What Happens at a Doctor Led Weight Management Consultation?
What Happens at a Doctor Led Weight Management Consultation?
Booking a weight management consultation can feel like a significant step.
You may be unsure:
• What the doctor will ask
• Whether you will be judged
• Whether the appointment will simply lead to a prescription
A proper consultation is not a sales call or an automatic route to treatment.
Its purpose is to give the doctor enough reliable information to:
• Understand your health
• Discuss your goals
• Decide what, if any, form of support may be safe and appropriate
At Keltoi Wellness, the service is provided remotely for adults.
Information collected during onboarding helps prepare the doctor for the consultation, but it does not make a diagnosis or treatment decision.
All clinical assessments and decisions are made by Dr Waqar Ahmed.
This guide explains what usually happens:
• Before the consultation
• During the consultation
• After the consultation
• How you can prepare
What is a weight management consultation?
A weight management consultation is a clinical conversation about your:
• Weight
• Health
• Personal circumstances
It is broader than checking a number on the scales.
Weight can be influenced by:
• Eating patterns
• Activity
• Sleep
• Stress
• Health conditions
• Prescribed medicines
• Pregnancy
• Mental wellbeing
• Previous experiences of trying to lose weight
A doctor needs to consider the wider picture before discussing a plan.
The consultation should also give you an opportunity to:
• Explain what you want help with
• Ask questions
• Understand the possible benefits, limitations and risks of any option being considered
The aim is not to pressure you into treatment.
You can:
• Ask for more information
• Take time to consider your options
• Decide not to proceed
What happens before the consultation?
You complete the Keltoi onboarding process
The Keltoi onboarding process collects information for the doctor to review.
You will be asked about:
• Your current health
• Weight history
• Previous weight management efforts
• Other factors that may affect clinical decisions
The questions are designed to give the doctor an organised snapshot before speaking with you.
They do not decide whether you are suitable for treatment.
Keltoi does not override or influence the doctor’s clinical judgement.
Answer as accurately and completely as you can.
Leaving out a health condition or medicine could make it harder for the doctor to assess you safely.
Your identity is verified
Identity checks help ensure that healthcare and any prescribed treatment are provided to the correct person.
Keltoi uses a secure digital identity verification process during onboarding.
The doctor may also confirm your identity during the consultation.
This is a normal patient safety safeguard for remote care.
You provide relevant measurements and information
You may be asked for:
• Your current height
• Your current weight
• Supporting information or images that help the doctor verify the measurements supplied
Depending on your circumstances, the following may also be relevant:
• Waist measurement
• Blood pressure
• Recent test results
Measurements are useful, but they are not interpreted in isolation.
NICE advises that body mass index can be used as a practical measure.
Waist to height ratio may also be considered for many adults because it can provide additional information about central weight and health risk.
The doctor reviews the available information
Reviewing your information in advance helps the doctor identify questions that need to be explored during the consultation.
It can also highlight whether further:
• Records
• Measurements
• Tests
may be needed before a safe decision can be made.
Submitting information does not guarantee that treatment will be recommended or prescribed.
What happens during the consultation?
Keltoi consultations take place remotely by an agreed method, such as:
• Telephone
• Video
You should try to join from a private place where you can speak openly and will not be interrupted.
The doctor explains how the consultation will work
The doctor should:
• Identify themselves
• Explain their role
• Make sure you understand how the remote appointment will work
You can raise any communication needs or request clarification at any point.
Remote care must meet the same professional standards as care provided in person.
The doctor must be satisfied that the format allows:
• An adequate assessment
• A genuine two way conversation
You discuss your weight history
The doctor may ask:
• When weight became a concern
• How your weight has changed over time
• What you have already tried
This can include:
• Diets
• Structured programmes
• Activity changes
• Previous clinical support
• Prescribed treatment used in the past
It is helpful to explain:
• What worked
• What did not work
• What made a plan difficult to continue
The purpose is to understand your experience, not to find fault.
You discuss your goals
Your goal may involve:
• Weight loss
• Improved mobility
• Better energy
• Reduced waist measurement
• Support with a health condition affected by weight
A doctor may help you turn a broad aim into a realistic plan.
