Symptoms & complaints

Weight loss and your blood

Weight is an interplay of lifestyle, hormones and metabolism. Blood testing can reveal factors that influence weight loss, and is the basis for medically supervised weight loss. Below you read which values are relevant.

4 min readBy the Bloodworks editorial team

In short

Een trage schildklier verklaart maar zelden fors overgewicht, maar is wel makkelijk uit te sluiten.
Wat een startmeting wel oplevert: uw bloedsuiker, leverwaarden en vetstofwisseling als vertrekpunt.
Meet opnieuw na drie tot zes maanden; het verschil zegt meer dan een losse uitslag.
Bloedonderzoek is geen afslankmiddel en vervangt geen begeleiding.

Onbedoeld gewichtsverlies zonder dat u iets veranderde is een alarmsymptoom en hoort bij uw huisarts, niet bij een zelftest.

What you can measure

Not every cause is visible in blood. These are the values that most often explain something.

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What blood testing can show

Three areas are relevant:

Your blood sugar balance (glucose, HbA1c) gives insight into your risk of diabetes and insulin resistance.
Thyroid function (TSH, Free T4) affects your metabolism.
The stress hormone cortisol can play a role in stubborn belly fat.

An abnormal value does not explain everything; you discuss the result with a doctor.

Medically supervised weight loss

With support such as GLP-1 medication, a blood profile before and during treatment is usual, to steer safely and accurately. Always discuss with a doctor whether medication-based support suits you.

Frequently asked questions

Which blood values are relevant for weight loss?

Often relevant are glucose and HbA1c (blood sugar), thyroid function and sometimes cortisol. Which ones are useful depends on your situation and goal.

Do I need a blood test for GLP-1 medication?

For medically supervised weight loss a blood profile beforehand is usual. Whether medication suits you is assessed by a doctor.

Do I need to fast?

For the glucose measurement you usually need to fast for 8 hours. HbA1c can be measured regardless of eating. See our guide on fasting.

Sources