Ricardo Gabriel promoting healthy weight loss at HPA

His CV includes being part of the “humanitarian response team in Haiti” after the 2010 earthquake that affected that region. In 2011, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he worked as a doctor in the field of Oncology at Guy’s and St. Thomas' Hospital and acquired knowledge in the field of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care at University College London Hospital.

Later, he developed work “in the area of weight management”, namely with regard to “the use of GLP-1 agonists in the treatment of obesity”, returning to the Algarve in 2025.

Ricardo Gabriel points out that the causes of obesity are complex, which affects the difficulty in treating it. Genetic factors may be involved, in addition to “individual, social and cultural factors, and undoubtedly also factors such as emotional well-being and mental health.” In a weight loss consultation, all these factors are taken into account and the HPA’s multidisciplinary team can “address the psychological context and the relationship with weight or food.”

Weight loss appointment

According to Ricardo Gabriel, “the aim of the Weight Loss Appointment is, first and foremost, to understand each person’s specific context and the path that led them to our consultation.” Due to the complexity of the causes of obesity, each person has their own life journey that must be properly assessed by a professional. Understanding the case will then be used “to establish a plan that allows for effective, sustainable and balanced weight loss that is also practical, with or without the use of medication.”

The consultation at HPA takes a different approach, as Ricardo Gabriel states that weight loss using medication alone “can lead to excessive weight loss, with loss of muscle and bone mass, or, on the other hand, be ineffective.” Thus, according to the doctor, it is also necessary to prescribe an appropriate diet plan, together with a personalised exercise plan.

After an initial assessment, the doctor will recommend “monthly reassessments of the response to treatment for the following two months.” Once some stabilisation has been noted, a “reassessment should be carried out every three months, or more frequently if the user prefers.”

Who can benefit from the appointment?

Weight loss appointments are aimed at “adults who are obese or overweight with associated diseases and who want to lose weight” to experience “significant health benefits.” Patients suffering from obesity who have been diagnosed with diseases such as “high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, pre-diabetes, sleep apnoea or even degenerative joint disease” may see weight loss as a way to control these diseases “and reduce the risk of progression with age.” Ricardo Gabriel says that it may be an alternative for those who have “tried various alternative ways to lose weight, without success, over the years.”

Ricardo Gabriel notes that consultations may not be suitable for people who have been diagnosed with, or suspect they have, a disorder of the endocrine system. In such cases, patients should first be referred to an endocrinologist or internal medicine specialist. Patients who have never had “any type of diet or nutritional support may benefit from consulting a nutritionist first,” as these weight loss appointments are not primarily aimed at weight loss for aesthetic reasons, “or for those who are slightly overweight without other associated pathologies.”

GLP-1 antagonists

During treatment, GLP-1 agonists can be used. These are “medications that were initially used to treat diabetes and later, some of them licensed for the treatment of obesity or excess weight.” In brief, these medications act on the body by promoting a feeling of satiety. The medication will reduce appetite and bring several metabolic benefits, particularly “with regard to glucose metabolism.” The effects of the medication will allow the patient to control what they eat, as well as the quantities, “without feeling a high degree of hunger.” All these effects will motivate the patient in their weight loss journey, ensuring better adherence to “diet and exercise plans.” Ricardo Gabriel states that these drugs “can promote weight loss of up to 20% or more of the initial weight, with proper monitoring.”

Ricardo Gabriel points out that semaglutide, commercially known as Ozempic, is not routinely prescribed in HPA treatments, as it is a drug exclusively for the treatment of patients with diabetes. However, semaglutide for the treatment of obesity or excess weight, branded as Wegovy, can be used without compromising the availability of medication for diabetic patients. According to Ricardo Gabriel, the drug Tirzepatide, commercially known as Mounjaro, is frequently used. However, none of the drugs mentioned are subsidised by the State.

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Besides the medication

Ricardo Gabriel believes that the lifestyle changes, introduced slowly, can bring undeniable benefits. Whether with or without medication, the doctor believes that “physical exercise and especially contact with nature can replace food as a source of pleasure and well-being.”

Obesity in Portugal

The HPA doctor, citing data from the National Statistics Institute, reports that in 2022, 37% of the Portuguese population over the age of 18 were overweight. Ricardo Gabriel predicts that the numbers will not reduce without action and will tend to worsen, which could lead to an increase in the number of people who may develop other, more serious complications.

Currently, the Deputy Editor at The Portugal News, Bruno G. Santos, is really interested in national politics. With a degree in Journalism and Communication, he also loves to write about different topics like Portuguese culture, society and other current affairs. Press card: 8463.