Safe weight management is not based only on reaching the lowest possible number.
Your:
• Overall health
• Sustainability of the plan
• Monitoring
also matter.
The doctor reviews your medical history
You may be asked about:
• Current health conditions
• Previous health conditions
• Surgery
• Allergies
• Symptoms
• Relevant family history
Conditions that may affect the assessment or monitoring required include:
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Sleep apnoea
• Digestive problems
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Cardiovascular disease
The doctor may also ask about:
• Mental wellbeing
• Your relationship with food
• Any current or previous eating disorder
These questions are relevant to safe care and should be approached respectfully.
If pregnancy is possible, the doctor may need to discuss:
• Pregnancy plans
• Contraception
because some weight management approaches are not suitable during pregnancy.
Your current medicines are checked
Provide a complete and current list of:
• Prescribed medicines
• Over the counter products
• Supplements
Some medicines can influence:
• Appetite
• Weight
Others may affect whether a particular treatment is appropriate.
The doctor may need to verify information with:
• Your GP
• Medical records
• Another healthcare professional
Relevant information sharing is part of safe and joined up care.
The doctor should explain what information may need to be shared and seek appropriate consent.
Lifestyle and everyday circumstances are considered
Weight management is not only about what you eat.
The doctor may ask about:
• Meal patterns
• Physical activity
• Alcohol
• Sleep
• Stress
• Work
• Mobility
• Practical barriers
This helps make any plan more realistic.
Advice that ignores your:
• Health
• Working hours
• Finances
• Family responsibilities
• Ability to exercise
is unlikely to be useful.
Further measurements or tests may be discussed
Not every patient needs the same tests.
Depending on your medical history and symptoms, the doctor may want:
• Recent blood pressure readings
• Blood tests
before deciding whether treatment is appropriate.
Tests may include:
• Blood glucose
• Long term blood sugar
• Cholesterol
• Kidney function
• Liver function
• Blood count
• Thyroid function
The doctor decides what is clinically relevant rather than requesting every test as a routine exercise.
If a physical examination or another assessment is needed, remote care may not be sufficient.
The doctor can explain whether you should contact:
• Your GP
• Another suitable service
Will treatment be prescribed during the consultation?
Possibly.
But a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
The doctor must have enough reliable information to make an adequate assessment.
They must also be satisfied that:
• Any proposed treatment is appropriate for your needs
• The remote format is suitable
Several outcomes are possible.
The doctor may recommend a plan without prescribed treatment
A personalised weight management plan may be appropriate without medicine.
The doctor may consider prescribed treatment appropriate
If so, the doctor should discuss:
• Expected benefits
• Limitations
• Risks
• Monitoring requirements
The doctor may ask for more information
This could include:
• Medical records
• Measurements
• Tests
before making a decision.
The doctor may decide that a particular option is not suitable
They may discuss an alternative approach instead.
You may be directed to another service
The doctor may advise you to contact:
• Your GP
• Another healthcare service
if your needs cannot be assessed or managed safely through Keltoi.
A patient can express a preference, but the final decision remains with the doctor.
No treatment is suitable for everyone.
What happens after the consultation?
You receive clear next steps
The doctor should explain:
• The outcome
• What happens next
• Who to contact if you have questions or concerns
If more information or tests are required, you should be told what is needed before the assessment can continue.
A suitable plan is agreed
Where care through Keltoi is appropriate, your plan may include changes to:
• Eating patterns
• Physical activity
• Other relevant habits
If prescribed treatment is considered suitable, it should form part of a wider plan rather than replacing attention to:
• Nutrition
• Activity
• Behaviour
You should understand:
• How the plan will be monitored
• What progress means in your circumstances
• When it will be reviewed
Safety information is provided
If treatment is prescribed, the doctor should explain:
• How it should be used
• Important precautions
• Possible side effects
• What to do if a problem occurs
Read the information supplied with any medicine.
Follow the instructions provided by:
• The prescriber
• The dispensing pharmacy
Seek urgent medical help if you develop serious symptoms.
