Are you struggling with your weight and seeking professional help? Boots Ireland has a convenient prescription weight loss service that combines expert guidance with the option to collect prescription medications. Over 60% of adults in Ireland are overweight, increasing the risk of serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. The pharmacy giant claims its service can help you lose extra weight, sometimes including medication if your doctor deems it suitable and beneficial for achieving your weight loss goals. The service is aimed at adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30kg/m² or higher, or for those with certain weight-related health issues, including diabetes, high blood pressure, or breathing problems with a lower BMI of 27kg/m². The process begins with a weight management consultation with a doctor, either through a GP or online services. This is followed by a 10-minute in-store Weight Check Consultation, where a trained Boots healthcare professional measures BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure, and provides personalized advice. If medication is prescribed, it can be collected at this stage. After this, ongoing pharmacy weight checks are scheduled at times recommended by the doctor to help patients stay on track. Boots emphasizes that 'consistency is key', and follow-up appointments ensure patients receive the guidance they need to achieve sustainable results. Prescription options include treatments that either influence appetite or reduce fat absorption. One medicine treatment option is similar to a naturally occurring hormone in the body called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and works by controlling your appetite, making you feel fuller. It can be prescribed by doctors for persons aged 18 to 74 years, who have a BMI of 30kg/m² or greater, or if you have certain weight-related health problems. Another medicine treatment option works in the digestive system, blocking about a third of the fat in food eaten from being digested. This undigested fat cannot be absorbed in the body and is indicated in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet if you have a body mass index (BMI) greater or equal to 30kg/m², or with weight-related health problems and a BMI more than 28kg/m². At 12 weeks after starting, in order to continue with medication, you need to have lost 5% of your initial body weight as measured at the start of treatment. Costs vary depending on the prescription, but tools such as sharps disposal bins and consultations are included at no extra charge when recommended.
