Weight Loss Consultation Dublin: Am I Suitable for Weight Loss Medication?
If you have been considering medical help with weight loss, you may have one question before anything else:
“Am I actually suitable for weight loss medication?”
With treatments such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) becoming increasingly well known, many people are understandably curious about whether these medications could help them.
But a responsible weight loss programme should never begin with the medication.
It should begin with a medical consultation.
At Hazel Clinic in Blackrock, Dublin, our Weight Loss Programme starts with a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Susana Fontana. The purpose is not simply to calculate your BMI or decide whether you should take an injection. It is to understand your health, your previous experiences with weight loss, your lifestyle and your goals — and then determine which approach is medically appropriate for you.
What happens during a weight loss consultation?
Your first consultation at Hazel Clinic lasts approximately 45–60 minutes.
This gives us time to look beyond the number on the scales.
During the appointment, we discuss your:
Medical history
Current medications and supplements
Previous attempts at weight loss
Eating habits and relationship with food
Physical activity
Lifestyle and daily routine
Sleep and other relevant health factors
Weight history
Personal goals and expectations
Existing health conditions or risk factors
We also assess your weight and body composition and consider whether further medical assessment or investigations may be appropriate.
The aim is to build a complete picture of your health before deciding on treatment.
Does everyone who wants weight loss medication qualify?
No — and this is an important part of responsible medical weight management.
Weight loss medications are prescription medicines. They are not appropriate simply because someone would like to lose a few kilograms.
Suitability depends on a combination of factors, including your BMI, medical history, weight-related health risks, current medications, previous treatment, and individual circumstances.
For example, medicines authorised in Europe for weight management, including Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide), are indicated for adults with:
A BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater, or
A BMI of 27 kg/m² or greater but below 30 kg/m², together with at least one weight-related health condition.
These conditions can include hypertension, dyslipidaemia, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea and cardiovascular disease, depending on the specific medicine. (European Medicines Agency (EMA))
However, meeting a BMI threshold does not automatically mean that a particular medication is right for you.
That decision requires a medical assessment.
Why BMI is only one part of the assessment
BMI can be useful, but it does not tell the whole story.
Two people with exactly the same BMI may have very different medical histories, lifestyles and treatment needs.
For this reason, we look at the wider picture.
For example, we may consider whether you have:
High blood pressure
Abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels
Prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
Sleep apnoea
A history of cardiovascular disease
Other medical conditions
Medications that may influence weight
Previous difficulties maintaining weight loss
We also consider your expectations.
A medication should not be viewed as a quick solution for reaching a particular clothing size or losing weight before an event. The goal of medical weight management is to improve health and support sustainable, long-term weight control.
What are GLP-1 and related weight loss medications?
You may have heard the term GLP-1 medication used frequently in the media and online.
Some modern weight management medicines work on hormonal pathways involved in appetite, hunger and feelings of fullness.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, acts on GIP and GLP-1 receptors.
These medicines can help appropriate patients reduce appetite and food intake when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. (European Medicines Agency (EMA))
But medication is only one component of treatment.
The prescription, dose and ongoing use should be determined by a healthcare professional who has assessed the individual patient.
What if I am not suitable for medication?
This is another reason why a proper consultation matters.
If prescription medication is not appropriate for you, that does not mean that there is nothing we can do.
Your plan may instead focus on:
Nutrition
Lifestyle changes
Physical activity
Behavioural strategies
Identifying factors that may be affecting your weight
Monitoring your progress over time
Dietitian support where appropriate
For some patients, medication may eventually become part of their treatment. For others, lifestyle and nutritional intervention may be the most appropriate approach.
There is no single weight loss programme that works for everyone.
What if I am already taking weight loss medication?
You should still have medical supervision.
If you are already taking a medication such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, your doctor needs to understand what you are taking, the dose, how you are responding, and whether you are experiencing side effects.
Regular follow-up is important because treatment may need to be adjusted depending on your response and medical circumstances. The HSE also recommends regular medical reviews for people taking obesity medicines. (HSE.ie)
At Hazel Clinic, ongoing appointments allow us to monitor your progress and make appropriate adjustments rather than simply issuing repeat prescriptions without reviewing your health.
What happens after the first consultation?
Following your initial assessment, Dr. Fontana will discuss your options with you.
Depending on your individual circumstances, your plan may include:
Nutrition and lifestyle guidance
Practical recommendations designed around your routine rather than a generic diet.
Dietitian support
Additional nutritional guidance where appropriate.
Prescription treatment
If you are medically suitable, prescription weight loss medication may form part of your programme.
Regular monitoring
Your progress, response to treatment and any potential side effects can be reviewed during follow-up appointments.
Long-term weight management
The objective is not simply to lose weight as quickly as possible, but to develop a strategy that supports your health over time.
Why choose a doctor-led weight loss clinic?
There is now an enormous amount of weight loss information available online.
Unfortunately, not all of it is accurate, and not every medication or programme advertised online is appropriate or safe.
Prescription weight loss medicines require proper medical assessment. The HSE specifically advises patients to obtain obesity medicines through appropriate healthcare professionals and warns against buying them online because of the risk of counterfeit or unsafe products. (HSE.ie)
At Hazel Clinic, our approach is different.
Your treatment starts with a consultation with Dr. Susana Fontana, rather than with a medication.
We look at your health first, then decide what treatment — if any — is appropriate.
Your weight loss journey should be individual
There is no universal definition of successful weight loss.
For one patient, the priority may be reducing cardiovascular risk. For another, it may be improving blood sugar control, mobility, sleep or confidence.
For some people, medication can be an important tool. For others, it may not be necessary.
What matters is that the decision is made based on your health, your medical history and your goals.
At Hazel Clinic, our Weight Loss Programme combines medical assessment, personalised nutrition and lifestyle guidance, ongoing monitoring and prescription treatment when clinically appropriate.
Start with a medical assessment
If you are considering medical weight management in Dublin and would like to understand whether you may be suitable for prescription weight loss treatment, the first step is a consultation.
At Hazel Clinic in Blackrock, your initial Weight Loss Consultation with Dr. Susana Fontana lasts 45–60 minutes and costs €250. It includes a medical and lifestyle assessment, personalised planning and a discussion of appropriate treatment options. (Hazel Clinic)
You do not need to know which medication you need before your appointment.
That is what the consultation is for.
Hazel Clinic — Doctor-led Weight Loss Management in Blackrock, Dublin.
Medical treatments are prescribed only when clinically appropriate following an individual assessment. Not every patient will be suitable for prescription weight loss medication. Treatment decisions are made by the prescribing doctor based on the patient’s medical history, current health and individual circumstances.
By Dr. Susana Fontana, GP with Postgraduate Training in Nutrition & Dietetics, Hazel Clinic, Blackrock, Dublin
