In short
- Diagnosis before prescription. Weight that keeps returning usually has a medical driver, and it is worth finding.
- GLP-1 medicines are prescription only. Widely discussed in Dubai and widely misused, and the decision belongs to a doctor who has examined you.
- Small losses do real work. 5 to 7 percent lowers diabetes risk. Around 15 percent puts type 2 diabetes into remission in nearly half of those who reach it.
- Muscle is protected on purpose. Close to a third of the weight lost on these medicines comes from muscle related measures unless it is planned for.
- Maintenance is part of the treatment, agreed before you reach the target rather than after.
Who This Service Is For
Who this is for
- Adults whose body mass index is 30 or above, or 27 and above with a weight related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea or fatty liver.
- People who have lost weight repeatedly and regained it, and want to know why.
- Anyone told their glucose, cholesterol or liver values are borderline without an explanation of what to do.
- Patients already on a GLP-1 medicine started elsewhere, who are not being followed properly.
- People who want one physician responsible for the whole picture rather than a trainer, an app and a separate prescription.
Who it is not for
- Anyone wanting a prescription without an examination and blood work.
- Anyone wanting a guaranteed number of kilos by a fixed date.
- People whose main difficulty is a disordered relationship with eating, which needs specialist care first.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding, where weight targets are set differently.
Treatment Programs Under This Pillar
Why Physician-Led Care Matters
Why this needs a doctor
GLP-1 medicines are widely discussed in Dubai and widely misused. They are prescription only, and the decision to start one belongs to a doctor who has examined you, read your blood results and knows your full medication list.
Physician led care changes four things.
- The diagnosis. Weight gain can be driven by thyroid disease, insulin resistance, sleep apnoea, low testosterone or a medicine you already take. Each needs its own answer, and none of them appear on a form.
- The safety net. Dose changes, side effects, gallbladder symptoms, interactions with diabetes and blood pressure medication, and the contraindications that rule the class out entirely.
- The muscle question. Across studies of these medicines, close to a third of the weight lost came from muscle related measures. Nobody selling a pen online is measuring that.
- The exit. Regain after stopping averages around 0.4 kg a month. A plan for that phase is part of the treatment, not an afterthought.
What the honest numbers look like
| Weight loss | What it achieves |
|---|---|
| 5 to 7 percent | Lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, better blood pressure and lipids |
| 5 to 10 percent | Less knee pain, improved liver fat, better glucose regulation |
| Around 15 percent | Remission of type 2 diabetes in nearly half of those who reach it |
Trial averages for the medicines themselves run from roughly 15 percent with semaglutide 2.4 mg to about 21 percent with tirzepatide 15 mg over 15 to 18 months. Individual results vary widely, and you will not be given a number to expect.
The checkpoint that protects you
If a medicine has not produced roughly 5 percent weight loss after three months at a properly titrated dose, it is stopped and something else is tried. That rule exists so nobody spends a year and a lot of money on a treatment that was never going to suit them.
How the Consultation Works
-
1
Goals and history
You describe your weight history, previous attempts, current eating and training pattern, sleep, stress and what you actually want to change. Dr. Felix listens before he assesses.
-
2
Medical review
Examination, body composition and blood pressure, plus blood work covering glucose, HbA1c, lipids, thyroid, liver and kidney function, and hormones where the history points that way.
-
3
Suitability decision
Dr. Felix explains what is driving your weight, whether medication is appropriate at all, which option fits and what the alternatives are. Nothing is prescribed on request alone.
-
4
Personal plan
You receive a written plan covering nutrition, protein and training targets, any prescribed medicine with its dose steps, and the dates of your follow up appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Medication is one option among several and it is considered, not assumed. Some patients need treatment for a condition found in the work up and nothing else. Where a weight medicine fits, you hear the reason.
It depends on your case. Tirzepatide and semaglutide are the most effective. Semaglutide is preferred where there is cardiovascular disease without diabetes, because it is the only one with proven heart benefit in that group. The reason for the choice is explained.
No. Every prescription follows an examination and blood work. The contraindications, the interactions and the dose decisions all depend on information a form cannot provide.
Because weight that will not move often has a driver behind it and several are silent. Thyroid disease, insulin resistance, fatty liver and low testosterone all change the plan and all show up in blood work.
No honest answer exists before you have been assessed. What you get instead is a checkpoint: roughly 5 percent within three months on a proper dose, or the plan changes.
Some, unless it is planned for. Across studies of these medicines close to a third of the weight lost came from muscle related measures, which is why a protein target, resistance training and body composition measurement are part of the plan from day one.
Appetite returns and the weight tends to follow, averaging around 0.4 kg regained per month. That is why the maintenance plan is agreed before you reach your target rather than improvised at the end.
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people come. Your current treatment is reviewed, including whether it was ever titrated and monitored properly and whether a maintenance plan exists.
Not here. Copies mixed outside a regulated manufacturer have not been through the safety, quality and effectiveness review the licensed products go through, and harm has been reported.
For severe obesity it is more effective than any current medicine and it is discussed honestly where you meet the criteria. It is performed by a surgical team and you would be referred.
Every four to six weeks while any dose is climbing, then every two to three months. Dose increases are decisions made at a review, not dates in a calendar.
It depends on the investigations you need, whether medication is part of the plan and how long you stay in the programme, so a single figure would be misleading. You get the full cost in the consultation before anything starts.
Evidence
Where this information comes from
Every figure on this page is taken from the sources below. All of them are free to read, so you can check them yourself.
- Obesity and overweight
- Obesity: identification, assessment and management
- Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity
This page is general medical information and does not replace a personal consultation. Trial results are averages across large groups, not a prediction for any one person.