Preparing for your intake: what to expect and which questions to ask

1. What the doctor assesses

During the intake the doctor looks at your weight and BMI, your medical history, your current medication use and any conditions or risk factors. Based on this, the doctor assesses whether treatment is suitable and safe. You can read beforehand whether you belong to the target group at who it is suitable for; the full procedure is described at the doctor's intake.

2. Which information do you bring?

Make sure you have the following information to hand:

• Your current weight and height (for your BMI).
• An overview of your medicines and supplements.
• Known conditions and relevant family history.
• Previous experiences with weight loss or diet medication.
• Any allergies.

The more complete your picture, the better the doctor can assess whether medication is appropriate.

3. Questions about dosing and use

Ask questions that help you understand the use, for example:

• Which dose do I start with and how is it built up? See also dosing and build-up.
• How and how often do I have to inject? Take a look at how injecting works.
• Which medicine best suits my situation? Ozempic or Mounjaro may help with orientation.

4. Questions about side effects and safety

Safety should be central. Good questions are:

• Which side effects occur frequently and what do I do about them?
• When should I get in touch or stop?
• How does this relate to my current medicines?

If you want to dig deeper into this, read is it dangerous? for background on risks and safety.

5. Questions about costs and follow-up

This way you avoid surprises afterwards:

• What does the medication cost per dose, and what do the consultations cost? Compare in advance at costs.
• Is reimbursement possible?
• What do the guidance and follow-up trajectory look like?
• How is stopping and preventing a yo-yo effect handled?

6. Realistic expectations

Go into the intake with a realistic picture. In studies, participants lose on average a substantial part of their weight, but those are study averages and not a guarantee; results differ from person to person and are linked to lifestyle. Read about this at how much you can lose. Discuss with the doctor what an achievable goal is for you, so that expectations and treatment align.

Frequently asked questions