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Medical weight management · UK

A GLP-1 weight-loss clinic, run by a specialist obesity physician.

Wegovy, Saxenda and Mounjaro, prescribed and monitored inside a proper multidisciplinary clinic with a consultant endocrinologist, a dietitian and a psychologist. Not a website with a prescription attached.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private GLP-1 programme costs in the UK.

Weight-loss medication is not usually reimbursed by private insurance.

In short

£2,400 to £8,500, all-in with a specialist team.

Element Indicative range
Initial specialist consultation and screening plan £280 to £450
Monthly monitoring visit and titration £150 to £280
Wegovy (semaglutide) medication, per month £150 to £280
Saxenda (liraglutide) medication, per month £180 to £320
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) medication, per month £180 to £280
Comprehensive annual programme (all-in) £2,400 to £8,500

Prices vary by clinic, by consultant seniority, by drug and dose, and by how much dietitian and psychology time you use.

The problem

The right drug, the right physician, the right team.

A GLP-1 posted from a pharmacy without screening, without titration coaching and without a lifestyle plan is a wasted programme.

  • Is a GLP-1 the right answer for me?

    Not everyone with weight to lose needs one, and not everyone who wants one is eligible. A specialist assesses fit before you commit.

  • Worried about side effects?

    Nausea, gastroparesis, pancreatitis and thyroid risk are quoted honestly, with slow titration and a same-day contact plan.

  • Want to keep the weight off?

    A dietitian, psychologist and clear maintenance plan, so the weight loss does not evaporate the day the prescription lapses.

The journey

From first appointment to maintenance - what happens, in order.

One team from first message to long-term maintenance, including the dietitian, the psychologist and the monthly titration reviews.

  1. 03

    Before

    Screening bloods and comorbidity check

    HbA1c, fasting lipids, LFTs, U&Es, TFTs, calcitonin if indicated, and screening for OSA and NAFLD. Rules out MTC, MEN2, active pancreatitis and pregnancy.

  2. 04

    Starting

    Your first specialist consultation

    60 to 90 minutes with a consultant obesity physician or endocrinologist, a dietitian, and where relevant a psychologist. Consent, dose plan, and injection teaching.

  3. 05

    Starting

    First dose and starter titration

    A low starting dose (Wegovy 0.25 mg, Mounjaro 2.5 mg, Saxenda 0.6 mg) with four-weekly steps and side-effect coaching between visits.

  4. 06

    Long term

    Monthly monitoring and titration

    Weight, waist, blood pressure, tolerance and adherence. Dose increases only when side effects allow. Bloods repeated at three and six months.

  5. 07

    Long term

    Maintenance and long-term plan

    Once a stable dose is reached, reviews typically move to quarterly. Most people stay on therapy long-term; stopping usually means partial or complete weight regain.

Typical time to first dose: 1 to 2 weeks. Titration to target: 4 to 5 months. Maintenance: long term.

Who is eligible

Where a GLP-1 is the right call - and where it is not.

Licensed indications, high-value comorbidities and the safety flags that point to a different plan.

  • BMI 30 or over

    The core NICE-recognised indication for pharmacological weight management alongside a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity.

  • BMI 27 or over with a comorbidity

    Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnoea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or established cardiovascular disease.

  • Type 2 diabetes with obesity

    Mounjaro and Wegovy give both glycaemic control and clinically meaningful weight loss, often reducing insulin and other agents.

  • Obstructive sleep apnoea

    Tirzepatide is now licensed for moderate to severe OSA in adults with obesity, based on the SURMOUNT-OSA programme.

  • Weight regain after bariatric surgery

    Selected patients with post-surgical regain can benefit from a GLP-1 as an adjunct, in a specialist setting.

  • Not for cosmetic weight loss in a normal BMI

    GLP-1 receptor agonists are not licensed for people with a BMI under 27 who simply want to be slimmer. It is unlicensed and unsafe.

  • Personal or family history of MTC or MEN2

    Medullary thyroid carcinoma and MEN2 are contraindications.

  • Red flag: pancreatitis, pregnancy, severe gastroparesis

    Active or previous pancreatitis, pregnancy or planned pregnancy, and severe gastroparesis mean a different plan.

Drug and programme options

A GLP-1 is a family of drugs - and the lifestyle scaffold sits beside it.

What each option involves and where it fits. Retatrutide is trial-only and is included for context; NHS access is limited to specialist weight-management services.

  • Semaglutide (Wegovy) 0.25 to 2.4 mg weekly

    A weekly subcutaneous GLP-1 receptor agonist. STEP-1 showed around 15 percent mean body-weight loss at 68 weeks. NICE TA875 covers specialist NHS use.

  • Liraglutide (Saxenda) 3.0 mg daily

    A daily subcutaneous GLP-1, an older option. SCALE showed around 8 percent weight loss at 56 weeks. NICE TA664. Useful when weekly dosing does not suit.

  • Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) 2.5 to 15 mg weekly

    A dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist. SURMOUNT-1 showed up to 22 percent mean body-weight loss at 72 weeks. NICE TA1026. The most effective licensed option.

  • Retatrutide (triple agonist), trial-only

    A GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist in Phase 3 trials showing about 24 percent weight loss. Not yet licensed. Access is via research programmes only.

  • Dietitian-led calorie and protein plan

    A structured calorie deficit with 1.4 to 1.8 g/kg protein to preserve lean mass while weight comes off. Reviewed monthly against your rate of loss.

