Weight Loss Treatment

At least 50% of women gain weight during the menopause transition

Our metabolism changes as we age and our metabolic rate slows. The drop in oestrogen at menopause intensifies this, increasing insulin resistance, changing fat distribution and increasing sensitivity to cortisol and leptin. Decreasing muscle mass, and poor sleep around menopause can only compound this.

Evidence from the SWAN study and The Healthy Women's study suggests that on average women gain approximately 1.5kg per year during the perimenopause transition, resulting in an average weight gain of 10kg by the time menopause is reached.

Being overweight is a major health risk. It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, metabolic disease and dementia. Not only does it shorten life, it also affects quality of life - with marked psychological and physical effects. Many women spend a lot of their time thinking about and worrying about their weight – a psychological burden on the individual but also their family, friends and work.

Losing weight in midlife is complex

Women will normally need to change the way that they eat, exercise and address other lifestyle factors to manage weight gain in menopause. Our Wellbeing Services pages can give more information on how our Partner practitioners can help with this.

For some women, despite their best efforts, they won’t succeed. For women with a BMI over 30, or a BMI over 27, but with a weight-related medical problem, weight-loss injections may be appropriate.

Medication is not cheating - obesity is a medical condition that requires caring professional support and intervention. Losing weight will always be beneficial for your long term health.

We have become concerned that access to these drugs is increasingly easy and offered without additional health & lifestyle support. This is why we are now offering a Clinic51 weight loss injection service, with 1:1 doctor-led care - so you can feel assured that your treatment is safe and evidence-based.

Medication on its own is unlikely to lead to long term, sustainable change, so our service places great emphasis on supporting you with nutrition, physical activity, emotional health and sleep.

Clinic51’s weight loss service offers:

GLP-1 analogue weight loss medication
Under the 1:1 care of a women's health specialist doctor
Access to resources, and women's health experts who can help you to make long term and sustainable change
Treatment available at a fixed 4-weekly cost

Contact us to enquire about treatment

Please get in touch if you’d like to book an appointment, or would like more information

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What are weight loss injections?

Weight loss injections (GLP-1 analogues) work by decreasing your appetite, making you feel full and improving insulin production. They have been used for over 18 years in the treatment of diabetes but were licensed for use in weight loss in the UK in 2023, for patients who meet specific criteria.

The currently available brands of GLP-1 analogues are Wegovy (called Ozempic when used in diabetics) and Mounjaro. They are given by subcutaneous (beneath the skin) injection once a week. The dose is increased very slowly, to reduce side effects, and they should be discontinued once your target weight is reached or weight loss has stopped.

They are very effective and Mounjaro has been shown to reduce weight by up to 20% over 18 months (Wegovy 15%). For this reason, Mounjaro is normally our first choice.

However to sustain long term weight loss they need to be taken alongside a balanced diet, regular physical activity, good sleep and managed stress levels. So support with these four key areas is a key part of our service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Weight loss injections are licensed for use alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight loss and to help keep the weight under control in adults who have:
- a BMI of 30 or greater (obesity) or
- a BMI of at least 27 but less than 30 (overweight) and weight-related health problem (such as pre-diabetes, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal levels of fats in the blood, breathing problems during sleep called sleep apnoea or history of heart attack, stroke or blood vessel problems)
BMI can be calculated using the NHS BMI Calculator
If you have are unsure about whether you are eligible for weight loss treatment, please contact us to discuss.
It is very important that all information you provide is accurate and honest. Our doctors will not be able to assess your health risks if false or inaccurate information is provided.
The doctor may wish to examine you, take a waist measurement or repeat your weight at your consultation.
Prescribing is at the discretion of the prescribing doctor, so if you are not sure if you are eligible, please do enquire.
If you attend your GLP-1 weight loss consultation appointment, and decide not to go ahead with treatment, or your doctor isn’t able to prescribe medication, you will be still be charged the full first month’s fee of £250.
Yes, access to GLP-1 analogues is available on the NHS, however, local eligibility is often stricter than the licensed eligibility criteria.
NHS access is currently difficult in most places, requiring a referral to a weight management service, with long waits.
- Contact us
- Fill in an eligibility questionnaire (no photos required)
- 30 minute consultation with a doctor (face to face or video)
- Monthly prescriptions
- Three monthly review phone calls with a doctor
Weight loss injection dose will be adjusted depending on your rate of weight loss and side effects, and your choice.
Patients are given access to a private resource area that includes further information about the medication and how to take it, treatment process, and advice and support with Nutrition, Exercise, Emotional Health & Sleep.
Treatment is paid for in monthly instalments.
The majority of patients will see weight loss from month one.
At your initial appointment, we will agree a target weight.
Treatment may be stopped or reduced once you have reached this target.
For the average patient, this will take 18 months.
You can decide to stop the treatment at any time.
The doctor may stop treatment if you are not losing weight, or if you have adverse effects.
The most common side effects are gastro-intestinal, e.g
- nausea & vomiting
- diarrhoea and constipation
These side effects are usually not severe. They are most common when first starting the medication, but decrease over time in most patients.
Hair loss, fatigue, palpitations and injection site reactions are also possible. These drugs reduce appetite, so may affect your enjoyment of food.
Serious but uncommon side effects are an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis), gall stones and gall bladder infections, and allergic reactions.
We offer this service at a fixed price of £250 paid every four weeks, which is collected by direct debit. This includes:
- your initial consultation and follow ups with your doctor
- Prescriptions, medication & delivery charges
As your treatment progresses, if you need an increased dose, the price will rise incrementally as below:
Mounjaro
2.5 and 5.0 mg - £250 / 4-weekly
7.5mg - 10.0mg - £270 / 4-weekly
12.5mg - 15mg - £290 / 4-weekly
(1:1 support given by our partner practitioners is not included in this price)
It is vital to us that we offer patients additional support with diet, exercise, emotional health & sleep, as we know that all of these play a key factor in both losing weight, and maintaining weight loss long term.
Our doctors will give diet & lifestyle advice as part of their consultations, but we also give patients access to a private patient area, that includes simple, easy to follow advice and further reading and resources to help you make sustainable change.
We also offer the details of recommended practitioners who can give further, one-on-one support* to patients - including specific programmes developed to support women taking this medication.
(*not included in the monthly fee)