Obesity Treatment in Spain: Medically Guided Care Online
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)
Medically guided weight management by video with a GP licensed in Spain, for adults living in or visiting Spain.
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera
Licence No. 484814280 · Urgent, non-emergency care
Common Symptoms
The World Health Organization calls obesity a chronic disease. In most adults it means a BMI of 30 or more. BMI is only a first check. Doctors also look at your waist and how your body is coping. Signs that weight is affecting your health include:
- A waist that is half your height or more (a waist-to-height ratio of 0.5 or above)
- Getting out of breath on stairs or short walks
- Knee, hip or back pain that limits walking
- Loud snoring, pauses in breathing at night or feeling sleepy in the day
- High blood pressure, high blood sugar or high cholesterol on tests
- A fatty liver found on a scan or blood test
- Weight that keeps coming back after diets that worked for a while
Obesity is not a lack of willpower. Genes, hormones, sleep, stress, some medicines and the food around us all play a part. Blame does not help, and weight stigma keeps people away from care. You deserve a calm, respectful review that looks at your whole health, not just one number.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
How We Treat It
In a video visit, the doctor reviews your weight history, home measures and symptoms. Medicines, sleep, mood and recent blood tests are part of it too. Care can include:
- A Weight Optimization consultation: a 30-minute video review of your weight, results and options
- A check of BMI and waist-to-height ratio, using measures you take at home
- A look for linked conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver, sleep apnoea and PCOS
- A request for blood tests, such as HbA1c, cholesterol, liver and kidney tests, that you can have done at a lab near you
- A plan for food, activity, sleep and stress that fits your life, with no calorie targets or crash diets
- A review of current medicines, as some can cause weight gain
- Medicines for weight, including GLP-1 therapy, only where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation. Any prescription is a private electronic prescription under Spanish law
- Follow-up appointments to check progress and side effects
No prescription is promised. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines. GLP-1 medicines are not used in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and under-18s need care led by a specialist team. A video visit cannot replace a physical exam, and weight-loss surgery needs a hospital team. If you have had an eating disorder, please tell the doctor; food restriction is never the aim.
Clinical Evaluation & Evidence-Based Protocol for Obesity Treatment
During a telemedicine consultation with Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera (licensed medical practitioner No. 484814280 at the Official Medical College of Bizkaia), clinical evaluation adheres strictly to evidence-based medical (EBM) standards. The doctor conducts a thorough history, evaluating symptom duration, aggravating factors, prior treatments, and drug allergies to establish an accurate differential diagnosis.
Private Electronic Prescriptions (Receta Médica) Issued Under Spanish Law
When clinically indicated, Dr. Yelamo issues a private electronic prescription (Receta Médica Electrónica Privada) under Spanish law. The digital prescription contains a secure QR verification code accepted at all 22,000+ registered community pharmacies across Spain for immediate medication dispensing.
Itemized Invoices for Travel & Private Health Insurance Reimbursement
After your consultation, you receive an official medical report and an itemized invoice. The invoice shows Dr. Yelamo's licence details and tax ID. You can send it to your travel or private health insurer (such as Bupa, Allianz, Cigna, AXA or a US travel policy) to claim the cost back.
Preparing for Your Online Medical Consultation
Before your appointment, note when your symptoms started and any medicines you have already tried. Have your allergies and your usual prescriptions to hand. For a skin, rash or eye problem, sit in a well-lit room so the doctor can see it clearly.
Clinical Follow-Up & When In-Person Urgencias Are Necessary
Video care works well for common infections, mild sudden symptoms, skin rashes and repeat prescriptions. Some warning signs need emergency care in person: severe shortness of breath, a high fever you cannot bring down, chest pain or a stiff neck. If you have any of them, call 112 in Spain straight away.
When to Seek Immediate In-Person Care
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Chest pain, chest tightness or sudden severe breathlessness
- Fainting, or weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- A painful, swollen calf, especially with breathlessness (possible blood clot)
- Severe tummy pain that spreads to the back, with or without vomiting, if you take a GLP-1 medicine (possible pancreatitis or gallbladder problem)
- Vomiting that will not stop, or signs of dehydration such as very little urine
- Shaking, sweating or confusion if you take insulin or a sulfonylurea (possible low blood sugar)
- Thoughts of harming yourself
Frequently asked questions
What counts as obesity?
For most adults, the World Health Organization uses a BMI of 30 or more. Some guidelines, such as NICE in the UK, use lower cut-offs for some groups. These include people of Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family background. BMI is a screen, not a full diagnosis. The doctor also looks at your waist and your health.
Why does my waist size matter?
Fat around the belly carries more risk than fat on the hips, and BMI cannot see it. NICE suggests the waist-to-height ratio. A result of 0.5 or more points to higher risk, and 0.6 or more to a further raised risk. A simple goal is a waist under half your height.
What are clinical and preclinical obesity?
A 2025 Lancet Commission split obesity into two types. Clinical obesity means extra body fat is already harming how organs work or limiting daily life. Preclinical obesity means extra body fat with organs still working normally, but with a higher future risk. Not every guideline uses these terms yet.
Will I be prescribed a weight-loss medicine?
Not always. A high BMI alone does not decide treatment. Where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines. Any prescription is a private electronic prescription under Spanish law.
Can obesity be managed online, and what needs in-person care?
Much of it can be done by video: your history, symptoms, home measures, blood test results, a care plan and follow-up appointments. You need in-person care for a physical exam, a scan or hormone tests by a specialist. Weight-loss surgery also needs a hospital team. Pregnancy and under-18s need their own specialist care.
Who is the Weight Optimization consultation for?
It is for adults who are physically in Spain at the time of the video visit. It lasts 30 minutes and is in English or Spanish. Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280) with a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Nutrition.
Where can I read more?
Our guide "Obesity as a chronic disease: BMI, waist size and what doctors look at" explains the numbers in more detail, including how to measure your waist at home.
Online consultations are for urgent, non-emergency care. In a medical emergency call 112 immediately or go to your nearest emergency department.
Tue · Thu · Fri · SatOne named doctor, from first call to follow-up
Book a secure 15-minute video consultation with Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera for €50. Appointments on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For urgent, non-emergency care; in an emergency, call 112.
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