The Weight I Couldn't Lose Until an Online GP Prescribed Medication the NHS Wouldn't
Three stone overweight at my daughter's graduation. The photos were devastating. Not because of vanity – because I saw my future: diabetes like my mother, heart disease like my father, missing my grandchildren's lives because I couldn't stop eating.
I'd tried everything. Weight Watchers (lost 2 stone, gained 3). Keto (lasted two weeks). Intermittent fasting (triggered binges). The NHS referred me to a "lifestyle coach" who suggested I "try walking more" and "eat less processed food" – as if I hadn't thought of that during twenty years of failed diets.
The Obesity Crisis Nobody's Treating Properly
64% of UK adults are overweight, 28% obese, yet treatment remains "eat less, move more" – advice that fails 95% long-term. The NHS spends £6 billion annually on obesity-related illness but won't prescribe medications that actually work. They'll fund your diabetes medication after you're ill but not weight-loss medication to prevent it.
The psychological torture of obesity is dismissed. The shame of breaking chairs, not fitting in cinema seats, strangers photographing you eating. The discrimination in jobs, healthcare, relationships. You're told it's willpower whilst your hormones scream for food, your metabolism fights weight loss, your brain's reward system is hijacked.
New medications exist that reset these broken systems. GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) produce 15-20% weight loss. Yet accessing them requires private prescriptions costing hundreds monthly, creating a two-tier system where wealth determines health.
The Prescription That Changed My Relationship with Food
The Online GP took a different approach. She discussed my weight history, eating patterns, mental health, previous attempts. She didn't lecture about calories or suggest another diet. She explained how obesity changes brain chemistry, why willpower fails, how medications can reset the system.
She prescribed liraglutide (Saxenda) – a daily injection that reduces appetite and slows gastric emptying. She explained realistic expectations: 10-15% body weight loss over six months, combined with sustainable lifestyle changes. She also prescribed metformin to improve insulin sensitivity and orlistat as backup for high-fat meals.
What Happened When the Food Noise Stopped
Within days, something miraculous happened: the constant food thoughts stopped. For the first time in decades, I wasn't planning the next meal whilst eating current one. I felt satisfied with normal portions. The overwhelming urge to binge disappeared. This wasn't willpower – it was chemistry corrected.
Three months in, I'd lost 2.5 stone without suffering. No crushing hunger, no obsessive calorie counting, no giving up entire food groups. The medication gave me space to develop healthy habits: cooking proper meals, exercising without joint pain, addressing emotional eating with the therapist she'd recommended.
Why Medical Weight Loss Beats Another Failed Diet
The online GP monitored everything: weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, side effects. When nausea occurred initially, she prescribed anti-sickness medication and adjusted dosing. When weight loss plateaued, she switched to semaglutide. This medical supervision meant safe, sustained loss, not another yo-yo diet.
She addressed co-morbidities too. As weight decreased, she reduced blood pressure medication, monitored thyroid function, checked vitamins. She celebrated non-scale victories: improved sleep, reduced joint pain, normal blood sugar. This holistic approach treats obesity as the complex medical condition it is.
The Reality of Weight Loss Medication
Six months later, I've lost 4 stone. More importantly, I've lost the obsession with food that ruled my life. The medication isn't magic – I still make choices, exercise, work on psychological issues. But it levels the playing field, giving me the same appetite control naturally thin people have.
The cost (£150-200/month) seems high until you calculate obesity's real cost: diabetes medication, cardiac treatment, joint replacements, lost income, shortened lifespan. The online GP made it affordable through dose optimisation and generic alternatives when possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are weight loss injections safe? Yes, when prescribed and monitored by doctors. GLP-1 agonists have been used for diabetes for 15+ years with excellent safety records. Side effects (mainly nausea) usually resolve within weeks. Online GPs monitor closely and adjust treatment as needed.
Why won't the NHS prescribe weight loss medication? The NHS has strict criteria: BMI over 35 with complications, or over 30 with diabetes risk, and only after "lifestyle interventions" fail. Even then, availability is limited. Online GPs prescribe based on individual need, not arbitrary thresholds.
Will I regain weight when I stop the medication? Some weight regain is possible, but online GPs provide maintenance strategies: lower doses long-term, cycling medications, addressing underlying causes. The goal is resetting your relationship with food, not lifetime dependence.
Can online GPs prescribe Ozempic/Wegovy? Yes, online GPs prescribe all GLP-1 agonists including semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy), liraglutide (Saxenda), and tirzepatide (Mounjaro). They find the most effective and affordable option for each patient.
I'm now the mother who runs around with grandchildren, not the one watching from a bench. The solution wasn't another diet – it was medical treatment for a medical condition.
