Beyond the headlines: Everwell’s safer, smarter approach to weight loss medication

The recent surge in popularity of injectable weight loss medications—such as GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 agonists—has sparked both excitement and concern in the media. While these medications can be transformative, questions around safety, long-term sustainability, and responsible prescribing are valid and important.

At Everwell, we believe weight management is about far more than just medication. Our digital, nationwide model is built around clinical safety, compassionate care, and sustainable change. We integrate trusted medical oversight with evidence-based behavioural support through our partnership with Unislim—combining science, structure, and support.

Here’s how we address the concerns raised in the media, and why Everwell offers a truly different kind of weight loss journey.

1. Safe, clinician-led prescribing

We don’t take shortcuts. Every Everwell patient undergoes a thorough medical assessment with a doctor before any treatment is prescribed. We have strong safety protocols in place to ensure our patients are protected and cared for from day one:

• ID verification & BMI confirmation: Each client is required to verify their identity and provide a full-body image to support accurate BMI assessment. This ensures treatment is only considered for those who meet safe and appropriate criteria (generally a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 with a weight-related comorbidity).

• Consultations with specialist GPs: Our doctors are registered GPs with experience in obesity medicine and are trained to prescribe responsibly and in line with national and international guidelines (HSE, EMA, NICE).

• Structured follow-up: We don’t prescribe and disappear. Every client is enrolled in a structured clinical follow-up programme, with medical reviews, regular check-ins, and side-effect monitoring to ensure treatment is safe, tolerable, and effective.

Critical safety: Avoiding illegal and falsified products

In Ireland, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has issued serious warnings about the increasing detention of illegal and falsified weight loss medications, often sold online or through unregulated sources. We urge the public to only source prescription medicines through a registered Irish pharmacy with a valid prescription from a healthcare professional.

At Everwell, we partner solely with legitimately registered Irish pharmacies, ensuring you receive safe, quality-assured treatment under continuous medical supervision.

2. Efficacy and the whole-person, sustainable approach

One of the most common concerns is what happens when the medication stops—will the weight just come back? At Everwell, medication is only one part of a broader, integrated programme that includes education, coaching, and lifestyle change.

Clinically proven results

The medications we prescribe are highly effective and are used in combination with our lifestyle programme:

• Wegovy (Semaglutide): In the STEP 1 trial, participants achieved a mean weight loss of 14.9% over 68 weeks when combined with lifestyle intervention. Further long-term data shows weight loss can be sustained for up to four years (SELECT trial) [1, 2].

• Mounjaro (Tirzepatide): In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, patients achieved average weight reductions ranging from 15.0% to 20.9% over 72 weeks, demonstrating the drug’s superior efficacy as a dual agonist [3, 4].

The results are powerful, but they are most successful when combined with evidence-based lifestyle modification.

Behavioural support for lasting change

The best outcomes come from combining pharmacological treatment with behavioural support. Our partnership with Unislim creates a foundation for lifelong wellness:

• Medication + coaching: Clients receive access to Unislim’s expertise in nutrition, movement, and behaviour change. We empower our clients with the tools to make healthier choices, reshape habits, and sustain progress.

3. Ethical prescribing and supply management

We operate across the whole of Ireland as a digital healthcare service and are acutely aware of the national supply pressures that have affected the availability of these medicines, particularly for patients with Type 2 diabetes.

• Responsible prescribing: Everwell is committed to responsible and ethical prescribing. Our doctors ensure that treatment is initiated and continued only when clinically appropriate, with a focus on integrating lifestyle change to reduce long-term dependency and minimise our impact on the national supply chain for those who rely on these medicines for chronic conditions.

4. Managing specific, serious risks

Like all medications, weight loss injections can come with side effects, typically mild and short-lived. Our clinical team monitors and manages these proactively. Beyond common mild issues, we ensure patients are educated on serious risks currently highlighted by regulatory bodies:

• Dehydration risk: Side effects like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea can lead to dehydration and potential kidney issues if not managed. Our structured follow-up includes detailed advice and rapid clinical review to manage these gastrointestinal effects [5].

• Contraception guidance: We follow clinical best practice guidance, which strongly advises that women of childbearing age must use highly effective contraception while on these medications due to insufficient safety data on use during pregnancy ( [Link to FAQ on Pregnancy/Contraception] ). This critical safety discussion is part of every initial consultation.

Final word: Let’s redefine what weight loss support looks like

The conversation around injectable weight loss medications is evolving. At Everwell, we’re proud to be leading that change—setting a higher standard, rooted in safety, science, and respect for the patient journey.

If you’d like to know more about our clinical approach, the medications we utilise, or how we work alongside Unislim to support long-term change, we’d love to hear from you.

👉 Contact the Everwell team or visit our FAQ page for more information.

References

1. Wilding, J. P. H. et al. (2021). Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (The STEP 1 Trial). New England Journal of Medicine, 384, 989–1002.
2. Ryan, D. H., et al. (2024). Long-term weight loss effects of semaglutide in obesity without diabetes in the SELECT trial. Nature Medicine.
3. Jastreboff, A. M. et al. (2022). Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (The SURMOUNT-1 Trial). New England Journal of Medicine, 387, 205-216.
4. Eli Lilly and Company. (2022). Lilly's tirzepatide delivered up to 22.5% weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight in SURMOUNT-1 (Press Release).
5. Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). (Ongoing Advisories). Information and alerts related to GLP-1 receptor agonists. (Citation based on general HPRA safety advisories regarding off-label use and counterfeits).