Can GLP-1s Like Wegovy Help Fatty Liver Disease?

A recent Radio New Zealand (RNZ) investigation has revealed that fake “New Zealand doctors” are promoting GLP-1 weight-loss products online, and many of these “doctors” simply don’t exist. These scams are not only misleading but could also put your health at risk. Read the full RNZ article here ›

As an evidence-based medical clinic, rfynd Weight Loss is deeply concerned about this growing trend. We want to raise awareness of these fake doctor scams and highlight the importance of seeking help from qualified, specialist clinicians such as Dr Nicole Wilde, our board-certified Obesity Medicine Specialist.

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What the RNZ investigation found:

RNZ uncovered multiple social media accounts claiming to be “New Zealand doctors” promoting GLP-1 medications for rapid weight loss. These pages often:

• Use fake names and stock photos of “doctors”
• Claim false Medsafe approval
• Offer “oral GLP-1 drops” or “cheap Wegovy alternatives” for as little as $50
• Are managed from overseas and disappear once payments are made

RNZ confirmed that none of the supposed doctors appear on the Medical Council of New Zealand register — meaning they’re not real medical professionals. The products they promote are not approved by Medsafe and may contain unsafe or unknown ingredients.

As Dr Nicole Wilde told RNZ, “Anyone promoting one weight-loss treatment is oversimplifying a complex medical condition.” Oversimplification not only misleads consumers but can also cause real harm.

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Why credentials matter: who is Dr Nicole Wilde?

Dr Nicole Wilde is a board-certified physician specialising in Obesity Medicine and part of the rfynd Weight Loss medical team. She provides science-based, personalised treatment for people seeking safe, sustainable weight loss.

Her credentials mean she’s qualified to prescribe approved medications such as Saxenda and Wegovy under New Zealand’s Medsafe regulations, ensuring safety, monitoring, and follow-up care.

Dr Wilde’s approach is comprehensive, addressing hormones, metabolism, mental health, nutrition, and lifestyle rather than pushing a single “miracle” product.

At rfynd, every treatment plan is clinically supervised, medically safe, and aligned with the latest obesity-medicine research.

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How to check if a doctor or product is legitimate in New Zealand:

Before buying or starting any weight-loss medication, take these steps:

1. Check the doctor’s registration
Visit the Medical Council of New Zealand register. If the doctor’s name isn’t listed, don’t trust the claim.

2. Search the Medsafe database
Only purchase products listed on the Medsafe approved medicines register.

3. Be sceptical of “too good to be true” offers
Legitimate GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Saxenda are prescription-only. If you can “buy them online” without seeing a doctor — it’s not legitimate.

4. Avoid overseas websites and social media ads
Many fake weight-loss “clinics” hide their location or use proxy servers outside New Zealand.

5. Get medical guidance from a qualified obesity medicine doctor
A trained physician like Dr Nicole Wilde will ensure the treatment is safe, effective, and suited to your unique health needs.

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Why choose rfynd Weight Loss?

At rfynd, we combine medical expertise with genuine support. Our multidisciplinary team — including doctors, dietitians, health coaches, nurses and exercise physiologists — helps patients across New Zealand access safe, proven weight-loss treatments.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• New Zealand-registered medical professionals
  All rfynd clinicians are qualified and registered with relevant NZ health authorities.
• Evidence-based, personalised plans
  No gimmicks or “miracle drops” — only clinically validated treatments.
• Access to approved GLP-1 medications
  We prescribe only Medsafe-approved products like Wegovy and Saxenda when clinically appropriate.
• Ongoing care and monitoring
  Regular check-ins, lifestyle support, and professional guidance ensure long-term success.
• National reach
  Consultations are available online across New Zealand, making expert care accessible wherever you live.

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If you’re considering GLP-1 weight-loss medication or simply want to understand your options, book a consultation with Dr Nicole Wilde and the rfynd Weight Loss team today.

