Hesitating about starting with medication? Here are the most frequently asked questions

Short answer: Medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide have been thoroughly researched and have been shown to be safe for most people who are overweight, provided that treatment is started under medical supervision. It is normal to have doubts beforehand, and this deserves an honest answer – not a sales pitch.

Almost 8 out of 10 Goodweigh customers had some degree of doubt before they started. This is evident from our customer satisfaction survey conducted in June 2026 amongst 1,010 customers. These doubts are understandable: this is a medical treatment, it involves money, and it is a subject that affects many people personally. Anyone who has doubts about weight-loss medication will, first and foremost, want to know whether it carries any risks and whether it will work for someone in their specific situation. In this article, we review the five biggest barriers identified in our survey, as well as what the science and our customers say about them.

The five biggest barriers from our survey

Having doubts before starting weight-loss medication is not irrational, but a serious question that everyone who is starting out rightly asks themselves. Our customer satisfaction survey of 1,010 respondents shows which considerations carry the most weight.

Cost and uncertainty surrounding online medical treatment top the list, but safety and effectiveness follow closely behind. Below, we take a closer look at each individual barrier and describe what is at stake and what we know on the subject.

Are weight-loss medicines safe? What the science says

Weight-loss medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide have been shown to be safe in large-scale studies, provided they are used under medical supervision. Both have been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of overweight and obesity and belong to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class, although tirzepatide is a dual GIP and GLP-1 agonist.

The STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows that over a period of 68 weeks, semaglutide has been shown to be safe and effective in adults who are overweight or obese. The most commonly reported side effect is nausea, which occurs in approximately 44 per cent of Wegovy users compared with 16 per cent in the placebo group, and which usually subsides as soon as the body adjusts to the dose. Diarrhoea, constipation and a slight increase in heart rate also occur. Hair loss is reported in 2.5% of users compared with 1.0% in the placebo group, and this is usually temporary and resolves on its own.

Serious side effects are rare but severe: pancreatitis, gallstones, dehydration which can lead to kidney failure, and, in rare cases, the eye condition NAION. Research into tirzepatide shows a similar safety profile. People with a history of pancreatitis, severe heart failure or type 1 diabetes, or who are pregnant, are not suitable for this treatment.

At Goodweigh, a doctor assesses at the start of treatment whether it is suitable for you, and your progress is monitored throughout the course of treatment. If you would like to know more about specific symptoms, you can read about the side effects of Ozempic.

Will it work for me too? Here’s what you can expect

Most people lose a significant proportion of their body weight, but the rate varies greatly from person to person. On average, participants lose 15% of their body weight when using semaglutide over 68 weeks, as shown by the previously mentioned STEP 1 trial. With tirzepatide, this figure rises to 20–22 per cent, as demonstrated by the SURMOUNT-1 study. A broader analysis from 2025 in the *Annals of Internal Medicine* confirms that GLP-1 agonists, as a class of medicines, are consistently effective for weight loss in adults without diabetes, as shown by this meta-analysis.

Starting weight, lifestyle and genetic predisposition all play a role in how much weight you lose and at what rate. Progress is often still slow in the first few weeks, as the dose is gradually increased.

After a couple of months, the results usually pick up noticeably. If progress is slower for you than expected, this is not in itself a cause for concern: speak to your doctor, who can assess whether an adjustment is needed.

Why it feels embarrassing, and why it doesn’t have to be that way

Feeling ashamed about weight-loss medication is understandable but unjustified: being overweight is a chronic condition with a biological cause, not the result of a lack of willpower. This is now the scientific consensus, as outlined in a frequently cited review article in *Obesity Reviews*, which describes obesity as a chronic, recurrent disease process. The Pharmacotherapeutic Compass endorses this medical understanding of obesity and the role that medical treatment plays in this context.

Eleven per cent of our customers cited shame as a barrier to getting started. Online treatment lowers precisely this barrier: no waiting room, no face-to-face appointment, no feeling of being judged. Customers who have taken this step despite their feelings of shame are satisfied with their choice afterwards.

Is it safe to start medical treatment online?

Digital healthcare may feel daunting for many people, but Goodweigh guarantees the same standard of medical care as you would receive during a face-to-face consultation. You first undergo a comprehensive initial assessment, during which a doctor evaluates your health, medical history and suitability, and the guidance does not stop after the initial assessment: your progress is monitored, and in the event of side effects or questions, you can contact your treating doctor or coach.

Online healthcare in the Netherlands is also supervised by the Inspectorate for Healthcare and Youth (IGJ), with a legal framework for quality and safety, even outside the physical consultation room. If you’d like to know exactly how the initial consultation and treatment at Goodweigh work, you can read more about it on the how it works page.

Still having second thoughts? Ask your questions in advance

It’s perfectly fine to have doubts, and there’s no set deadline by which you have to make a decision. However, if you need more time, it’s a good idea to get answers to your unanswered questions in advance, so you start with a clear picture rather than uncertainty.

You can do this via the frequently asked questions on the website or by contacting the Goodweigh team.

Doubts are normal, but don’t let them hold you back

Hardly anyone starts out without questions, and that’s not a weakness. What ultimately convinced customers in our survey was, in particular, other people’s experiences (16 per cent) and a positive first contact with Goodweigh (14 per cent). Doubts don’t usually disappear on their own: they’re dispelled through concrete information and personal contact.

Do you have questions about whether medically supervised weight loss is suitable for your situation? Take a closer look at the Goodweigh weight loss programme or book an initial consultation to find out what medical guidance could mean for you. Are you still unsure about the approach itself? Read how coaching for medical weight loss helps you maintain your results.