Weight Loss Commencement — biomarker categories

Weight Loss Commencement

UK Partnered Clinic
£230.00
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Weight Loss Commencement — biomarker categories

Weight Loss Commencement

£230.00
Test Sample Location

Your pre-treatment baseline — built for people starting weight loss medication.

Weight Loss Commencement is a comprehensive 59-marker panel run before you begin a GLP-1 weight loss programme. It captures the full physiological starting point — liver, kidney, hormonal, thyroid, stress, lipid, glucose and micronutrient — so any future tests show meaningful change instead of guesswork.

Why it matters

GLP-1 medications work by changing how your body manages appetite, blood sugar and digestion. A clear baseline gives you and your clinician a real comparison point so you can track what's working — and spot anything that needs attention early.

What we cover

  • Full Blood Count — red and white cells, platelets, oxygen-carrying capacity
  • Heart Health — full cholesterol panel, Apo B, Lipoprotein (a)
  • Kidney & Liver — full filtration and detoxification markers
  • Diabetes Health — HbA1c, glucose, insulin, C-peptide and HOMA-IR
  • Thyroid — TSH, Free T3, Free T4, plus thyroid antibodies
  • Hormonal Health — full sex-hormone panel
  • Stress (Cortisol) — your HPA-axis read-out
  • Vitamins & Minerals — iron studies, B12, folate, vitamin D

Fasting required ★ — please fast for 12 hours before your draw. This is critical for accurate insulin, glucose and lipid readings.

Cadence

Run once before starting your weight loss programme. Pair with our Weight Loss Monitoring panel at 3 or 6 month intervals to track progress.

Analysed in our ISO-accredited UK laboratory.

*Sample requirements: x4 Blood Sample

Sample requirements

×44 blood tubes

Collected by our partnered phlebotomist in your booked clinic appointment. Phlebotomy fee included in the price.

ISO accredited
Independent quality standard
Plain-English reports
Easy to understand
GDPR-secure
Your data stays private
What we measure

The biomarkers in this panel.

Full blood count

Haemoglobin

The oxygen-carrying part of your red blood cells.

Why it matters

Low levels are linked to feeling tired or short of breath.

Full blood count

Haematocrit

The proportion of your blood made up of red cells.

Why it matters

Gives a quick snapshot of how oxygen-rich your blood is.

Full blood count

Mean Cell Haemoglobin

The average amount of haemoglobin in each red blood cell.

Why it matters

Helps show whether your red cells are well-stocked with oxygen-carrying protein.

Full blood count

Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration

How concentrated the haemoglobin is in your red blood cells.

Why it matters

Another angle on red blood cell quality, useful when looking at iron status.

Full blood count

Mean Cell Volume

The average size of your red blood cells.

Why it matters

Cell size can hint at iron, B12 or folate levels.

Full blood count

Red Blood Cell Count

The number of red cells in your blood.

Why it matters

Red cells carry oxygen — too few or too many can both be a sign something's off.

Full blood count

Basophil Count

A type of white blood cell.

Why it matters

Linked to allergic responses and how your body deals with irritants.

Full blood count

Lymphocyte Count

Immune-system white blood cells.

Why it matters

Shows how your body is responding to infections or viruses.

Full blood count

Eosinophil Count

A white blood cell linked to allergies and parasites.

Why it matters

Higher levels can be a sign of allergies or other immune activity.

Full blood count

Monocyte Count

A clean-up white blood cell.

Why it matters

Gives insight into longer-running immune activity.

Full blood count

Neutrophil Count

Your front-line infection-fighting white blood cells.

Why it matters

Often higher when your body is fighting something off.

Full blood count

White Blood Cell Count

The total count of immune cells in your blood.

Why it matters

A general marker of how active your immune system is.

Full blood count

Platelet Count

Tiny cells that help your blood clot.

Why it matters

Low or high counts can be a sign your clotting balance is off.

Heart health

Total Cholesterol

The total amount of cholesterol in your blood.

Why it matters

A long-standing marker for heart and circulation health.

Heart health

LDL Cholesterol

The 'less helpful' type of cholesterol.

Why it matters

Higher levels are linked to a greater chance of furred-up arteries over time.

Heart health

HDL Cholesterol

The 'helpful' type of cholesterol.

Why it matters

Higher levels are generally linked to better heart health.

Heart health

Total Cholesterol/HDL Cholesterol Ratio

Total cholesterol compared with HDL.

Why it matters

A simple ratio that gives a clearer picture than total cholesterol alone.

Heart health

Triglycerides

Fats circulating in your blood.

