Is Mounjaro Right for You? Wimbledon GP Answers

By Dr Umer Malik MBBS, BSc, MRCGP, MPH, Mayfield Clinic Wimbledon

Is Mounjaro right for you? The questions I hear most in Wimbledon

In my private GP work at Mayfield Clinic Wimbledon, I see patients for weight management consultations, including baseline assessment, prescribing where clinically appropriate, and ongoing monitoring. One of the common questions I hear is whether weight loss injections such as tirzepatide, Mounjaro, can be accessed through a GP rather than an online pharmacy.

The answer is yes. At Mayfield Clinic Wimbledon, weight loss injections such as tirzepatide can be prescribed following a face to face consultation with a GP. Many patients choose this route over an online only pharmacy because it includes a proper in person clinical assessment, baseline blood tests, and ongoing GP oversight throughout treatment, rather than a questionnaire only process. Since December 2024, NICE has recognised tirzepatide as suitable for prescribing in primary care for adults who meet the clinical criteria, making it possible to access this through a GP rather than only via specialist weight management services.

This matters because demand is clearly rising. A UCL study published in BMC Medicine in January 2026 found an estimated 1.6 million UK adults used a weight loss drug such as Wegovy or Mounjaro in the year to early 2025, with a further 3.3 million saying they would like to start within the next year. Separate IQVIA prescription data from July 2025 found over 2 million people were paying privately for these medicines, compared with roughly 290,000 accessing them via the NHS, a ratio of around 7 to 1. In practical terms, that helps explain why private, GP led access in Wimbledon is so relevant for many patients.

What I check before starting treatment

Before starting, I check BMI, blood pressure, and take a full medical history, including any current medications and health conditions. Blood tests are usually part of this, particularly kidney function, liver function, HbA1c or blood glucose, and lipid profile. These tests help confirm whether you are a suitable candidate and give a baseline to monitor against.

Exactly which tests are needed depends on your individual history and whether you already have recent results available, so I would confirm what applies to you at your first appointment. If you are looking for more information about blood tests in wimbledon or a private gp appointment in wimbledon, those services are available through Mayfield Clinic.

If you have high blood pressure or other health conditions

Having a condition like high blood pressure does not automatically rule out weight loss injections, but it does mean I need to assess it properly first. Conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, or prediabetes are actually among the reasons these medicines are often considered, since weight loss can improve them over time.

I would check whether your blood pressure or other conditions need to be better controlled before starting, and monitor them alongside your weight throughout treatment. Availability and suitability are determined individually by the prescribing GP. Weight loss injections are prescription only medicines and are only suitable for some patients, based on BMI and other clinical criteria, following a full medical assessment.

How Mounjaro works, what weight loss to expect, and side effects

Weight loss injections such as tirzepatide work by mimicking hormones that regulate appetite and blood sugar, helping you feel fuller for longer and reducing overall food intake. They are taken as a once weekly injection, with the dose gradually increased over time as your body adjusts.

Weight loss varies between individuals, but a safe and sustainable rate is generally considered to be around 0.5kg to 1kg a week. They work best alongside a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity, rather than as a stand alone treatment. I agree realistic goals with patients at the outset and review progress regularly, since if there is not a meaningful response after a set period, it may not be the right treatment to continue.

The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation, particularly during the early weeks and after each dose increase. Staying well hydrated is important. Rarely, more serious effects such as gallstones or pancreatitis can occur, and you should be advised what symptoms, such as severe abdominal pain, should prompt urgent medical attention.

During dose titration, follow up is typically every 4 weeks to review progress, check for side effects, and adjust the dose if appropriate.

This is general information and not a substitute for individual medical advice.

Important caveats to discuss at your appointment

These medicines are intended to be used alongside a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity, not as a stand alone solution. Anyone taking oral contraception needs to discuss additional contraceptive precautions, since these medicines can affect how well the pill is absorbed. Treatment is not intended for use in pregnancy or if planning pregnancy.

The clinical basis for the points above comes from NICE technology appraisal guidance on tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity, TA1026, published in December 2024, and NICE's implementation guide, A guide for prescribing medicines to manage overweight and obesity, published in March 2025.

If you would like to arrange a Wimbledon appointment, you can visit our wimbledon clinic page or read more about our weight loss service in wimbledon to book an appointment.