Should I consider a GLP-1 medicine? And when not to
Who doctors consider these medicines for, who should not take them, and how to prepare for an honest talk with a doctor.
Doctors in the UAE may consider a GLP-1 medicine for type 2 diabetes, or for obesity that affects your health. Meeting a weight number does not mean you should take one. Some people should not take them at all, including anyone pregnant or with a family history of a rare thyroid cancer. The decision is one to make with a doctor.
Key facts
- Names you'll see
- Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide (sold as Zepbound in the US).1,2,3,4
- A doctor may consider it
- Dubai: BMI over 30, or 27 with a weight-related condition. Abu Dhabi: BMI 30 or more with a condition, or over 405,6
- That is not a yes
- Both guidelines start with a lifestyle programme, and add medicine only if it isn't enough5,6
- Never take it if
- You're allergic to it or you're pregnant. The US label also rules it out if you or family had medullary thyroid cancer, or you have MEN2: tell your doctor1
- Results vary
- In the main trials, 9 to 14 in 100 people lost less than 5% of their weight; about 31 in 100 if they had type 2 diabetes7,8,9
- When you stop
- Most of the weight lost tends to come back within a year10
On this page
- What do doctors look at?
- Who should not take a GLP-1?
- What about pregnancy, PCOS and the birth-control pill?
- Teens, older adults, kidneys, liver, other medicines, surgery
- What if I only want to lose a few kilos?
- What results can I honestly expect?
- A way to think it through
- What to bring to the doctor
- Should I tell my family?
- Questions people ask
What do doctors look at?
Doctors look at your weight, your health conditions, and what you've already tried. A BMI number alone does not decide it.
Two different sets of numbers get mixed up online. One set describes your weight. The other is where a doctor may start to think about medicine. They are not the same thing.
UAE health authorities use the WHO lines: a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or more is obesity. For people of Asian origin, health risks start from a BMI above 23.6 Waist size matters too. Guide 1 explains this.
Dubai: medicine "can be considered" at a BMI over 30, or 27 to 29.9 with a weight-related condition, after a lifestyle programme.5 Abu Dhabi: a BMI of 30 or more with a condition like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or sleep apnoea, or over 40.6
The drug labels use higher numbers for weight. In Europe, Wegovy and Mounjaro are approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or more. Or 27 or more with a weight-related condition.12,13 UAE news reports give the same numbers for Foundayo, approved here in April 2026.14
Type 2 diabetes is a separate reason. Ozempic is approved to control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. That approval has no weight cut-off.2 Your doctor will look at your HbA1c (a blood test of your average sugar level) and your other medicines.
Other approved uses exist. In the US, Wegovy is also approved to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with heart disease and excess weight.1 In the UAE, the Wegovy pill was approved in June 2026 with the same heart-risk use, for adults with established heart disease and obesity or overweight.15 Daman, Abu Dhabi's national insurer, also lists Wegovy for a type of fatty liver disease that has caused scarring in the liver (MASH).16
Who can prescribe. Any of these medicines needs a prescription from a doctor licensed in the UAE.11,17 The rules differ by emirate:
- Abu Dhabi: the decision to start a medicine for weight rests with a doctor certified in obesity management, with training approved by the Department of Health.6
- Dubai: we found no rule limiting these medicines to specialists. DHA-licensed doctors may manage obesity by video consultation.5
- Insurance for diabetes: Daman pays only when the prescriber is in internal medicine, endocrinology, family medicine or cardiology.16
Who should not take a GLP-1?
Some people should never take these medicines. Others need extra care, and a doctor may decide it isn't safe for them.
Every label rules out anyone with a serious allergy to the medicine.1,12,13 The US labels add a second group: anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), or a rare inherited condition called MEN2.1,3 The European labels don't list it as a reason not to take the medicine, but tell your doctor if it applies to you.12,13
The thyroid warning comes from animal studies. Semaglutide caused thyroid tumours in rodents. Nobody knows yet whether it does the same in people.1
The table below lists the main conditions. "Do not take" means the label or guideline lists it as a firm reason not to use the medicine. "Not recommended" means the label or guideline advises against it. "Caution" means a doctor may still prescribe, but watches you more closely. "Tell your doctor" means the US labels list it as a reason not to take the medicine, but the European labels don't.