Why it matters

Linked to diet, weight and heart health — often respond well to lifestyle tweaks.

Heart health

Apolipoprotein B

The main protein in LDL ('less helpful') cholesterol.

Why it matters

Gives a more direct read on artery-clogging particles than LDL alone.

Heart health

Lipoprotein (a)

A largely genetic cholesterol-carrying particle.

Why it matters

High levels can be a sign of inherited heart-health risk.

Kidney health

Creatinine

A waste product cleared by your kidneys.

Why it matters

A core marker for how well your kidneys are filtering.

Kidney health

eGFR

An estimate of how well your kidneys are filtering.

Why it matters

A simple summary score for kidney function.

Bone and nutrition

Calcium

A mineral important for bones, muscles and nerves.

Why it matters

Useful for understanding bone health and overall nutrition.

Kidney health

Chloride

An electrolyte that keeps your body's fluids balanced.

Why it matters

Useful alongside sodium and potassium for hydration and kidney insight.

Bone and kidney

Phosphate

A mineral that works with calcium for bones and energy.

Why it matters

Levels can shift with diet, kidney function or bone activity.

Kidney health

Potassium

An electrolyte your heart and muscles rely on.

Why it matters

Both low and high levels can affect how you feel.

Kidney health

Sodium

Your main fluid-balance electrolyte.

Why it matters

Linked to hydration, blood pressure and kidney health.

Kidney health

Urea

A waste product from breaking down protein.

Why it matters

Another check on kidney filtering and hydration.

Liver health

Alanine Aminotransferase

A liver health marker.

Why it matters

Higher levels can be a sign your liver is under stress, often linked to diet, alcohol, or fatty liver.

Liver and bone health

Alkaline Phosphatase

A marker linked to both liver and bone health.

Why it matters

Levels can shift when the liver is under strain or when bones are remodelling more than usual.

Liver health

Aspartate Aminotransferase

Another liver health marker.

Why it matters

Read alongside ALT, it gives extra insight into how your liver and muscles are coping.

Liver health

Gamma-Glutamyltransferase

A liver marker (often called GGT).

Why it matters

Often raised by alcohol or fatty liver — a useful check-in on lifestyle impact.

Liver health

Total Bilirubin

A waste product the liver clears from your blood.

Why it matters

Higher levels can be a sign your liver isn't clearing things as efficiently as usual.

Liver and nutrition

Albumin

The main protein in your blood, made by the liver.

Why it matters

Gives insight into liver function and overall nutrition.

Blood sugar

HbA1c

Your average blood sugar over the last few months.

Why it matters

Useful for understanding how your body handles sugar over time.

Blood sugar

Glucose

Your blood sugar level at the moment of testing.

Why it matters

A snapshot of how your body is handling sugar right now.

Blood sugar

Insulin

The hormone that helps move sugar from blood into cells.

Why it matters

Gives insight into how hard your body is working to keep sugar in check.

Blood sugar

C-Peptide

A by-product of insulin production.

Why it matters

Shows how much insulin your own body is making.

Diabetes health

HOMA-IR

A calculated score from your fasting insulin and glucose.

Why it matters

Picks up insulin resistance years before it shows in HbA1c.

Thyroid health

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

The hormone that tells your thyroid how hard to work.

Why it matters

A first-line marker for thyroid balance.

Thyroid health

Free Tri-iodothyronine

The active form of your other main thyroid hormone (T3).

Why it matters

Helps show how well your thyroid signal is being used.

Thyroid health

Free Thyroxine

The active form of one of your main thyroid hormones (T4).

Why it matters

Adds detail beyond TSH for a fuller thyroid picture.

Thyroid health

Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibody

An immune marker linked to the thyroid.

Why it matters

Can be a sign your immune system is reacting to your thyroid.

Thyroid health

Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody

Another immune marker linked to the thyroid.

Why it matters

Often raised when the immune system is reacting to thyroid tissue.

Hormonal health

Oestradiol

The main form of oestrogen.

Why it matters

Linked to mood, cycle, skin and bone health.

Hormonal health

Follicle Stimulating Hormone

A hormone involved in fertility and the menstrual cycle.

Why it matters

Gives insight into reproductive hormones for both men and women.

Hormonal health

Luteinising Hormone

A hormone involved in ovulation and testosterone production.

Why it matters

Helps complete the reproductive-hormone picture.

Hormonal health

Prolactin

A hormone made by the pituitary gland.

Why it matters

Higher levels can be linked to cycle changes or fertility insight.

Hormonal health

Testosterone

Your main androgen hormone.

