Myongji Hospital taps GLP-1 boom with new obesity clinic

Myongji Hospital is expanding into the fast-growing obesity treatment market with the launch of a new metabolic obesity/GLP-1 clinic, the Korean hospital said Tuesday.

The clinic centers around treatments targeting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a gut hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite, now a cornerstone of modern obesity care. Patients with underlying conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease and a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher are eligible for treatment. Those without underlying conditions must have a BMI of at least 30.

Myongji’s program offers a combination of drug therapy, nutrition education, and behavioral counseling. Medications include GLP-1-based injectable Wegovy (semaglutide) and oral weight-loss therapies such as Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate ER) and Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion), prescribed based on patient-specific factors.

The clinic also pairs each patient with nutrition specialists for diet and lifestyle coaching and provides exercise and behavioral therapy programs aimed at sustainable weight management.

To sharpen diagnosis and treatment planning, the hospital said it will allocate around 20 minutes per consultation. Standard evaluations cover blood glucose and lipid panels, plus thyroid and adrenal hormone testing, with options for additional testing such as electrocardiograms (ECGs), liver ultrasound, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, and fat-CT scans.

“Weight loss is difficult to achieve through willpower alone and is closely tied to metabolic diseases and complications, making professional support essential,” said Lee Jae-hyuk, professor of endocrinology and metabolism at Myongji Hospital. “We hope this clinic becomes a turning point in fundamentally improving the health of patients with obesity.”