| Condition | Why it matters | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| You or a close relative had medullary thyroid cancer, or you have MEN2 | Thyroid tumours seen in animal studies; human risk unknown1 | Tell your doctor A reason not to take it on the US labels, not on the European labels1,3,12 |
| Allergy to the medicine or its ingredients | Severe allergic reactions have been reported1 | Do not take1 |
| Pregnant, or trying to get pregnant | May harm the baby1 | Stop Stop semaglutide at least 2 months before trying2 |
| Breastfeeding | Semaglutide should not be used while breastfeeding12 | Do not take The European label says not to use it while breastfeeding12 |
| Past pancreatitis (swollen pancreas) | Pancreatitis, sometimes fatal, has happened on these medicines1 | Caution European label advises caution12 |
| Severe gastroparesis (very slow stomach) or bowel disease | Stomach side effects can be more severe1,12 | Not recommended if severe Caution with inflammatory bowel disease12 |
| Gallbladder problems | Gallstones are more common on these medicines1 | Check first Tell your doctor about past gallstones1 |
| Type 1 diabetes | Wegovy has not been studied in people with type 1 diabetes1,12 | Not recommended for weight (European label)12 |
| Severe kidney disease | Little experience; vomiting and diarrhoea can dry you out and harm kidneys1,12 | Specialist decision See kidneys below |
| Severe liver disease | Little experience in severe liver impairment12 | Not recommended for weight (European label)12 |
| Diabetic eye disease (retinopathy) | Eye complications reported in people with type 2 diabetes1 | Caution Needs eye check-ups1 |
| Severe heart failure | Not studied in the most severe stage12 | Not recommended for weight (European label)12 |
| Eating disorder, now or in the past | Strong appetite effects may make disordered eating worse18 | Tell your doctor Not on the labels, but researchers flag it18 |
From the US Wegovy and Zepbound labels and the European Wegovy label. We could not find the UAE label texts published online.
What about pregnancy, PCOS and the birth-control pill?
Don't take a GLP-1 while pregnant. If you could get pregnant, plan contraception with your doctor before you start.
Semaglutide stays in the body a long time. So its label says to stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.2,12 For tirzepatide (Mounjaro), the European label says to stop at least 1 month before; the US label gives no interval.13,4
Tirzepatide can make the birth-control pill less reliable. It slows the stomach, which can affect how well the pill is absorbed. The effect is largest after the first dose.3
The Mounjaro and Zepbound labels advise switching to a non-pill method, or adding a condom. Do this for 4 weeks after starting, and 4 weeks after each dose increase.3,4 Methods that aren't swallowed, like a hormonal IUD (coil), are not affected.3
Semaglutide is not expected to make the birth-control pill less effective, according to its European label.12
Teens, older adults, kidneys, liver, other medicines and surgery
These groups can sometimes use GLP-1 medicines. But each one needs extra checks, and some need a specialist.
Teenagers
News reports say Wegovy is approved in the UAE from age 12 "under specific medical criteria"; we could not find the regulator's own text. A UAE paediatric endocrinologist quoted in the same report said these medicines should be considered for children only after lifestyle measures, and when there are complications.19 The European label covers teens with obesity who weigh over 60 kg (132 lb), alongside diet and activity.12 The European label says to stop and rethink if a teen's BMI hasn't dropped by at least 5% after 12 weeks on the full dose.12 Gallstones were more common in teens than adults on Wegovy.1 The US label for tirzepatide for weight (Zepbound) says it has not been shown safe and effective under 18.3
Older adults
Older people can lose muscle along with fat, which raises the risk of frailty. Direct evidence in older adults is scarce.20 In a large Wegovy trial, people aged 75 and over had more hip and pelvis fractures than on a dummy injection.1 Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea can harm the kidneys, so drinking enough matters.1
Kidney disease
Kidney injury has been reported, mostly in people who got dehydrated from stomach side effects.1 The European label does not recommend Wegovy if kidney function is very low (an eGFR blood-test result below 30).12 But in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, Ozempic is approved in the US to help protect the kidneys.2 So this is a decision for your kidney or diabetes doctor.
Liver disease
Daman, Abu Dhabi's national insurer, lists Wegovy for a type of fatty liver disease with scarring (MASH).16 It is not recommended in severe liver impairment, and needs caution in milder cases.12
If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea
Sulfonylureas are diabetes pills like glimepiride and gliclazide. Taken with a GLP-1, they and insulin raise the risk of low blood sugar (a hypo), including severe hypos.1 Your doctor may lower their dose when you start, and should explain the signs of a hypo.1
Before surgery or an endoscopy (camera test)
GLP-1 medicines slow your stomach. Rarely, food has stayed in the stomach despite fasting, and been breathed into the lungs under anaesthesia.1 Always tell the surgeon and anaesthetist you take one.1
US guidance from 2024 says most people can keep taking it before planned surgery. Higher-risk people may need a liquid-only diet for 24 hours first. That includes people in the early dose-increase weeks, on higher doses, or with stomach symptoms.21
What if I only want to lose a few kilos?
