Medical weight management · Clinician-led
Medical weight management: Compare practices from our network
A clinician-led programme that combines changes to eating and activity with regular medical review and, where it is appropriate for you, prescribed treatment.
Our network
Medical weight management providers from Adoreal's partner network.
Baltimore, Maryland · United States
Belcara Health
Medical weight management led by a physician assistant, with nutrition counseling from the practice's registered dietitians.
Baltimore, Maryland · United States
Belcara Health
Medical weight management led by a physician assistant, with nutrition counseling from the practice's registered dietitians.
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How to choose a medical weight management provider
Board certification is the starting point. The details below are worth weighing carefully when you're choosing the provider who's right for your goals.
Here's what to look for before you decide:
A good program starts with a medical assessment, not a prescription.
Your weight history, health conditions, current medicines and blood tests should all be reviewed before any treatment is discussed. Ask who carries out the assessment and what their clinical qualification is.
Lifestyle support should be part of the plan.
Public guidance is clear that medicines are used alongside changes to eating and activity. A provider who offers dietitian or nutrition support is treating weight as a long-term health issue rather than a quick fix.
They should tell you when this is not the right route.
Some people do not meet the criteria for a medicine, or would be better served by a specialist weight service or another approach. A provider who says so is being honest rather than selling.
Ask where any medicine comes from.
A prescribed medicine should be dispensed by a licensed pharmacy. In the US, ask whether a product is FDA-approved or compounded; regulators note that compounded versions have not been reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality.
Follow-up and an exit plan matter.
Ask how often you will be reviewed, who to contact about side effects, how often blood tests are repeated, and what support you will have when treatment ends.
Before your consultation, prepare this question
“Am I a good fit for this, how will you monitor me, and what happens when I stop?”
A provider who answers all three, including the last, is planning for your long-term health rather than the first prescription.
Find a Medical weight management ProviderAbout the treatment
About medical weight management
Medical weight management is weight support led by a clinician rather than a diet plan alone. It starts with a medical assessment of your weight, health history and any weight-related conditions, usually including blood tests, and then builds a plan around changes to what you eat and how active you are.
For some people, a clinician may also prescribe a weight-management medicine. Public health bodies are clear that these medicines are used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, not instead of them, and that they are prescribed only after an assessment shows they are suitable.
What is medical weight management?
Clinician-led weight support that combines changes to eating and activity with regular medical review. For some people, after an assessment, it can include a prescribed medicine.
Who it is for
Adults whose weight affects their health, or who have weight-related conditions, and who want supervised support. Eligibility for any medicine depends on BMI and health, and thresholds vary by country and by medicine.
What to expect
An assessment with blood tests, a shared plan for eating and activity, and regular check-ins. If a medicine is prescribed, you are shown how to take it and reviewed on a schedule your clinician sets.
Risks and side effects
Digestive side effects are the most common. Serious effects such as pancreatitis are rare. Medicines bought without a prescription carry extra risk because their contents cannot be trusted.
When to seek medical attention
Seek care promptly if you notice:
- Severe stomach or back pain that does not go away
- Swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing
- Vomiting or diarrhea that stops you keeping fluids down
- Sudden changes in your vision
Contact your prescriber directly, or seek emergency care, if you experience any of the above.
Common questions
Medical weight management questions, answered.
If your question isn't here, ask us directly. A real person answers, and we won't push you toward anything.
Talk to us →Is medical weight management the same as weight-loss surgery?
No. It is non-surgical: a supervised programme of lifestyle support with regular medical review, and in some cases a prescribed medicine. Weight-loss surgery is a separate route with its own eligibility criteria.
Will I be prescribed a medicine?
Not necessarily. A medicine is considered only after an assessment, depending on your BMI, your health and whether it is safe for you. Many people are supported through eating and activity changes alone.
Do I still need to change how I eat and move?
Yes. Public guidance says weight-management medicines should be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity. They are not designed to work on their own.
How are these medicines taken?
It depends on the medicine. Some are weekly injections under the skin that you are shown how to give yourself; others are capsules or tablets. Your clinician will explain the one they suggest, if any.
What are the common side effects?
The most common are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, which usually ease with time. Less common but serious effects, such as pancreatitis, are why follow-up matters.
What happens when I stop?
Weight can return if eating and activity habits change back. A good programme plans for the end of treatment from the start, and the NHS says you should be offered support to stay at a healthy weight after stopping.
Can I buy these medicines online?
Only with a prescription and from a licensed pharmacy. Regulators warn that products sold without a prescription, including on social media, may be counterfeit or unsafe.
Is it suitable during pregnancy?
Weight-management medicines are not used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Tell your clinician if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy.
How does it relate to plastic surgery?
Body-contouring surgery such as excess skin removal is planned around a stable weight, and most surgeons want your weight stable for six to twelve months first. If you are considering both, ask how the timing would work.
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