Book your consultation with Dr Nicole Wilde ›

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Many women who undergo bariatric (weight loss) surgery go on to plan a pregnancy. Weight loss surgery can improve fertility, hormone balance, and overall health. But it also raises an important question: how long should you wait before getting pregnant?

Two recent research studies have provided valuable insights, showing that while timing matters, weight stability and nutrition care are even more important for a healthy pregnancy after surgery.

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Why wait to get pregnant after bariatric surgery?

Most clinical guidelines recommend delaying pregnancy for at least 12 - 24 months after bariatric surgery. The rationale for this is to allow time for:

• Your body to adapt to rapid weight loss
• Nutrient levels to stabilise
• Hormones to rebalance
• A safer pregnancy with reduced risk of complications such as preterm birth or babies who are small for gestational age

However, new research suggests that the 12-month rule may not apply equally to everyone. What matters most is whether your weight has stabilised before conception.

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New research: Weight stability matters more than timing

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine investigated weight gain during pregnancy after bariatric surgery and how factors such as the surgery-to-conception interval and pre-pregnancy weight changes affect outcomes (1).

Researchers followed women aged 18–45 with singleton pregnancies after surgery and measured their weight stability before conception and gestational weight gain (GWG).

🔹 Key findings:

• Women who conceived within 12 months were more likely to still be losing weight.
• However, the length of time between surgery and conception was not a major predictor of pregnancy weight gain.
• Instead, pre-pregnancy BMI and whether a woman’s weight had stabilised before conception were the strongest indicators of healthy GWG.

In summary: it’s not simply about how many months you wait — it’s about ensuring your body weight and nutrient stores have settled before becoming pregnant.

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Women’s experiences: Nutrition care during pregnancy after bariatric surgery

Another recent Australian study explored women’s real-life experiences of pregnancy after bariatric surgery, focusing on their access to nutrition support (2).

Researchers interviewed women in late pregnancy and found three main themes:

1, Navigating healthcare: Many struggled to find maternity professionals familiar with post-bariatric nutrition needs.

2. The personal toll: Pregnancy after surgery can be emotionally and physically demanding, especially with ongoing nausea or food intolerance.

3. Women’s agency: Due to limited understanding from clinicians, many women had to advocate for themselves and seek information independently.

The study highlights the need for better nutrition education among maternity care providers and improved access to individualised dietitian support.

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Planning pregnancy after bariatric surgery: Practical advice

If you’ve had bariatric surgery and are thinking about pregnancy, here are key steps to ensure the best outcomes for both you and your baby:

1. Wait until your weight has stabilised. For many women, this occurs around 12–18 months post-surgery, but it varies individually.

2. Work with a multidisciplinary team — including your surgeon, endocrinologist, GP, obstetrician, and a bariatric-trained dietitian.

3. Monitor your micronutrients regularly — especially iron, vitamin B12, folate, calcium, and vitamin D.

4. Plan pregnancy intentionally, with clear communication across your healthcare team.

5. Prioritise emotional and mental health support, as pregnancy after surgery can bring unique challenges.

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rfynd Weight Loss: Supporting your journey

At rfynd Weight Loss, we understand that pregnancy after bariatric surgery is a special journey requiring expert guidance.

Our team including doctors, nurse practitioners, and bariatric dietitians provides:

• Pre-conception counselling and fertility preparation
• Nutrient monitoring and supplement planning
• Safe weight stabilisation support
• Virtual consultations available across New Zealand

Whether you’re planning a pregnancy or already expecting, we’ll help you nourish your body safely and confidently after bariatric surgery.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your personal plan for pregnancy and nutrition after weight loss surgery. Drop us an email at support@rfynd.co.nz.

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Whats the hype?

If you’ve struggled with dieting, calorie counting, gym memberships, or trendy detoxes that promise the world but deliver disappointment — you’re not alone. At rfynd Weight Loss, we work with people like you every day who’ve “done all the right things” and still feel stuck.