These medicines are not meant for a few kilos before a wedding or Eid, or for losing fat for bodybuilding. You'd take on the same risks with no proven benefit.
The weight tends to come back. A year after stopping semaglutide, people had regained about two-thirds of what they'd lost.10 A short course before an event is likely to be undone afterwards.
Some of what you lose is muscle. In studies, muscle made up as much as a quarter of the weight lost.20 That works against a gym goal.
Fakes are a real risk. The US regulator warns that fake products may contain the wrong ingredient, too little of it, or harmful substances.22 UAE health authorities have warned about fake Ozempic and Mounjaro pens sold through social media.23,24 In July 2026, the drug regulator acted against 71 sellers of unapproved weight-loss products, and a Sharjah court fined people who sold Mounjaro on social media without a licence.25,26
What results can I honestly expect?
Most people in trials lost a meaningful amount of weight. But results vary a lot, side effects are common, and the weight returns if you stop.
Trials use losing 5% of body weight as a key marker.7,8 For an 80 kg person, that's 4 kg. Out of every 100 people in each trial, this is how many reached it:
Adults without diabetes, 68 weeks.7
Adults without diabetes, 72 weeks.8
Adults with type 2 diabetes, 68 weeks.9
Put the other way, about 1 in 7 people on semaglutide and 1 in 11 on tirzepatide lost less than 5%. With type 2 diabetes, it was nearly 1 in 3.7,8,9
Side effects make some people stop. In the semaglutide trial, 4.5 in 100 people quit because of stomach side effects, against 0.8 in 100 on the dummy. This count includes only stomach side effects.7 On tirzepatide 15 mg, 6.2 in 100 stopped because of any side effect, against 2.6 in 100.8 So the two numbers measure different things.
People with diabetes tend to lose less. The average was 9.6% in the diabetes trial, against 14.9% in people without diabetes.9,7
Think of it as long-term. The study on stopping concluded that ongoing treatment seems needed to keep the benefits.10 Abu Dhabi's standard says to continue beyond 6 months only if you've lost at least 5% of your starting weight.6 Guide 9 covers stopping.
Cost adds up. You pay for medicine, doctor visits and tests, month after month, and most insurance plans don't cover these medicines for weight.27,28 Guide 6 sets out the official prices and what insurance pays.
A way to think it through
Use this to sort your thoughts before a doctor visit. It does not give you a yes. Only a doctor who knows your health can.
Questions to ask yourself
There's no score here. These questions help you know what you want, and what you're ready for.
- Why do I want this now? Is it my health, or pressure from others?
- What have I tried before? What worked, even for a while?
- Could I keep taking a weekly medicine for years, not months?
- Can I afford it for a year or more, plus doctor visits and tests?
- How would I cope with feeling sick or having an upset stomach for a few weeks?
- Am I planning a pregnancy in the next year or two?
- Have I ever struggled with an eating disorder, like bingeing or starving myself?
- Who will support me with food changes and activity?
What should I bring to the doctor?
Bring your history, your medicines and any recent test results. Then ask the questions below. You can print this card.
Bring
- Your weight history: highest weight, recent changes, past attempts
- Your waist size, if you've measured it
- A list of every medicine and supplement you take, with doses
- Recent test results, if you have them: HbA1c, cholesterol (lipids), liver, kidney and thyroid tests
- Family history: thyroid cancer, MEN2, pancreatitis, diabetes
- Your own history: pancreatitis, gallstones, stomach problems, eating disorders, eye disease
- Pregnancy plans, and the contraception you use
- Any surgery or endoscopy (camera test) you have planned
Ask
- Is a medicine right for me, or should I try something else first?
- Is this medicine approved in the UAE for my condition?
- How will we check if it's working, and when?
- What should I do about my other medicines?
- Which side effects mean I should call you, or go to hospital?
- What will it cost all-in for a year, and will my insurance pay any of it?
- What happens if I stop?
- Who do I contact between visits?
From GLP Guidebook, Guide 4. General information, not medical advice.