  • Resistance training and sleep coaching

    Two to three resistance sessions a week, sleep hygiene, and alcohol reduction. Protects muscle, mood and long-term adherence.

  • Psychology for eating behaviour

    CBT-informed sessions for binge patterns, emotional eating and body image. Improves outcomes and reduces regain when the drug eventually comes down.

  • Second-opinion review of a current programme

    A specialist review of your existing regimen and blood results, with a written recommendation on dose, drug switch or exit plan.

Safety and side effects

What to expect - honestly.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are well studied and generally well tolerated, but they are potent metabolic drugs. The things worth planning are the first eight weeks of side effects, the surgical pause, and the long-term maintenance plan.

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation

    The commonest side effects and the main reason people stop. The dose is escalated slowly, with support through the first eight weeks. Most settle.

  • Delayed gastric emptying and surgery

    GLP-1 drugs slow the stomach, which matters for anaesthesia. Therapy is commonly paused for around three weeks before a planned general anaesthetic to reduce aspiration risk.

  • Pancreatitis and gallstones

    Pancreatitis is rare but real, and rapid weight loss raises the risk of gallstones. Severe upper abdominal pain means the drug stops and you are reviewed the same day.

  • Thyroid C-cell safety

    Rodent data flagged medullary thyroid tumours; the human picture is unclear. A personal or family history of MTC or MEN2 is a firm contraindication.

  • Retinopathy in T2DM

    SUSTAIN-6 flagged a signal for worsening diabetic retinopathy with rapid glucose lowering. Retinal screening before starting is advised in patients with diabetes.

  • Mood, mental health and suicidal ideation

    A regulatory signal was investigated and not confirmed; screening for depression and eating disorders, and reviewing mood at each visit, is still advised.

  • Weight regain if the drug is stopped

    The STEP-4 extension showed roughly two-thirds of lost weight returns within a year of stopping. For most people this is long-term therapy, not a short course.

  • Lifestyle is not optional

    Calorie deficit, protein intake, resistance training, sleep and alcohol reduction do the structural work. The drug removes the appetite barrier.

Reading your treatment plan

Your GLP-1 plan in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever drug is chosen, the written plan your specialist sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant endocrinologist reviewing a weight-loss programme

A quiet reminder

Metabolic language can read coldly - this page puts it in plain English.

If anything in your notes is unclear, ask your care team to talk you through the plan before your first review.

  1. 01 Header

    Diagnosis, BMI and comorbidity summary

    Your starting weight, height, BMI, waist circumference and the specific comorbidities that make you eligible for a licensed GLP-1 programme.

  2. 02 Plan

    Drug, dose ladder and monitoring

    Which agent, the titration schedule week by week, blood-test intervals and the criteria used to hold or step down a dose.

  3. 03 Findings

    Response, tolerance and side effects

    Percentage body-weight loss so far, HbA1c change if diabetic, blood pressure change, and a plain-English note on side effects and adherence.

  4. 04 Impression

    Maintenance or exit plan

    Read this first: are you moving to maintenance, staying on a full dose, switching drug, or planning a slow taper with a lifestyle safety net.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Most UK insurers do not reimburse weight-loss medication itself. Comorbidity screening and specialist consultations may be covered where medically indicated.

Frequently asked

Common questions about GLP-1 clinics.

Quick answers on mechanism, eligibility, cost, and what happens if you eventually stop.

  • How do GLP-1 receptor agonists actually work?

    They are incretin mimetics. They delay gastric emptying so you feel full for longer, they act on hypothalamic appetite centres so you feel less hungry, they suppress glucagon, and they increase insulin release in a glucose-dependent way. The result is a lower calorie intake with better blood-glucose control, which is why they help both weight and type 2 diabetes.

  • Which drug gives the most weight loss?

    Currently tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is the most effective licensed option. SURMOUNT-1 showed around 22 percent mean body-weight loss at 72 weeks at the 15 mg dose. Semaglutide (Wegovy) gave around 15 percent at 68 weeks in STEP-1, and liraglutide (Saxenda) around 8 percent at 56 weeks in SCALE. Retatrutide, a triple agonist showing around 24 percent in trials, is not yet licensed.

  • Am I eligible on the NHS?

    NHS access is limited to specialist weight-management services, typically for a BMI of 35 or over with type 2 diabetes or another comorbidity, and time-limited (Wegovy up to two years). Waiting lists are long. Private specialist care lets you start within days and stay in one programme long term.

  • What does a private GLP-1 programme cost?

    Roughly £280 to £450 for your first specialist consultation and £150 to £280 for each monthly review. Medication ranges from about £150 to £320 a month depending on drug and dose. A comprehensive all-in annual package sits between £2,400 and £8,500. Weight-loss medication is not usually reimbursed by private medical insurance.

  • Do I have to stay on it forever?

    For most people, yes, or accept regain. Obesity behaves like a chronic disease: when the drug stops, appetite comes back and about two-thirds of lost weight returns within a year (STEP-4 extension). Some patients maintain on a lower dose with strong lifestyle scaffolding; a minority sustain the loss off-drug.

  • Is it safe to get a GLP-1 from an online pharmacy without a clinic?

    It is not recommended. Without screening you miss thyroid, pancreatic, retinal and mental-health risks; without titration coaching you are more likely to stop from side effects; and without lifestyle support the weight comes back the moment the prescription lapses. Prescription-only supply is not the same as specialist care.

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