A routine weight management service is not a substitute for emergency care.
Follow up may be arranged
Weight management requires review rather than a single decision at the first appointment.
Follow up can be used to assess:
• Progress
• Side effects
• Adherence
• Changes in health
• Whether the plan remains safe and appropriate
Do not change the dose or use of any prescribed treatment without speaking to the prescribing doctor.
How should you prepare for a weight management consultation?
A little preparation can make the conversation more useful.
Before the appointment:
- Check that the health information supplied during onboarding is accurate.
- Have an up to date list of medicines, supplements and allergies available.
- Record your current height and weight as accurately as possible.
- Gather any recent blood pressure readings, blood test results or relevant medical letters you already have.
- Think about previous weight management attempts and why they were difficult to maintain.
- Write down your goals and any questions you want to ask.
- Join from a private place with a reliable telephone or internet connection.
- Be honest about symptoms, eating patterns, alcohol, mental wellbeing and pregnancy plans where relevant.
You do not need to prepare perfect answers.
The consultation is a conversation, and the doctor can ask for clarification when needed.
What should you ask the doctor?
Useful questions may include:
• What are the realistic options for me?
• What are the possible benefits and risks?
• Do I need any checks or tests before proceeding?
• How will progress and safety be monitored?
• What should I do if I experience side effects or my health changes?
• When will the plan be reviewed?
• Who should I contact if I have questions after the appointment?
A good consultation should leave you with:
• A clear understanding of the proposed plan
• The opportunity to make an informed decision
A consultation should be individual, respectful and safe
There is no single conversation or treatment plan that fits every patient.
A doctor led weight management consultation should explore the:
• Medical factors
• Practical factors
• Personal factors
that matter to you.
It should not be rushed towards a prescription.
The doctor needs:
• Enough reliable information
• A meaningful conversation
• Confidence that remote care is appropriate
Sometimes the safest outcome is to:
• Request further information
• Recommend another service
Keltoi Wellness provides a doctor led telehealth weight management service for adults in Northern Ireland.
Information collected during onboarding helps Dr Waqar Ahmed understand your circumstances, but it does not make a clinical decision.
All assessments and treatment decisions are made by Dr Ahmed.
Any treatment is considered individually and is never guaranteed.
This article provides general information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for individual medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does a weight management consultation guarantee a prescription?
No.
The consultation allows the doctor to:
• Assess your health
• Discuss suitable options
Treatment is only considered when the doctor:
• Has enough reliable information
• Believes it is safe
• Believes it is clinically appropriate
Can I choose which treatment I receive?
You can discuss your preferences and ask questions.
However, the clinical decision belongs to the doctor.
A preferred option may not be suitable because of:
• Your health
• Other medicines
• Pregnancy plans
• Another safety concern
Will I need a blood test before the consultation?
Not everyone needs the same tests.
Existing results may be useful.
The doctor may request further tests if:
• Your history
• Your symptoms
• The treatment being considered
make them necessary.
What information should I have ready?
Have an accurate list of:
• Medicines
• Supplements
• Allergies
• Health conditions
• Recent measurements
Relevant:
• Medical letters
• Blood results
• Blood pressure readings
may also help if you already have them.
What happens if remote care is not suitable for me?
The doctor may recommend that you contact:
• Your GP
• Another appropriate service
if a:
• Physical examination
• Urgent assessment
• Different form of care
is needed.
A treatment should not be prescribed remotely when the doctor cannot assess you safely.
Is the consultation confidential?
Healthcare information must be handled securely and confidentially.
The doctor may need to share relevant information with:
• Your GP
• Another healthcare professional
to support safe care.
They should explain this and seek appropriate consent.
Sources and further reading
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Overweight and obesity management, NG246
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Identifying and assessing overweight, obesity and central adiposity
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Planning and delivering overweight and obesity services and interventions
• General Medical Council: Deciding if it is safe to propose, prescribe or provide medicines, treatment and devices
• General Medical Council: Remote prescribing high level principles
• General Medical Council: Remote consultations
• NHS: Overweight and obesity in adults
Last updated: August 2026