Annual health check-ups, wearable health trackers and personalized healthcare plans are becoming an increasingly common part of everyday life for UAE residents, one component of a broader shift toward proactive metabolic health.
This growing focus comes as metabolic health challenges continue to affect communities across the UAE. According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention‘s latest National Health and Nutrition Survey, 22.4% of adults are living with weight-related challenges, 25.9% have high blood pressure and 12.5% have elevated blood glucose levels, reinforcing the importance of early intervention and long-term health management.
As weight management is increasingly being recognised as a continuum of care, most clinical guidelines recommend that individuals begin with evidence-based lifestyle interventions, including a balanced calorie-controlled diet, regular physical activity, improved sleep and behavioural support, before considering weight management medications where clinically appropriate.
As more people seek support for metabolic health, healthcare providers are expanding medically supervised programmes that are designed to support sustainable health improvements.
These programmes combine doctor-guided care with nutrition, lifestyle coaching and, where clinically appropriat GLP-1 therapies. These therapies work by interacting with specific receptors involved in appetite regulation and metabolism, helping support longer-term weight management when used under medical supervision. Justlife has observed this shift, since launching its doctor-guided GLP-1 programme in November 2025. They have had more than 2,000 patient bookings, with approximately 60–70% of consultations coming from patients starting these treatments for the first time.
Dr. Saira Hyder, Medical Director, Justlife, said: “The change in mindset is one of the biggest shifts we’ve observed, a few years ago, many patients sought support only after developing multiple health concerns. Today we’re seeing more people asking how they can improve their metabolic health preemptively. While interest in GLP-1 therapies has grown, sustainable outcomes come from treating weight management as a long-term journey, combining medical supervision with nutrition, movement and lasting lifestyle changes.”
Healthcare professionals continue to emphasise that long-term success depends on personalized assessment, regular monitoring and sustainable lifestyle support alongside treatment, rather than medication alone.
Justlife has also observed that interest in doctor-led GLP-1 programmes is broadening beyond its early adopters. While demand initially came predominantly from women over 30, the programme is now attracting a wider range of age groups and more male patients, reflecting growing awareness of metabolic health across the UAE. As understanding of weight management options continue to evolve, patients are increasingly exploring a range of medically supervised approaches, including GLP-1 therapies available in both injectable and oral formats, alongside lifestyle interventions and ongoing health support.
