Health Goals

The weight will not move, whatever you try.

Weight & Metabolism

Weight climbing without a change in diet, high fasting glucose, or fatigue after meals. This is where most iLIV patients begin.

Start with the self check Book Consultation
White sugar cubes scattered on a light brown surface, seen from above
Quick Answer

Stubborn weight is usually a metabolic problem, not a discipline problem. Insulin resistance shows up years before a diagnosis does.

Signs your metabolic health has slipped

Start with the self check
  • Waist over 90 cm for men or 80 cm for women
  • Heavy drowsiness one to two hours after eating
  • Weight creeping up each year, although your habits have not changed
  • A fasting glucose reading that once came back borderline
  • High triglycerides alongside low HDL
  • Darkened, velvety skin at the neck or armpits
GLP-1 suitability check

Is GLP-1 Right for Me

Six short questions, about two minutes. Your answers stay in your browser. A doctor makes the final decision after consultation.

Step 1 of 6

What would you most like to change?

This check is not a diagnosis and does not decide eligibility for any medicine. A doctor decides after consultation and testing.

The mechanism

Why insulin resistance appears first

Long before fasting glucose leaves the normal range, your pancreas already releases more insulin to keep that number looking fine. This phase can run for five to ten years, and a standard blood panel will not show it. However, measuring fasting insulin next to glucose exposes it. Because of that, this window is where change works best.

What we measure for metabolic health

We do not order a full panel for everyone, since a test that will not change a treatment decision only adds cost. So we usually start with a metabolic assessment covering fasting insulin and HOMA-IR. Then we add body composition, which separates fat from muscle. If you also carry cardiovascular risk factors, we add an advanced lipid panel. For the same detail in Malay, see the Bahasa Melayu pathway.

A blood glucose meter on a desk
Metabolic Assessment
Fasting insulin, glucose, HbA1c and lipids to detect insulin resistance early.
Read the test page
Body Composition Test
Fat mass, skeletal muscle, body water and visceral fat. More useful than BMI.
Read the test page
Advanced Lipid Panel and Omega-3
ApoB, Lp(a), particle count and the omega-3 index, beyond basic cholesterol.
Read the test page
Fasting Insulin and HOMA-IR Test
Fasting insulin and the HOMA-IR index: the marker that usually moves before blood sugar does.
Read the test page
Thyroid Function Test
A full thyroid panel: TSH, FT4, FT3 and anti-TPO antibodies, not TSH alone.
Read the test page

Not every test here is ordered for everyone. The consultation decides which ones are relevant.

How we build the plan

We write the protocol from what your testing shows, not from a package we decided in advance. For most people, three levers do the heavy lifting. First, enough protein and fibre. Second, resistance training two or three times a week. Third, consistent sleep. We consider medication such as GLP-1 only when you meet the clinical criteria, and the doctor decides eligibility after your consultation.

Meja konsultasi doktor di iLIV I-City
01
Consultation first
About 45 minutes. Full history, current medication, what you have already tried. No testing is ordered at this stage.
02
Only the tests that change something
We order what will change a treatment decision. A test that does not change the plan only adds cost.
03
Protocol written from findings
The plan follows what the results show, not a package chosen in advance. Every item has a stated reason.
04
Review at four to six weeks
Measurements are repeated so progress is visible. The protocol is adjusted from what the numbers show.
InBody body composition machine at iLIV Clinic
What to expect

How we check progress

Weight alone tells you very little. Therefore we repeat body composition every four to six weeks, and we repeat bloods every three to six months. That way you can see whether what came off was fat or muscle. The Ministry of Health Malaysia publishes the obesity guidance we follow. Ready to start? Book a consultation. For the full picture of the doctor-led programme and where GLP-1 therapy fits, see doctor-led GLP-1 and weight management.

Read next

If you are trying to understand why the weight will not move, start with why diets fail. If your weight is dropping without a clear reason, read unexplained weight loss, because that needs investigating rather than celebrating.

On the treatment side, a nutrition plan and nutraceutical support usually run alongside any medical treatment. To compare what is available, see weight treatment options.

If you are comparing clinics before deciding, read how to choose a weight management clinic.

Related calculators

BMI BMI Calculator Height and weight, Asian cut-offs Open the calculator WHR Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator Where the fat actually sits Open the calculator KCAL Daily Calorie and TDEE Calculator Daily burn and a deficit target Open the calculator

Free, no sign-up. Use them as a starting point before the consultation. See all tools

Who you will see

  • Two locations in the Klang Valley
  • Doctors registered with the MMC
  • Testing ordered after consultation
Dr Munirah Hishamshah, iLIV ClinicDr Munirah HishamshahExecutive Director at iLIVMB BCh BAO (RCSI, Penang Medical College), 2012MMC 62691View profileDr Shazif Othman, iLIV ClinicDr Shazif OthmanCo-founder of iLIVMB BCh BAO (UCC, Ireland), 2012MMC 62699View profileDr Wani, iLIV ClinicDr WaniResident doctorMBBS (UiTM), 2022MMC 107042View profile

Frequently Asked

Why does my weight climb even though I eat the same?

Usually insulin resistance and a lower resting metabolic rate. Both are measurable.

Is fasting glucose enough on its own?

No. Insulin rises first to keep glucose normal, so measuring both reveals the problem earlier.

How long before I see a change?

Body composition usually shifts after six to eight weeks if protein and resistance training stay consistent.

Still have questions?
Send a message. We reply during clinic hours.
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iLIV
Reviewed by Dr Shazif Othman, MMC 62699. Updated 10 October 2026.
Information on this page is for general education and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Eligibility for any treatment is determined after consultation and testing.
References
  1. World Health Organization, Obesity and overweight
  2. World Health Organization, Diabetes

Read further

Journal
Weight Management Guide
Why weight is a hormone, sleep and blood sugar problem before it is a willpower problem.
Journal
What Happens in the First Week of GLP-1 Therapy
The first week surprises most people, usually not because of side effects but because of a change they did not…
Journal
GLP-1 Therapy for PMOS and Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance is the most common driver behind PMOS, previously known as PCOS. That is why GLP-1 for PCOS gets…
Did you know
54.4%

of Malaysian adults are overweight or obese.

NHMS 2023, Ministry of Health Malaysia
54.5%

carry abdominal obesity, meaning fat that gathers around the middle.

NHMS 2023, Ministry of Health Malaysia
15.6%

live with diabetes. Some do not know yet, because fasting glucose can look fine while insulin is already working hard.

NHMS 2023, Ministry of Health Malaysia

These are national figures, not a statement about you. A consultation is where your own numbers get read.

Ruang rehat iLIV Clinic Damansara
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Rak produk dan suplemen di iLIV Clinic Damansara
Mesin analisis komposisi badan di iLIV Clinic Damansara
Ruang menunggu iLIV Clinic Damansara dengan kerusi santai
Kerusi infusi dan tiang IV di iLIV Clinic Damansara
Kaunter pendaftaran dan dispensari iLIV Clinic Damansara

Start with one conversation

An initial consultation to understand your situation before any testing is recommended.

WhatsApp Us Book a Slot

Damansara Perdana · I-City, Shah Alam · +60 14-801 6493

Standards and compliance

Registered doctors

Every doctor at iLIV is registered with the Malaysian Medical Council. Registration numbers appear on each doctor page and you can verify them on the public register.

Malaysian Medical Council register

Prescription only

GLP-1 therapy is a prescription medicine in Malaysia. It follows a consultation and a medical assessment, and it cannot be bought without a prescription.

Your data

We handle personal information under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, and we use it only for the purpose you gave it to us for.

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