Weight Management Consultation

This service is not suitable for you if you:

• Are younger than 18 years of age
• Your BMI is less than 28
• Are pregnant/ possibly pregnant or trying to conceive
• Are breastfeeding
• Have a past history of an eating disorder

1. Initial Consultation

This will be a 25-minute video consultation with one of our weight management doctors. During this consultation, we will discuss your weight loss goals, past medical history, and treatment options. 

There are many factors involved in weight management and to ensure our patients get the best support possible, we offer extended initial consultations. These consultations are longer than our standard GP Video Consultations and other weight management services available online. The extended service allows for a more in-depth discussion with your GP so we can fully understand your goals and how we can support you.

There will be a medical questionnaire to complete before your consultation so your GP can review this in advance. This is to help you get the most from your consultation time.

2. Review Consultation

This will be a 10-minute video consultation with one of our weight management doctors, usually 12 weeks after your initial consultation. Repeat prescriptions can be provided after your 12-week follow-up consultation, if clinically appropriate.

Ireland has one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe with an estimated 60% of adults being overweight or obese. This trend is set to continue.

The most widely used method of checking if you are a healthy weight is body mass index (BMI).

It is a measurement to check if you are a healthy weight for your height. It is not an accurate measure of body fat in everyone, but it is a useful guide that is easy to calculate.

A BMI of over 25 is considered overweight and over 30 is considered obese. Weight carried around the midriff from middle age onwards is considered the more unhealthy form. Please view this image below for more information:

If you are not sure if you’re a healthy weight, you can find out using our BMI calculator.

If you are overweight, the hormones that regulate your appetite change. They cause your metabolism to slow down, making you feel hungry and making it much harder to lose weight. Unfortunately, if you then lose weight, these hormonal changes encourage weight gain.

The oral weight loss medication that our GPs can prescribe (where clinically appropriate) is a type of medicine known as a lipase inhibitor.

This medication is taken at meal times and it works by preventing your body from digesting and absorbing some of the fat that you have eaten during your meal.

The lipase inhibitor attaches to the enzymes in your digestive system (lipases) and blocks them from breaking down approximately ⅓ of the fat in the food you eat. This undigested fat is not absorbed into your body and is passed out in faeces (stool).

Combined with a calorie-controlled, low-fat diet and regular exercise, the medication can help you lose weight. It is important to note that this medication is not a replacement for a balanced diet and exercise.

When using this medication, you will need to limit the calories you eat that come from fat to under 30% of your total calories. You will also need to ensure your daily intake of fat, carbohydrates and protein is evenly distributed over three main meals.

The self-injectable weight loss medications that we can prescribe (where clinically appropriate) work by suppressing your appetite, making you feel fuller for longer and less hungry.

These medications work by imitating a hormone that your body naturally produces to regulate your appetite.

It is important to note that these medications are not a replacement for a balanced diet and exercise.

When using these medications, you will need to follow a calorie-controlled diet and take regular exercise.