In Abu Dhabi, a doctor certified in obesity management starts these medicines for weight. See who can prescribe, above. Guide 6 explains how to find one, and what a proper consultation includes.
Should I tell my family?
If you can, yes. You can bring your spouse or a family member to appointments.
They can learn about the medicine, the food changes and the side effects alongside you. At home, that can mean smaller portions without comments, or support at Iftar and Eid meals. It also helps if someone knows your side effects, and when to get help: in an emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance.29
Questions people ask
My BMI is 28. Do I qualify?
There's no "qualify". In Dubai's guideline, a doctor may consider medicine at 27 to 29.9 only if you also have a weight-related condition, like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, and lifestyle changes haven't been enough.5 Abu Dhabi's standard starts at 30.6 Even then, it's a decision the doctor makes with you, after weighing the risks.
Can I take it if my mother had thyroid problems?
Most thyroid problems, like an underactive thyroid, are not on the "do not take" list. The US labels rule it out for a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, or MEN2; the European labels don't list it.1,12 Tell your doctor exactly what your relative had.
Is it safe with metformin?
Metformin is not one of the medicines the labels flag for low blood sugar. That warning is about insulin and sulfonylureas like glimepiride.1 Your doctor will still review all your medicines together.
How long would I need to take it?
Often for a long time. In the stopping study, most of the weight came back within a year, and researchers said ongoing treatment seems needed.10 Abu Dhabi's standard checks at 6 months: carry on only if you've lost at least 5%.6
Can I stop before I try for a baby?
Plan it with your doctor. The semaglutide labels say to stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.2,12 For tirzepatide, the European label says at least 1 month; the US label gives no interval.13,4
I'm having surgery next month. Should I stop?
Don't decide alone. Tell your surgeon, anaesthetist and the doctor who prescribed it. Since 2024, US guidance says most people can continue, with extra steps for higher-risk people.21
Before you move on
- A BMI number is where a doctor may start thinking, not a reason to take a medicine.
- Never take one in pregnancy. A personal or family history of MTC, or MEN2, rules it out on the US label: tell your doctor.
- On tirzepatide, the birth-control pill may not protect you for 4 weeks after starting and 4 weeks after each dose increase; use another method too.
- They're not for a few kilos, and weight usually returns after stopping.
- You have a checklist to take to a specialist doctor.
Sources
- Novo Nordisk. Wegovy (semaglutide) US prescribing information, revised June 2026: boxed warning, sections 4, 5, 8. PDF
- Novo Nordisk. Ozempic (semaglutide) US prescribing information, revised May 2026: sections 1, 8.3. PDF
- Eli Lilly. Zepbound (tirzepatide) US prescribing information, revised August 2026: sections 4, 7, 8.3, 8.4. PDF
- Eli Lilly. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) US prescribing information, revised August 2026: section 8.3. PDF
- Dubai Health Authority. Clinical Guidelines for Virtual Management of Obesity, DHA/HRS/HPSD/CG-53, issue 2, effective 21 April 2024 (applies to DHA-licensed physicians and facilities providing telehealth; excludes emergencies and controlled medicines; drug therapy at BMI over 30, or 27 to 29.9 with comorbidities, after a comprehensive lifestyle intervention without at least 5% loss at 3 to 6 months; bariatric surgery at BMI 40 or more, or 35 to 39.9 with a serious comorbidity; Asian waist cut-offs). PDF
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Standard for Non-Surgical Management of Obesity, DOH/ST/HPS/Non-Surgical-MO/V1/2025, February 2025 (GLP-1 starting criteria: BMI 30 or more with a weight-related comorbidity, or over 40; "The obesity certified physician determines the initiation time of pharmacological treatment"; continue beyond 6 months only with at least 5% weight loss; Asian origin and BMI over 23). Checked 12 October 2026. doh.gov.ae
- Wilding JPH et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1). NEJM, 2021;384:989–1002. DOI
- Jastreboff AM et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1). NEJM, 2022;387:205–216. DOI
- Davies M et al. Semaglutide 2.4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2). Lancet, 2021;397:971–984. DOI
- Wilding JPH et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: the STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes Obes Metab, 2022;24:1553–1564. DOI
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Circular 48/2026, 16 March 2026, relaying an alert on fake GLP-1 products ("GLP-1 receptor agonists … are prescription-only medicines and should only be used under medical supervision"; unregistered products sold online and on social media; report to [email protected]). Summarised, not reproduced. doh.gov.ae
