Clinical Guidance for GLP-1 Weight-Loss Treatment

GLP-1 medications need to be prescribed and monitored carefully to ensure safe and effective treatment. This clinical hub brings together all of Medicspot’s evidence-led guidance for people considering or already using GLP-1 treatment. Each article in this section is written or reviewed by practising clinicians and follows relevant guidance from NICE, MHRA and the manufacturers of GLP-1 medicines.

This hub links to all of our clinically focused guidance related to GLP-1 treatment, including:

• Contraindications and risk factors
• Common side effects and how to manage them
• How to stop GLP-1 treatment safely
• Monitoring and biomarkers
• Combining GLP-1s with other treatments
• Long-term outcomes and maintenance studies
• Real-world observational evidence
• Clinical guidelines from NICE, MHRA and manufacturers
• Shared care and referral pathways
• Clinical governance in weight management
• Medical conditions that influence GLP-1 assessment and prescribing

Each topic has its own dedicated guide for people who want more detail.

Medicspot’s weight-management service follows a structured governance framework led by our Chief Medical Officer and supported by our GP team. Prescribing is carried out by The Independent Pharmacy to ensure prescribing decisions follow UK clinical standards.

All clinical content in this section is reviewed on a schedule and follows our content and editorial policy.

You can read more about our governance and clinical processes using the links in the sidebar on this page.

Clinicians assess a number of safety factors before and during GLP-1 treatment, including potential contraindications, relevant medical history and the likelihood of common side effects and risks. Monitoring during treatment helps ensure that any issues are identified and managed promptly.

Explore the key safety topics here:

Contraindications and Risk Factors
Common Side Effects 
How to safely stop GLP-1 treatment
Combining GLP-1’s with other treatments

These articles explain the main clinical considerations involved in safe GLP-1 treatment.

Some medical conditions influence how GLP-1 medications are assessed or prescribed. These conditions may affect eligibility, safety considerations or the type of monitoring a clinician recommends. Understanding these conditions can help people recognise how their medical history may interact with GLP-1 treatment.

Read more about these conditions here:

• Obesity
• Overweight and BMI
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Prediabetes and weight gain
• Diabetes and weight gain
• PCOS and weight gain
• Weight issues during pregnancy
• Obesity and depression

Each guide explains the clinical relevance of the condition and how it may be considered during assessment.

We also have an article which explains which weight loss injections are available on the NHS, and provides a self-serve eligibility checker to help understand if you might qualify.

GLP-1 medications have been studied extensively in clinical trials and real-world settings. These studies help clinicians understand how treatment performs over time, which patient groups benefit most and what longer-term maintenance can look like.

Explore the evidence base here:

Real world evidence
Long term outcomes
GLP-1 clinical guidelines

These guides summarise key findings from trials, observational studies and regulatory guidelines.

Dr Abby Hyams completed her medical training in Bristol and has been a GP for 19 years, spending many of those as a partner in an NHS practice in Hemel Hempstead. She has a particular passion for supporting patients with weight loss and promoting positive behaviour change, helping individuals build sustainable habits that improve their long-term health and wellbeing.

This article is for general information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Medic Spot Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but makes no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. In the event of an emergency, please call 999 for immediate assistance.

There is no guarantee of a specific weight loss medication being prescribed. Clinicians will review your online questionnaire alongside other independently validated medical information about you and will recommend the most appropriate weight loss treatments for you based on your answers. In some cases, the clinicians may contact you for additional information. See Terms of Service for more information.