17.3% loss after 68 weeks, with lifestyle	After 1 year 11.6 percentage points regained; net 5.6%
SURMOUNT-4, tirzepatide	20.9% loss after 36 weeks	Placebo group week 36 to 88: 14.0% gained

Chart of weight loss injections: weight after stopping the weight loss injection in the STEP 1 extension and SURMOUNT-4 — Weight after stopping semaglutide and tirzepatide in studies. Source: Wilding et al. (2022) and Aronne et al. (JAMA, 12-12-2023).

In SURMOUNT-4, the group that continued with tirzepatide lost a further 5.5 percent over the same period (Aronne et al., 2023). GP patient information puts it in plain words: medicines lose their effect over time, and with little lifestyle change, weight and risks increase again. The guideline also has a stopping rule. With liraglutide you stop if, after 12 weeks on the highest tolerated dose, you have lost less than 5 percent (richtlijnendatabase, 10-07-2023). That is why the habits you build up while on the injection count: eating pattern, exercise, sleep and dealing with stress.

Support alongside the weight loss injection

A weight loss injection does not automatically change what you eat, how you move or how you deal with stress. That is what support is for. No medicines are prescribed or sold through this site. According to its own information, the provider does offer twelve months of support, including alongside a medicine prescribed by your own doctor. According to the provider, the team is specially trained in support with GLP-1 medication and in PCOS. Topics you can discuss in the sessions:

Eating with less appetite: small portions without deficiencies, with attention to protein.
Muscles: exercise and strength training that fit your day.
Side effects: dealing with nausea or tiredness in your working week; you discuss your dose with your doctor.
Stopping: a plan for the period after the last injection.
Measurements: InBody and REE measurement in Amersfoort to follow your own progress.

How the coaching sessions go is agreed in the introductory conversation. What you do not get: a prescription, a medicine or a promise about kilos. The full programme can be found under twelve months of support for overweight.

Costs of support alongside the weight loss injection

About €3.55 per day. According to Overgewicht Nederland B.V., the standard programme costs €108 per month or €1,295 per year, for twelve months of support. You pay monthly by direct debit. Medication is not included in the price; that goes through your doctor and pharmacy.

With doctor, coach and psychologist

Monthly

€3.55 per day

€108 per month

12 months of support
Direct debit, no large lump sum
Total €1,296 over 12 months

Yearly

€3.55 per day

€1,295 in one payment

12 months of support
One payment in advance
Equivalent to €107.92 per month

Research programme

€2.84 per day

€1,295 for 15 months

15 instead of 12 months of support
Three extensive measurement sessions in Amersfoort
Equivalent to €86.33 per month

View the research programme

Amounts according to Overgewicht Nederland B.V., reference date 21-10-2026. The price per day is a conversion (total divided by the number of days in the term); you pay per month or per year. Medication comes on top. You will receive the exact terms, such as the term and cancellation, in writing before you start.

Discuss how support fits alongside your treatment

Do you use a weight loss injection, or are you considering one with your doctor? Sign up for an introductory conversation about support, nutrition and preserving muscle.

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Other forms of support

Weight loss during menopause

Your hormones change, and so does your body. Support that takes this into account.

PCOS and overweight

Insulin resistance and a cycle that does not cooperate: targeted support.

Support with GLP-1

Using semaglutide or tirzepatide? Coaching on nutrition, muscles and stopping.

Food noise and cravings

Always thinking about food? Psychological support alongside lifestyle.

Complex medical situation

Diabetes, heart problems, medicines or previous surgery: care that keeps an eye on things.

Extra personal support

More contact, a dedicated coach and quick availability. Let us know what you are looking for.

Take part in research

15 months of support with three extensive measurements in Amersfoort.

Weight loss injections: by town within 75 km of Amersfoort

For each town you will find the municipality's figures, the distance to the measurement location in Amersfoort and the questions people there ask.

Compare at a glance

Compare at a glance
What do you get?	Overgewicht Nederland	Goodweigh	Wellis	Yazen
Consultation with a doctor by phone or video	Yes:	No:	Partly:	Not mentioned:
Attention to the menopause	Yes:	Yes:	Not mentioned:	Not mentioned:
Money back if the doctor advises against it	Not mentioned:	Yes:	Not mentioned:	Not mentioned:
Everything via chat, without phone calls	No:	Yes:	Yes:	Partly:

yes no (according to the provider itself) partly not mentioned. Reference date 22-10-2026. All differences and sources

Frequently asked questions about weight loss injections

What does losing weight with injections involve?

Losing weight with injections means that, alongside eating fewer calories and moving more, you use a weight loss injection prescribed by a doctor. This concerns semaglutide, tirzepatide or liraglutide, which you inject under the skin with a pen (Apotheek.nl, 15-09-2026; EMA). The guideline sees the injection as an addition to a lifestyle programme, not as a stand-alone solution (richtlijnendatabase, 10-07-2023).

Is losing weight with injections the same as medical weight loss?

No, weight loss injections are one part of medical weight loss. Medical weight loss also includes a combined lifestyle intervention (GLI), weight loss pills and weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery), always with a doctor involved. Which route suits you depends on your BMI, your health and what you have already tried. Discuss this with your GP (huisarts). An overview of the routes is available at the four routes of medical weight loss.