Why it matters

Linked to energy, mood, libido and muscle for both men and women.

Hormonal health

SHBG

Sex hormone binding globulin — a protein that carries hormones in your blood.

Why it matters

Affects how much testosterone and oestrogen are actually active in your body.

Hormonal health

Free Androgen Index

A calculated estimate of active testosterone.

Why it matters

A simple summary of androgen activity.

Stress

Cortisol

Your main stress hormone.

Why it matters

Linked to energy, sleep, mood and how your body handles pressure.

Iron status

Iron

The iron currently circulating in your blood.

Why it matters

Important for energy and oxygen delivery.

Iron status

Ferritin

Your body's iron stores.

Why it matters

Low levels can leave you feeling tired; very high levels can be a sign of inflammation or iron overload.

Iron status

Total Iron Binding Capacity

How much iron your blood can carry.

Why it matters

Helps put your iron level in context.

Iron status

Transferrin Saturation

How much of your transferrin is actually carrying iron.

Why it matters

A useful marker for both low iron and iron overload.

Nutrition

Folic Acid

A B vitamin important for new cells and red blood cells.

Why it matters

Low levels can leave you feeling tired and run down.

Nutrition

Vitamin B12

A vitamin needed for energy, nerves and red blood cells.

Why it matters

Low levels can be a sign of fatigue, brain fog or nerve issues.

Bone and immune

Vitamin D

A vitamin you make from sunlight and get from food.

Why it matters

Linked to bone strength, immune function and mood. Many people in the UK run low.

Is this panel right for me?

Who this panel is built for.

Who this is for

  • Adults beginning a structured weight-loss journey wanting a baseline.
  • People starting a GLP-1 or other clinician-led plan and gathering pre-treatment data.
  • Anyone who wants to track metabolic, hormonal and thyroid markers before a change.
  • Those who want objective numbers alongside scale weight and measurements.

Consider speaking to a clinician first

  • Anyone with current eating-disorder concerns. Please speak to a clinician first.
  • People already in active treatment with a weight-loss clinic that directs its own testing.
  • Those needing body-composition (DEXA) or resting-metabolic-rate (RMR) testing (not blood).
  • Children under 18.

This panel reports biomarker data. It does not diagnose any condition. Your results should be reviewed alongside the advice of your GP or another qualified healthcare professional.

How it works

Order to results in four simple steps.

  1. 1

    Order online

    Choose your test, complete your details and book your appointment (either through an email sent after an order with a UK partnered clinic or on our site for our own clinic).

  2. 2

    Collect your sample

    Visit our Chxhealth Clinic in County Durham or head to one of our 50+ partnered clinics all over the UK.

  3. 3

    Lab analysis

    ISO accredited process through our lab partners. Your sample is analysed using independently certified methods and is double checked for accuracy.

  4. 4

    Get your report

    Easy-to-read results sent from us to your inbox.

Why test

When numbers help you understand yourself.

Symptoms tell you something is wrong. Tests tell you what. This panel measures the biomarkers that connect to how you actually feel — so you can act with evidence, not guesswork.

  • Spot issues earlyCatch shifts before they become symptoms.
  • Track what changesDiet, training, lifestyle — see the impact in numbers.
  • Peace of mind about your bodyUnderstand how you're really doing, in numbers.
FAQs

Common questions.

How long do Weight Loss Commencement results take?

Weight Loss Commencement results are typically delivered within 3 working days of the laboratory receiving your sample. You receive a plain English PDF report.

How is the sample collected for Weight Loss Commencement?

Weight Loss Commencement requires a venous blood draw at a Chxhealth or partner clinic. The phlebotomy fee is included in the price. Choose our Lanchester clinic or one of our 50+ UK partner and pop-up clinics when you book.

When should I take the Weight Loss Commencement panel?

Take this panel before starting a weight-loss programme or weight-loss medication. It captures a baseline of the markers most affected during weight loss: lipids, glucose, insulin, liver enzymes, thyroid function and key nutritional indicators.

Should I fast before the panel?

Yes. Fast for 10 to 12 hours, water only. Lipids, glucose and insulin all need a fasted baseline.

Is this panel relevant if I am starting GLP-1 medication?

Yes. The panel covers the markers most relevant before starting GLP-1 agonists such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, giving you a baseline to compare against later monitoring. Chxhealth is a biomarker and genetic data provider. We do not diagnose, treat or prescribe. For medical advice, please speak to a qualified healthcare professional. Treatment decisions should be made with the clinician prescribing your medication.

Ready to test?

Take the first step today.

Lab-validated, expert-reviewed, in your inbox in days.