Weight-loss pill reaches pharmacies as injection user loses appetite

A new prescription weight-loss pill is now available in German pharmacies, but building cleaner Manfred Plinninger is sticking with his weekly injection after losing almost 40 kilograms. The 43-year-old says the treatment has improved his health, but also taken much of the pleasure out of eating, BR reported.

Plinninger, a self-employed building cleaner from Bad Endorf, weighed 110 kilograms just over six months ago. After losing almost 40 kilograms in six and a half months, he says he feels fitter and has more energy for his physically demanding work.

He injects himself once a week, every Saturday morning. The injections initially caused stomach pain, but those side effects have subsided. His appetite has also fallen sharply.

“I always enjoyed going to Italian restaurants and eating a lot, including two pizzas or a rich carbonara,” Plinninger said. “But then I realised I could not eat it anymore. After two forkfuls, I am done.”

Pill offers an alternative to injections

Doctors at the Technical University of Munich are familiar with possible side effects such as loss of appetite and stomach pain. Nutrition specialist Anja Roßmeißl advises people on weight loss and will also work with patients taking the new pill.

She said the pill could be suitable for people who are uncomfortable with needles. Its mechanism tells the brain that the person is full and causes the stomach to empty more slowly. Patients often report that they visit the refrigerator less frequently and think less about food, she said.

According to Roßmeißl, the prescription pill is intended for people with a body mass index above 30. The BMI measures the relationship between height and weight, and a value above 30 is considered obesity.

Daily pill requires more discipline

The medication is available only on prescription and is not free. Roßmeißl said it costs between 170 and 300 euros per month, roughly the same as the injection.

However, the pill requires more discipline. While the injection is administered once a week, the pill must be taken every day, consistently at the same time and on an empty stomach, Roßmeißl said.

Long-term weight loss is possible only when treatment is combined with more exercise and a healthy diet, she added. Otherwise, patients risk regaining the weight.

Plinninger plans to avoid that so-called yo-yo effect. He intends to gradually reduce the injections while closely monitoring his weight. One day, he hopes to return to an Italian restaurant and order a large, rich portion of carbonara as a treat.

“It tastes completely different when you do not eat it every day,” he said.