Private GLP-1 weight-loss clinic in London, by a consultant endocrinologist / obesity physician.
NICE- and MHRA-guided, with an honest word on maintenance and what happens if you stop.
Indicative pricing
What a private GLP-1 programme costs in London.
Consultation, drug supply, dietitian input and monthly monitoring are bundled - not billed piecemeal.
In short
£220–£350/month, all-in, including monthly review.
| Programme | Indicative range | Schedule | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial consultant consultation | £250–£400 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Monthly Wegovy (semaglutide) programme | £200–£300/mo | Weekly pen | All-in |
| Monthly Mounjaro (tirzepatide) programme | £220–£350/mo | Weekly pen | All-in |
| Monthly Saxenda (liraglutide) programme | £280–£400/mo | Daily pen | All-in |
| Add-on: registered dietitian package (6 sessions) | £450–£700 | 45 min each | 6 months |
| Add-on: DEXA body composition scan | £150–£250 | 15 min | Same day |
Prices vary by clinic, by the drug, by the dose you are on and by whether dietitian sessions or a DEXA scan are bundled.
The problem
The right drug, at a real dose, with a real exit plan.
GLP-1 prescribing is one of the most under-monitored corners of UK private medicine - click-and-ship websites, no examination, no dietitian, no plan for what happens when the drug stops. We fix all three before you start.
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Getting the drug at all?
NHS access is restricted (NICE TA875, TA1026) and Ozempic supply is squeezed. We prescribe MHRA-licensed Wegovy or Mounjaro from a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy, cold-chain delivered.
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Not sure which drug is right?
Wegovy, Mounjaro or Saxenda - the choice depends on your biology, comorbidities, budget and how you tolerate the first dose. A consultant picks it with you, not for you.
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Worried about stopping?
Two-thirds of weight lost typically returns within a year of stopping (STEP-4, SURMOUNT-4). We plan the taper, the maintenance dose and the lifestyle scaffolding before you start.
When it helps
When a GLP-1 programme is the right step.
The indications we see most, plus the one red flag that means an urgent medical assessment before anyone talks about weight-loss drugs.
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BMI 30 or above
The primary licensed indication for GLP-1 receptor agonists - obesity without needing an additional comorbidity to justify treatment.
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BMI 27–29.9 with a comorbidity
Overweight with hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease or prediabetes - meets licensed use in the UK.
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Type 2 diabetes
Mounjaro and Ozempic are licensed for type 2 diabetes and drive both HbA1c and weight down - often used alongside metformin.
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PCOS with insulin resistance
Weight-related PCOS with metabolic features - GLP-1s can help cycle regularity and metabolic markers when used with lifestyle change.
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Pre-bariatric optimisation
Bringing weight and metabolic risk down before bariatric surgery, or as an alternative for patients who decline surgery.
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Plateau after diet and exercise
Genuine, sustained lifestyle change that has stalled - GLP-1s can restart progress when appetite and satiety are the limiting step.
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Post-menopausal weight gain
Weight gain around the menopause with insulin resistance - considered alongside HRT and lifestyle, not as a first line.
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Red flag: rapid unexplained weight loss
Losing weight you did not intend to lose is not a GLP-1 case - it needs investigation for malignancy, thyroid disease or GI pathology first.
Drug options
Not all GLP-1 programmes are the same.
What each drug actually is - and which fits which patient, which biology and which budget. Plus a candid word on compounded and off-label supply.
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Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg)
Once-weekly injection, licensed in the UK for weight management. NICE TA875 restricts NHS access to specialist services and 2 years; private prescribing has no such cap.
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Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
Once-weekly dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist. Currently the most effective agent for weight loss in head-to-head trials. NICE TA1026 covers NHS use for BMI ≥ 35 with comorbidity.
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Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg)
Daily injection, the original GLP-1 for weight management. Less effective than the weekly agents; useful when tolerability of semaglutide or tirzepatide is poor.
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Ozempic (semaglutide, off-label for weight)
Licensed for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. UK supply has been repeatedly constrained by the MHRA and diabetes-first prescribing rules - we avoid off-label use for weight where Wegovy exists.
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Compounded GLP-1s - a warning
Grey-market compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide sold online are not MHRA-licensed, not batch-tested and have caused hospital admissions. We will not prescribe them.
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Meal-replacement adjunct
Total or partial meal-replacement programmes (Cambridge, Optifast) alongside GLP-1s in selected cases - always dietitian-supervised, never open-ended.
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Bariatric surgery referral pathway
For BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with serious comorbidity, or when GLP-1s have failed or are not tolerated - we refer to a UK bariatric centre for gastric sleeve or bypass.
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Maintenance dose and taper planning
Once weight target is reached, we plan the lowest effective dose, a taper if appropriate, and the lifestyle scaffolding to reduce regain. Not a lifetime commitment by default.
