Your GLP-1 Clinical Assessment

Posted on September 1, 2026 by Sally-Anne Turner

What to Expect with the Clinical Assessments

You’ve seen it online. We’ve seen it online.

A quick clinical assessment (usually via video call), a questionnaire and boom. Your GLP-1 prescription is sent to you in the post. Simple. Fast. But in our view, it’s a bit dangerous and potentially introduces a wealth of other issues.

When you start GLP-1s, especially when you have a pre-existing health condition, you need to know more than what you see online. And your prescriber needs to know more about you than some of the questions you have given them. Imagine if you met the criteria for Mounjaro on NHS but got access after one phone call and no physical checks!

Choosing to start medicated weight loss should be more than a quick appointment. It requires clinical insight, medical assessments, a tailored plan and, in the case of those with pre-existing medical conditions, a lot of oversight. This ensures that it stays safe, effective and, more importantly, allows you to reach your weight loss goals without delving into the Wegovy vs Mounjaro debate!

We’ve looked at what to expect when you contact us for medicated weight loss. Now, our team at the Bodyline Clinic will explore what you can expect with our clinical assessments, as part two of our Patient Journey blog.

Weight and Health Goals

Let’s start with the important stuff.

In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) oversees the clinical aspect of GLP-1treatments. So, our team has to follow guidelines with all of our patients. With us, you will get prescription medications that work to help you lose weight and no dodgy GLP-1 patches!

A core part of this is that a clinical assessment is required before a GLP-1 medicine can be prescribed by a private provider.

So, in line with MHRA guidelines, when you come to our team, we will cover the following areas.

Your current weight and BMI. This is essential for assessing your suitability for treatment with us and with GLP-1 medications.

You may or may not have weight-related health issues. This can range from sleep apnoea to an issue with your blood pressure. You need to tell us, and we will ask about any medications you are taking or other treatments.

Your previous attempts at losing weight. Please tell us about all attempts you have had. It doesn’t matter whether you bought weight-loss patches online or simply got a dog to walk once a day. Tell us! This will help us assess your metabolic health and determine which medication may be most suitable for you.

What are your goals with GLP-1 treatments? For some people, it is to go down in clothing sizes. For others, it is to help them manage a heart condition that has been worsened by weight gain. This will help us tailor your plan with different foods or exercises.

OK, now we know that there can be some worry about judgement here. Our team will NOT judge you if you haven’t exercised since high school. Or if you don’t eat vegetables. Telling us about your current lifestyle will, again, help us to tailor your weight-loss plan with higher success for you. We won’t automatically switch out your food or suggest more intense exercises than you can manage. We want to help you hit your goals and keep your weight off. So, be honest!

NICE recommends that, as part of GLP-1treatments, all people who are undertaking it have to undertake an increase in physical activity and dietary interventions. For more guidance on that, check out our piece on diet and the Wegovy pill. It’s not that bad, we promise!

Your Medical History

More clinical stuff! The MHRA notes that for your safety, before we prescribe GLP-1’S, we need to know about other medications. This will help our team to consider risk, warnings, contraindications and monitoring needs.

Our team needs to be told about:

1. Any existing health conditions you have.
2. Previous medical issues (allergies, sensitivities).
3. Current and previous medications (water tablets, loperamide, anti-sickness tablets).
4. Any specialist care you are receiving.

To be clear, even if you are taking over-the-counter supplements, we need to know. So, tell us as much as you can.

Which GLP-1 is the Right One?

At the time of writing, our team at the Bodyline Clinic offers the following GLP-1s for weight loss:

1. The Wegovy Pill.
2. The Wegovy Injectable.
3. Mounjaro.
4. Saxenda weight loss pens.

They are all authorised for treatment of adults living with obesity, defined as a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above, or for adults who are overweight, with a BMI of 27 to below 30 kg/m², who also have at least one weight-related health condition.

Now, these are all designed and prescribed to help our patients lose weight. But one person may have a sensitivity to one but not another. So, we will aim to find the right GLP-1 for you via our clinical assessments and regular monitoring.

For Wegovy doses (injectable and oral), NICE guidelines highlight that treatment may be stopped if the patient has lost less than 5% of their initial weight after 6 months.

For Mounjaro, NICE states that after 6 months on the highest tolerated dose, if the person has lost less than 5% of their initial weight, then we may continue it, depending on the pros and cons.

With Saxenda, the NICE guidelines stipulate that it should be stopped after 12 weeks on the 3 mg daily dose if the patient has not lost at least 5% of their initial body weight.

For Those with Complex Health Conditions

This is what makes our team at Bodyline unique.

Unlike online pharmacies that may turn people away, we work with those who may have heart conditions, gastrointestinal issues and mental health issues. We also work with those who are over the age of 75.

We have the clinical expertise to offer additional clinical checks, assessments and assistance during your time taking GLP-1 treatment.

Then explain the MDT process from your supplied material. This will usually look like:

1. Our team asks your GP/consultant for a summary of your condition.
2. Our senior MDT team review it.
3. We devise an individualised treatment plan.
4. You and our team talk this through, and you give consent.
5. We may/may not opt for shared care (help from your GP or consultant).
6. Treatment starts after all teams agree.

We need to note here that our team at the Bodyline Clinic does not take primary responsibility for treating your complex health condition. We offer weight management alongside specialised care that you are already receiving.

After the Assessment

Once you have been assessed, we will talk to you about the ongoing monitoring clinical pathway.

1. Week 0: consultation and prescription if appropriate
2. Weeks 1 & 2: clinician support
3. Week 4: repeat consultation/prescription if appropriate
4. Weeks 6, 10: clinician support
5. Weeks 8 & 12: repeat consultation/review
6. Ongoing: MDT review where clinically necessary
7. Every six months: review of support needs.

Remember, this is a very simplified version of a treatment plan. Depending on your needs, medication interactions and sensitivity or complications, like side effects of Wegovy, this may need to be jiggled around a bit. If you need to change medications due to lack of weight loss, we will follow the NICE guidelines above.

What you can expect during your first week on GLP-1’s will be the subject of our next blog in the Patient Journey series, so watch this space.

When you come to the Bodyline Clinic for weight loss with GLP-1’s, we do more than give you a prescription. We determine which medication is suitable, identify the potential issues or risks and establish which monitoring is appropriate for you. We also give you a treatment plan to help you achieve success. We may not be the cheapest, but we are the most thorough and supportive!

If you want your medicated weight loss to be a success, contact our friendly team today for a free consultation.