- European Medicines Agency. Wegovy summary of product characteristics: sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6. PDF
- European Medicines Agency. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) summary of product characteristics, sections 4.3 and 4.6 (stop at least 1 month before a planned pregnancy). PDF
- Khaleej Times. Foundayo obesity pill approved in the UAE: prescription, eligibility and availability (BMI 30 or more, or over 27 with a weight-related condition). 17 April 2026. khaleejtimes.com
- Khaleej Times. UAE approves Wegovy for weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction (the Wegovy pill, approved by the Emirates Drug Establishment for "long-term weight management in adults with obesity or overweight linked to weight-related medical conditions", and to reduce the risk of major heart events in adults with established heart disease). 1 June 2026. khaleejtimes.com
- Daman (National Health Insurance Company). Adjudication guideline: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor agonist, version 5, effective 15 January 2023, revised 19 April 2026 (table of GLP-1 brands and approved uses; diabetes cover needs HbA1c 6.5% or more, cardiovascular disease or risk factors, and at least 6 months on metformin or other agents; prior approval; first supply one month; prescribers in internal medicine, endocrinology, family medicine or cardiology; obesity medicines covered only within the Thiqa obesity programme). Checked 12 October 2026. PDF
- Product pages of three national pharmacy chains, which state that these medicines are dispensed only against a valid prescription. Checked 12 October 2026. Not linked: we don't link to sellers.
- The dual role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in weight management and eating disorders: potential benefits and risks. J Psychiatr Res, 2026. DOI
- Khaleej Times. UAE parents seek weight-loss injections for children (Wegovy approved from 12 "under specific medical criteria"; Mounjaro approved for type 2 diabetes from 10; a paediatric endocrinologist on lifestyle first). 14 July 2026. News report; regulator text not found. khaleejtimes.com
- GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy and skeletal muscle: a narrative review with implications for older adults. JAR Life, 2026. DOI
- American Society of Anesthesiologists. New multi-society GLP-1 clinical practice guidance released. 29 October 2024. Declared interests: in the guidance paper, 2 of 10 authors declare consulting or speaking fees from Novo Nordisk (paper's own declaration). Link
- US Food and Drug Administration. FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. Link
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Circular 208/2024, 25 October 2024, relaying a Ministry of Health and Prevention alert on a counterfeit Mounjaro 15 mg/0.5 ml single-dose pen pack, labelled in English and Arabic (the Ministry's lab could not identify tirzepatide). Summarised, not reproduced. doh.gov.ae
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Circular 10/2025, 4 February 2025, "Alert Against the Use of Counterfeit Version of Ozempic and Mounjaro" sold through social media; the public should not buy them without a prescription, online or through adverts. Summarised, not reproduced. doh.gov.ae
- Gulf News. UAE weight-loss drug crackdown: 71 sources, 14 influencers face action (Emirates Drug Establishment action against sellers of unapproved peptides, 14 of them registered facilities; 14 influencers referred to the National Media Office; retatrutide "remains under clinical investigation"). 25 July 2026. gulfnews.com
- Gulf News. Dh10,000 fine for selling Mounjaro injections without a licence in Sharjah (Sharjah Misdemeanours Court; selling medicines without a licence and practising pharmacy without authorisation). 31 July 2026. gulfnews.com
- Cigna. Essential Benefits Plan (Dubai Health Authority basic plan), table of benefits: medicines "As per DHA formulary", maximum AED 2,500 a year with 30% co-insurance; exclusions 8 ("Surgical and non-surgical treatment for obesity (including morbid obesity), and any other weight control programs, services, or supplies") and 9 ("pharmacological weight reduction regimens"). Checked 12 October 2026. PDF
- Gulf News. Anti-obesity drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro: are they getting cheaper? (Ozempic lower-dose pens "around Dh740"; Mounjaro pens "often above Dh1,700"; GLP-1s "remain largely out-of-pocket expenses, with limited insurance coverage typically restricted to diabetes or specific metabolic conditions"). 7 February 2026. gulfnews.com
- Department of Digital Ajman. Handling emergencies (999 police, 998 ambulance, 997 civil defence). Checked 12 October 2026. ajman.ae
Last checked 12 Oct 2026 · Next review due Jan 2027 · Report an error
How this guide was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above: drug labels, guidance from the UAE's health authorities, published trials and named news reports. It's general information, not medical advice. Talk to a qualified doctor before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. In a medical emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance, or 999. How we write