Weight Loss Blood Test, from our experts to you.
Dr Sam Rodgers MBBS, MRCGPChief Medical Officer
meet our doctors
Why am I not losing weight?
Losing weight is never easy, and it can be difficult at the best of times to get into the right frame of mind to embark upon a weight loss programme. If you are tired, lack energy, or suffer from low mood and lack of motivation, then losing weight can be even more of a struggle.
What can I learn from this test?
Our weight loss profile investigates possible causes for your weight loss stalling or gaining weight unexpectedly. It also looks at health markers like cholesterol and liver health, which help you understand your health status and risk for certain conditions.
Key tests include iron and vitamin D to help identify why you might lack the energy and motivation to stick with your diet and thyroid function to see if your metabolism is causing you to gain weight. Cortisol and diabetes markers help identify if stress or metabolic disease is causing you to store weight around your middle.
Can hormones affect weight gain?
For both men and women, changes in hormone balance can affect body composition and weight control.
Our test also looks at testosterone, oestradiol, and FSH to assess whether a woman might be menopausal. You can learn more about how hormones may affect your weight in our blog: Are your female hormones sabotaging your weight loss?
What's Included?
How to prepare for your test?
Special Instructions
Prepare for your Weight Loss Blood Test by following these instructions. Please take your sample before 10am. Take this test when any symptoms of short-term illness have settled. Avoid heavy exercise for 48 hours beforehand. Avoid fatty foods for eight hours before your test, you do not need to fast. Take this test two to five days after the start of your period, ideally on day three. It can be taken any time if you do not have periods. Hormonal contraception can affect this test, taking a break from this and using barrier contraception will give more accurate results. Corticosteroid medication can affect this test, ask your doctor whether to stop before testing. If you use hormone gels, pessaries, patches, or tablets, we strongly recommend selecting a venous sample to minimise contamination sometimes seen with finger-prick tests. Otherwise, administer any hormone supplements using gloves, and make sure your fingers have not been in contact with hormone supplements for at least four weeks before taking the test. Hormones can be absorbed deep within the skin even after minimal contact and remain there for weeks despite vigorous handwashing. You should take this test before you take any medication or vitamin/mineral supplements. Do not take biotin supplements for two days before this test, discuss this with your doctor if it is prescribed.