The science of weight management at LoveMyLife

How GLP-1 medications work

Both semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are analogues of naturally-occurring gut hormones. Semaglutide mimics GLP-1 alone. Tirzepatide is a dual agonist that mimics both GLP-1 and GIP.

These hormones regulate three things: insulin release after meals, gastric emptying rate, and satiety signalling to the brain. In obesity, the natural hormone response is blunted. Patients finish meals without feeling full and feel hungry again sooner. The medications restore appropriate signalling consistently through the week.

Read more about how GLP-1s work.

The clinical evidence

Semaglutide (Wegovy): STEP 1 trial 68-week average weight loss 14.9% on 2.4mg. STEP 5 extension and MHRA-approved 7.2mg dose in January 2026 achieves 20.7%. SELECT trial demonstrated cardiovascular benefit in patients with pre-existing disease.

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro): SURMOUNT-1 72-week average weight loss 22.5% on 15mg. Stronger glycaemic effect in patients with type 2 diabetes. SURPASS-CVOT cardiovascular outcome trial ongoing.

For most patients either medication is appropriate. We choose based on your clinical picture, not arbitrary preference.

Read our Mounjaro vs Wegovy guide.

Our prescribing criteria

We follow NICE and MHRA criteria:

• BMI 30+ (obesity)

• BMI 27+ with at least one weight-related comorbidity (type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, fatty liver disease)

• No contraindicating condition (see Is It Right For Me)

• Commitment to at least 12 months of treatment and lifestyle work alongside

Outside these thresholds we do not prescribe, regardless of patient preference. The safety and evidence base is built around these criteria.

What we do beyond the prescription

GLP-1 medication on its own is a partial answer. The other half is what happens to your eating, activity, and body composition during the treatment period.

• Protein optimisation to prevent lean-mass loss (1.2-1.5g per kg bodyweight per day)

• Resistance training encouragement and a refer-on network

• Body composition tracking (quarterly in 12-month programme)

• Food-pattern conversations at every review

• Ultra-processed food awareness and practical shifts

• Maintenance planning from day one, not an afterthought at the end

How we monitor safety

Every patient on treatment receives:

• Monthly clinician review (video or in-person)

• Biannual comprehensive metabolic bloods (HbA1c, liver, kidney, lipids, full blood count)

• Quarterly weight, blood pressure, heart rate

• Body composition check every 3 months

• Immediate-message pathway for concerning symptoms (severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, mood change)

Full monitoring details.

Medication from our own pharmacy

Our LoveMyLife Pharmacy, run by a GPhC-registered Superintendent Pharmacist, dispenses all our weight-management prescriptions. This matters practically:

• Same-day dispensing in London, next working day nationwide

• No third-party pharmacy consultation or additional fee

• In-person patients receive their first month's medication directly from the doctor at the end of the visit

• Wholesale supply visibility lets us flag supply disruption before it affects you

• Dose escalation handled at our pharmacy without re-dispensing fees

Stopping and maintenance

Most patients do one of three things long-term:

• Stay on a maintenance (lower) dose indefinitely - increasingly the preferred path

• Taper off slowly with structured lifestyle maintenance

• Cycle on-and-off with restart when weight rebounds

None is wrong. The right approach depends on your biology, your lifestyle, and your preferences.

Read our stopping-safely guide.

Who leads the clinical team

Assessments and ongoing care are led by UK GPs with MRCGP credentials. Clinical governance is overseen by senior consultants. Our pharmacy is run by a GPhC-registered Superintendent.