Safety and monitoring
What to expect on treatment - honestly.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are well-established drugs with a decade of real-world use. The things worth planning around are the first few weeks of nausea, the rare-but-serious signals, muscle-mass preservation, and what happens if you stop.
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Nausea, vomiting and reflux
The commonest side effects, worst in the first few weeks of each dose step. Usually manageable with slow titration, smaller meals and avoiding fatty food.
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Pancreatitis (rare)
Acute pancreatitis has been reported with GLP-1s. Severe, persistent upper abdominal pain radiating to the back needs same-day medical review and the drug held.
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Gallstones and biliary disease
Rapid weight loss of any cause increases gallstone risk. GLP-1s add a small additional signal - new right-upper-quadrant pain needs an ultrasound.
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Loss of lean muscle mass
Up to a quarter of weight lost on GLP-1s can be lean mass. Protein intake (1.2–1.6 g/kg) and resistance training are non-negotiable, not optional.
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Thyroid C-cell tumour signal
A rodent MTC signal means GLP-1s are contraindicated in personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2. Screened at intake.
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Hypoglycaemia on insulin or sulfonylurea
Adding a GLP-1 to insulin or a sulfonylurea can cause hypos. Doses of those drugs are reduced up front and reviewed weekly at first.
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Injection-site reactions
Redness, itching or a small lump at the injection site is common and settles. Rotate sites; a persistent nodule warrants a check.
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Weight regain on stopping
Trial data (STEP-4, SURMOUNT-4) show substantial regain - often two-thirds of weight lost - within a year of stopping. Discussed before you start, not after.
Reading your treatment plan
Your written plan in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever drug is picked, the plan your consultant sends you keeps to the same shape - and includes an exit, not just an entry.
A quiet reminder
A GLP-1 is a tool, not a solution - the plan needs a proper start and a proper finish.
If you would like us to walk you through the plan before you commit, just ask.
- 01 Intake
History, examination and screening
Weight trajectory, previous attempts, comorbidities, contraindications, screening bloods and baseline measurements - the reason we picked the drug we picked.
- 02 Regimen
Drug, dose and escalation plan
Which agent (Wegovy, Mounjaro, Saxenda), starting dose, weekly or daily schedule, planned escalation and the fallback if tolerability is poor.
- 03 Monitoring
What we track each month
Weight, waist, blood pressure, HbA1c and lipids at three months, side-effect log and adherence. When we hold the dose, when we escalate.
- 04 Off-ramp
Review cadence and exit plan
Read this first: how long we plan to treat, when we consider maintenance dose, and what the taper and lifestyle plan looks like if you choose to stop.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Most UK private medical insurance policies do not cover weight-loss drugs - self-pay is the norm for a GLP-1 programme.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about GLP-1 weight loss.
Quick answers on drug choice, NHS access, cost, side effects and what happens when you stop.
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What is a GLP-1 receptor agonist and how does it work?
GLP-1 receptor agonists are injectable drugs that mimic a gut hormone - GLP-1 - released after meals. They slow gastric emptying, reduce appetite and improve insulin response. Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic), liraglutide (Saxenda) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro - a dual GIP/GLP-1) are the current UK options.
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Wegovy or Mounjaro - which is better for weight loss?
Head-to-head trial data (SURMOUNT-5) shows tirzepatide (Mounjaro) produces greater weight loss than semaglutide (Wegovy) - around 20% versus 14% over 72 weeks. Mounjaro is our default first choice unless cost, availability or tolerability points to Wegovy. Both are once-weekly injections.
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Can I get a GLP-1 on the NHS?
Yes but the bar is high. NICE TA875 (semaglutide) and TA1026 (tirzepatide) restrict NHS prescribing to specialist weight-management services for BMI ≥ 35 with at least one weight-related comorbidity, and typically for two years only. Waiting lists are long. Most UK patients accessing these drugs are self-paying privately.
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How much does a private GLP-1 programme cost per month?
An initial consultant consultation is £250–£400. Most private medical insurance policies do not cover weight-loss drugs - self-pay is the norm.
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What are the side effects I should actually plan around?
Nausea, vomiting and reflux are the commonest, worst in the first weeks of each dose step. Constipation or diarrhoea, fatigue and injection-site reactions are also common. Rare but serious: pancreatitis, gallstones, and loss of lean muscle mass if you do not eat enough protein or lift weights. GLP-1s are contraindicated if you or a first-degree relative has medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2.
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What happens to my weight when I stop the drug?
The STEP-4 and SURMOUNT-4 trials showed that most people regain around two-thirds of the weight they lost within a year of stopping. That does not mean you must stay on the drug forever, but it does mean the exit needs a real plan - taper, lifestyle scaffolding, dietitian support and a candid conversation before you start, not after you stop.
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