Online Weight
Management
Medically-led, personalised weight management from UK-trained GPs on the Costa del Sol and across Spain.
Assessment first. Then a structured plan built around your health, your history, and what will actually work for you.
Clinical Assessment
Blood work, medical history, metabolic screening
Personalised Plans
Nutrition, activity, behaviour change
Medication Where Appropriate
GLP-1 agonists, only after full assessment
Ongoing Monitoring
3-6 month programmes with regular check-ins
Can a GP help with weight management?
Yes. A GP is often the best starting point for weight management because unexplained weight gain is frequently a medical issue, not a lifestyle failing. Thyroid dysfunction, insulin resistance, medication side effects, sleep disorders, and hormonal changes during menopause can all make it genuinely difficult to lose weight through diet and exercise alone.
Dr Delgado will carry out a structured clinical assessment to identify what's driving your weight gain before recommending anything. That might mean blood tests, a medication review, or a conversation about stress and sleep. Only once the picture is clear will your GP build a personalised plan, which may include nutrition targets, activity guidance, behaviour-change strategies, and, where clinically appropriate, prescription medication.
NICE guidelines (CG189) are clear that effective weight management requires a multicomponent approach. Medication alone is not enough, and willpower alone is not a treatment plan.
What We Address
More than calories in, calories out
The idea that weight gain is simply about eating too much and moving too little is one of the most persistent misconceptions in healthcare. Research published in The Lancet (2021) confirms that obesity is a chronic, relapsing condition with biological, psychological, and environmental drivers. Your body actively resists weight loss through hormonal adaptation, and no amount of discipline overrides that physiology without the right support.
Metabolic dysfunction sits at the root of many patients' struggles. The WHO European Regional Obesity Report (2022) found that 59% of European adults are overweight or obese, with insulin resistance a common underlying driver that makes conventional dieting significantly less effective. Your GP can test for insulin resistance directly and adjust your plan accordingly.
Stress-related weight gain is another area people underestimate. Chronic cortisol elevation changes where your body stores fat, disrupts sleep architecture, and drives cravings for high-calorie foods. A 40-year-old expat patient recently came to Costa Health after two years of failed dieting. Blood work revealed subclinical hypothyroidism and poor sleep quality linked to unmanaged stress. Three months of targeted treatment and structured support produced meaningful, sustained progress where willpower alone had repeatedly failed.
Sleep disruption deserves specific attention. Even modest sleep debt (under six hours per night) alters ghrelin and leptin levels, the hormones that control hunger and satiety. Addressing sleep is sometimes the single most effective intervention, yet it's rarely the first thing patients think of.
How It Works
Assessment first, always
Initial Assessment
A 45-minute video consultation covering your medical history, medications, diet, activity, sleep, and mental health. Your GP may request blood tests for thyroid function, HbA1c, lipids, and hormonal markers.
Personalised Plan
Based on your results, your GP builds a plan covering nutrition, activity, behaviour change, and monitoring. If medication is clinically appropriate, it is discussed as one component of the plan, not the whole plan.
Ongoing Support
Programmes typically run three to six months with check-ins every two to four weeks. Your GP tracks progress, adjusts the plan, and monitors any medication. A one-off consultation is also available.
About Medication
Prescription medication as part of structured care
Prescription weight-loss medications such as GLP-1 receptor agonists (including semaglutide and liraglutide) can be effective when used as part of a structured weight-management programme. NICE Technology Appraisal TA875 recommends semaglutide alongside diet, exercise, and behavioural support for adults with a BMI of 35 or above (or 30 with weight-related comorbidities), but only within a specialist multidisciplinary weight-management service and for a maximum of two years. The evidence is strong, but only within that structured clinical framework.
These medications are not available on request. Your GP will only consider them after a thorough assessment, and only when lifestyle measures alone have not been sufficient. Not every patient is a suitable candidate. Contraindications include a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, pancreatitis, and certain gastrointestinal conditions. Your GP will discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives with you before any prescription is issued.
Under Spanish law, the AEMPS (Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios) regulates the dispensing of prescription medicines. GLP-1 analogues cannot be purchased or dispensed online in Spain. Any prescription issued by Costa Health's GPs must be collected from a licensed pharmacy in person. This protects patients from unregulated sources and ensures proper clinical oversight.
Safety
When to seek urgent care
Weight management through Costa Health is designed for non-urgent, ongoing care. Certain situations require immediate medical attention rather than a scheduled consultation.
Seek urgent care if you experience unexplained rapid weight loss (more than 5% of body weight in under a month without trying), severe abdominal pain while taking any medication, signs of an eating disorder (such as persistent restriction, purging, or compulsive exercise), or new symptoms like excessive thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision, which may indicate undiagnosed diabetes. Your GP can help you identify the right urgent pathway, but these presentations need same-day assessment, not a scheduled follow-up.
Your GPs
Experienced doctors, real clinical support
Common Questions
Weight management FAQs
What does a weight management consultation include?
Can I get weight loss medication prescribed online?
Is this service suitable for menopause-related weight gain?
Do I need blood tests before my first appointment?
How long does a weight management programme last?
Is this safe if I have other medical conditions?
Book a Weight Management Consultation
Schedule a 45-minute video consultation with one of Costa Health's collaborating GPs. Available to expats, residents, and visitors across the Costa del Sol and Spain.
Available at Online across Spain