Am I eligible for a WeightConsult programme?

What criteria does WeightConsult use during the initial assessment?

WeightConsult assesses every application on the basis of medical criteria, not on the basis of how distressing someone’s story sounds. This is a deliberate choice: weight problems often have physiological and hormonal causes, and these warrant an objective, medical assessment rather than an emotional one.

During the initial assessment, a number of standard elements are examined.

1. BMI (Body Mass Index)

Your BMI is the starting point for the assessment. Generally speaking, people who are overweight or obese are eligible for supervised treatment, but the exact cut-off points and the context in which your BMI is assessed vary from case to case. A doctor will always consider your BMI alongside other factors, rather than as a figure in isolation.

2. General health

WeightConsult uses a medical questionnaire to assess your health history: past and current medical conditions, medication use, and factors that may influence treatment. This is not a mere formality, but the basis on which a doctor assesses whether a treatment programme is safe and appropriate.

3. Previous attempts to lose weight

Many people who sign up have already tried several diets, exercise programmes or lifestyle changes. The fact that you have already done this and still haven’t achieved sufficient results is, in fact, an important indication that a physiological factor may be at play. This is not seen as a failure, but as relevant information.

4. Contraindications

Certain medical conditions may make a particular treatment less suitable or require extra caution. These include certain medical conditions, pregnancy, or interactions with other medicines. Factors of this kind are always ruled out first before a treatment plan is drawn up.

Important to remember: WeightConsult is aimed at people who are relatively healthy but struggle to lose weight permanently, rather than those with complex medical conditions requiring intensive clinical care. This means that most people with persistent excess weight fall within the assessment criteria, provided that a doctor does not identify any medical contraindications.

What if I’m not sure whether I’m eligible?

Doubt is one of the most common reasons why people wait longer than necessary before taking the first step. That’s understandable, but it’s not necessary.

• You don’t have to decide for yourself whether you’re “suitable”. That is exactly what the medical assessment is for. A doctor will look at your specific situation and, based on objective criteria, determine whether a programme is suitable for you. So you don’t need to judge in advance whether your weight is “enough” or whether your situation is “serious” enough to seek help.
• Doubt is no reason to put off having your BMI checked. The BMI check has been deliberately designed to be accessible and non-binding: you simply enter a few details and find out whether further steps are advisable. It costs you nothing and does not commit you to anything.
• Not everyone is eligible, and that’s not a failure. If a doctor concludes that a particular course of treatment is not suitable, you will always be given a clear explanation. Sometimes this means that a different type of care is more appropriate, or that another medical issue needs to be investigated first. In such cases, a refusal is not a value judgement, but a responsible medical assessment that prioritises your safety.
• In cases of medical uncertainty, an online consultation will follow. If the questionnaire raises questions that cannot be answered straight away, WeightConsult will arrange an online consultation for further assessment. This ensures that no one is rejected too quickly on the basis of incomplete information, and that no one is accepted too quickly without a thorough medical assessment.

In short: Doubt is part of the process, but it need not be an obstacle. The assessment is there precisely to dispel that doubt by providing a concrete, medical answer.