How does the weight management service work?

Our weight management service is for adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or more, or a BMI between 27 kg/m² and 30 kg/m² with weight-related health problems such as heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and prediabetes.

Find out your BMI below, then complete the questionnaire when you book to see if you're eligible for a consultation. The questionnaire will determine your eligibility for an initial consultation, but it does not necessarily mean you are suitable for the weight loss options we provide.

Find out your BMI here

You can book a consultation at your nearest Rowlands Pharmacy or via a video call with one of our online pharmacists. Consultations take approximately 10 minutes. 

Our pharmacists are duty-bound to verify patients' identities before prescribing medication. We’ll verify your identity using one of the following documents.

• Passport
• Driving Licence (full or provisional)
• National Identity Card

Your pharmacist will ask to see your weight; therefore, you will need to step on the scales.

Online Consultation Requirements

When you book an online consultation, you will receive an email containing a booking link. To ensure the best experience, please use a mobile device with a good-quality camera and a stable internet connection. This allows our pharmacy team to see you clearly and accurately review your scale readings. For accurate results, avoid wearing heavy clothing like hoodies or loose-fitting trousers that might affect measurements.

Your pharmacist will ask for a reading from the scales and will ask you questions about your physical health, mental health, lifestyle, and why you feel you need help with weight loss. Please make sure your answers are honest, clear, and to the point so that your pharmacist can get through as much information as possible. If you're unable to get through everything in the allotted time, we'll schedule a follow-up consultation.

If you are deemed suitable for our weight loss programme, your pharmacist will discuss the options and give you a tutorial.

Learn more about your options

Payment

Once deemed eligible, you will make your payment. If your consultation is online, your medication will be sent to you via Royal Mail.

You will have regular check-ups with your pharmacist to monitor your progress and weight maintenance, enabling them to determine whether the programme is effective for you and to increase your dosage if necessary. This typically occurs every four weeks. We aim for you to lose at least 5% of your body weight after six months.

Whilst on our weight management service, you will be expected to improve your diet and fitness routines to get the best results, which can include:

• Introducing a high-fibre diet
• Starting a 500-calorie deficit
• A 35% calorie reduction target
• Halving meal sizes
• Drinking at least two litres of water a day to avoid kidney stones and gallstones
• Doing regular exercise