A private weight loss blood test checking 11 markers that can make weight hard to shift or explain unexpected weight change: thyroid (TSH), HbA1c, cholesterol and triglycerides, testosterone, cortisol, iron and inflammation (hs-CRP). From £99 at one of 200+ Goodbody clinics or £119 with a nurse home visit, no GP referral needed. Book a morning appointment. Results are emailed in 3 to 5 working days with a GP report included.
For most people the answer is energy balance, sleep and stress, but a handful of medical conditions genuinely make weight loss harder and are easy to miss: an underactive thyroid, insulin resistance or pre-diabetes, high cortisol, low testosterone in men, and iron deficiency that drains the energy to exercise. This test checks all of them in one sample. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is another common cause in women and has its own test.
The useful set is thyroid function, HbA1c for blood sugar, a cholesterol profile, cortisol, testosterone, iron and an inflammation marker, which is exactly what this test contains. Together they show whether a hormone, metabolic or inflammatory problem is working against you, and they give a baseline to measure change against. Repeating the test after three to six months shows whether your weight loss is also improving your blood sugar, cholesterol and inflammation.
| Marker | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| TSH | Whether your thyroid is underactive, which slows metabolism |
| HbA1c | Your average blood sugar over 2 to 3 months; pre-diabetes and diabetes |
| Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, ratio, triglycerides | Heart and stroke risk linked to weight |
| Testosterone | Low levels in men reduce muscle and raise fat |
| Cortisol | The stress hormone; persistently high levels favour abdominal fat |
| Iron | Low iron causes fatigue that undermines activity |
| hs-CRP | Low-grade inflammation, which is raised in excess weight and falls as it comes off |
There is no single blood marker for metabolic rate, but the two that matter most are thyroid function and HbA1c. An underactive thyroid slows metabolism measurably, and rising HbA1c shows insulin resistance, the state in which the body stores energy readily and burns it reluctantly. Both are in this test. Cortisol and testosterone complete the picture, because both shift where and how easily the body stores fat.
Unexpected weight loss without trying is a different question from difficulty losing weight, and should be discussed with a GP promptly. The tests a GP would run overlap with this one, particularly thyroid (an overactive thyroid causes weight loss) and HbA1c (new diabetes can too), and they would add a full blood count, liver and kidney function and inflammatory markers. This test is a useful starting point, but see your GP rather than relying on it alone.
Yes, ideally. Fast for 8 to 12 hours, drinking only water, and book a morning appointment. Fasting gives an accurate triglyceride result, and a morning sample matters for cortisol, which is naturally highest early in the day and falls through the afternoon. Take your usual medication unless your GP has advised otherwise.
A private weight loss blood test costs £99 at a Goodbody clinic or £119 with a nurse home visit. Both include laboratory analysis of all 11 markers and a GP report. This test needs a venous sample, so there is no finger-prick home kit.
At any of Goodbody's 250+ partner clinics across the UK, usually within a few days, or with a nurse who comes to your home to take the sample. No GP referral is needed. Find your nearest clinic.
Your GP report explains it and says what to do. A raised TSH, HbA1c in the pre-diabetes range or high cholesterol are all treatable and the report will direct you to your GP for confirmation and care. If everything is normal, you have ruled out the medical causes of stubborn weight and can focus on the lifestyle side with confidence, and you have a baseline to repeat against.
Your results and GP report are emailed to you within 3 to 5 working days of your sample reaching the laboratory. The report explains each marker in plain language, flags anything outside the reference range and says what to do next, including when to take the result to your own GP. All samples are analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory.
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Book online, receive your kit and take to your local Goodbody clinic.
Send your sample in the post to be analysed at an accredited laboratory.
Get your comprehensive detailed results report from the laboratory, with guidance from our support team.
Have your blood taken in-clinic by one of our skilled phlebotomists and check multiple biomarkers in one go. Many of our tests can also be done in the comfort of your own home with one of our easy-to-use test kits.
Take a test, either in the comfort of your own home, with a nurse visit, or at one of our clinics nationwide.
Your sample is analysed in the clinic, laboratory or using your home test equipment.
Get your comprehensive detailed results report from the laboratory.
Enquire via the form and a member of our team will get back to you, they are more than happy to help answer your questions and talk through the best option for you.
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Our team of professionals has decades of experience so you can be sure you’re getting the best tests and support to understand and improve your health.
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BSc (Hons) MBChB
Registered GP & Lead Medical Advisor

MA, PhD, FRSM
Clinical Support Advisor

MBCHB, MRCP, FRCR
Consultant Oncologist
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