Under what conditions is liraglutide (Saxenda) reimbursed?

Liraglutide (Saxenda) is reimbursed if you have first followed a combined lifestyle intervention (GLI) for at least a year and your BMI is 40 or higher, or 35 or higher with an additional condition such as cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea or osteoarthritis (Zorginstituut Nederland, 03-02-2026). Your GP (huisarts) or specialist assesses whether you meet these conditions. Ask your health insurer which documents are needed.

Why is semaglutide (Wegovy) not reimbursed for obesity?

There is no positive decision on reimbursement yet. Semaglutide (Wegovy) received a negative recommendation in 2024 and was discussed again by the Zorginstituut on 5 October 2026. A new recommendation is expected in early 2027, but the timing is uncertain (Zorgkiezer, 20-10-2026). Until there is a decision, you pay for the medicine yourself when it is used for obesity.

How safe is a weight loss injection from the pharmacy?

A registered weight loss injection, prescribed by a doctor and supplied by a pharmacy, has European registration, but is not without risk. Stomach and bowel complaints are common and there are rare serious side effects, such as an inflamed pancreas (Apotheek.nl, 15-09-2026). Pens from web shops or via social media are not safe: the IGJ (Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate) strongly advises against them (NOS, 19-08-2023).

How much weight can you lose in 3 months with liraglutide (Saxenda)?

There is no fixed figure, because it differs from person to person. Liraglutide does have a stopping rule: if after 12 weeks on the maintenance dose you have lost less than 5 percent of your weight, you stop the medicine (EMA, 31-07-2025; richtlijnendatabase, 10-07-2023). Your doctor keeps track of that. Whether you reach that threshold also depends on your eating pattern and exercise.

Which weight loss option suits me: injection, pill or surgery?

You decide that together with your doctor, based on your BMI, your health, previous attempts and what is covered by insurance. For most people it starts with a lifestyle programme. According to the NHG guideline (NHG-Standaard), medication only comes into the picture after a year with too little result. Weight loss surgery is a separate route with its own criteria. Read which conditions apply at am I eligible for treatment.

How quickly do you lose 10 kilos with a weight loss injection?

That cannot be predicted and we deliberately do not give a time frame. Studies give averages over long periods, such as 68 or 72 weeks, and always with a lifestyle programme alongside. How it goes for you depends on your starting weight, the dose, side effects and your lifestyle. Discuss with your doctor what is realistic and which stopping rule applies to your medicine.

Are you eligible for a weight loss injection with a BMI under 30?

That is possible from a BMI of 27, if you also have at least one weight-related condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sleep apnoea. That is what the European registration states. The guideline also mentions an increased waist circumference (richtlijnendatabase, 10-07-2023). A doctor assesses whether a medicine suits your situation; reimbursement is a separate question.

How many people use a reimbursed obesity medicine?

The number of people who had liraglutide or naltrexone/bupropion reimbursed grew from about 3,800 in 2021 to over 27,000 in 2024. The Zorginstituut reported this in February 2026, when it pointed to the sharp rise in costs of medicines and lifestyle programmes for obesity (Zorginstituut Nederland, 03-02-2026). How many people pay for a non-reimbursed medicine themselves is not included in those figures.

Why does the inspectorate advise against buying a weight loss pen outside the pharmacy?

Because selling without a prescription is prohibited and the pen may be fake. The IGJ receives reports of suspicious websites every month and takes sites offline (NOS, 19-08-2023). According to the Dutch government (Rijksoverheid), weight loss products are often counterfeited. A genuine online pharmacy is listed on aanbiedersmedicijnen.nl and displays the European logo that links to that list (Rijksoverheid, 09-05-2025).

What is the difference between liraglutide (Saxenda) and naltrexone/bupropion (Mysimba)?

Liraglutide is a daily injection; naltrexone/bupropion is a tablet that you build up over four weeks to two tablets twice a day (EMA). Both are reimbursed under certain conditions after a year of combined lifestyle intervention (GLI), but with different BMI thresholds (Zorginstituut Nederland, 03-02-2026). The side effects and contraindications also differ. Your doctor decides. Read more about tablets at the weight loss pill and other tablets.

What do you pay for support if you already use a weight loss injection?

That works out at €3.55 per day. According to Overgewicht Nederland B.V., the support costs €108 per month or €1,295 per year, for twelve months. You pay monthly by direct debit. Medication is not included; you arrange that with your own doctor and pharmacy. What the support includes and how the sessions work is discussed in the introductory meeting. Sign up for support alongside injections.

Why does this site not say which weight loss injection works best?

Because it differs from person to person and because promoting a prescription medicine is prohibited in the Netherlands. According to the Council of State (Raad van State), a promotional text about a medicine can already count as advertising, even without a commercial interest (25-02-2026). That is why we give neutral information with sources. Which medicine suits you is something to discuss with your GP (huisarts) or specialist.

Can I get help with weight loss injections in Amersfoort?

For the medication itself, you go to your own GP (huisarts) or specialist; no medication is prescribed or sold through this site. In Amersfoort, you can go to Overgewicht Nederland B.V. for support alongside the injection and for measurements such as InBody and REE. How the support works is agreed in the introductory meeting. Read more about the region at obesity care in the Amersfoort region.