Wegovy® (semaglutide) has sparked major interest — not just from celebrities or social media, but from serious clinical research. The STEP trials (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity) offer clear, trustworthy evidence behind how well Wegovy works, who it helps, and what results you can expect.

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Here’s a breakdown of the STEP 1–5 clinical trials

🧪 What Are the STEP Trials?

The STEP Trials includes five large, global clinical trials that tested Wegovy’s effect on weight loss (compare to placebo) in people with obesity or overweight. These trials involved thousands of real people — like you — looking for lasting solutions. Most had tried and failed with diet and exercise alone. By the way, “placebo’s” are treatments with no active ingredients.

STEP 1: Wegovy vs. Placebo (and no diabetes)

📊 Participants: 1,961 adults with obesity or overweight
⏱ Duration: 68 weeks
💊 Treatment: Wegovy 2.4 mg weekly vs placebo, both with lifestyle advice

✅ Results:

• Average 14.9% weight loss with Wegovy vs 2.4% with placebo
• Over 1 in 3 people lost more than 20% of their body weight

👩‍⚕️ What this means for you:
Most participants were women in their 40s and 50s, but men were also included. This is the gold-standard trial showing that Wegovy helps people finally lose real, significant weight, even after many failed attempts.

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STEP 2: Wegovy in people with Type 2 Diabetes

📊 Participants: 1,210 adults with obesity/overweight + type 2 diabetes
⏱ Duration: 68 weeks
💊 Treatment: Wegovy 2.4 mg vs semaglutide 1 mg vs placebo

✅ Results:

• Average weight loss was 9.6% with Wegovy vs 3.4% with placebo
• Improvements in HbA1c and blood sugar control

👩‍⚕️ What this means for you:
Even if you have type 2 diabetes (a common condition in those with obesity), Wegovy still offers meaningful weight loss and improves blood sugar. Results are slightly less than STEP 1 due to insulin-related effects, but still impressive.

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STEP 3: Wegovy + Intensive Lifestyle Support

📊 Participants: 611 adults with obesity
⏱ Duration: 68 weeks
💊 Treatment: Wegovy 2.4 mg + intensive behaviour therapy vs placebo + therapy

✅ Results:

• Wegovy group lost 16% of body weight vs 5.7% in placebo
• Faster weight loss with early improvements in mood and energy reported

👩‍⚕️ What this means for you:
When Wegovy is combined with personalised coaching and support results are even better. This trial shows how mindset, movement, and medication work together. This is another reason why rfynd has built a team of support around you.

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STEP 4: What Happens If You Stop Wegovy?

📊 Participants: 902 adults who lost weight on Wegovy
⏱ Duration: 48 weeks (after initial 20-week run-in)

✅ Results:

• Those who stayed on Wegovy maintained their weight loss
• Those who stopped gained back ~6.9% of their weight

👩‍⚕️ What this means for you:
Wegovy isn’t a quick fix — it's a long-term tool. But with the right support, you can maintain your results. Think of it as a foundation, not a forever dependency.

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STEP 5: Long-Term Wegovy Use – Over 2 Years

📊 Participants: 304 adults
⏱ Duration: 2 years
✅ Results:

• 15.2% average weight loss over 104 weeks
• Most weight lost in the first year, maintained in year two

👩‍⚕️ What this means for you:
Long-term weight loss is possible and sustainable. This is key is you’re looking for lasting change, not yo-yo diets.

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❤️ Final Thoughts

The STEP trials clearly show that Wegovy is more than hype — it’s a clinically proven tool for meaningful, sustained weight loss. And for those of you who’ve spent years trying and failing with typical diets, this can feel like a breath of fresh air.

But weight loss isn’t just about medication. At rfynd Weight Loss, we blend expert care, mindset coaching, and nutrition planning into a personalised, shame-free program tailored for you.

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👉 What’s Next?

📖 Read this next:
Understanding Wegovy® Side Effects – So you know what to expect before you begin

📖 Or check out:
Strategies to Manage Side Effects of Wegovy® – For practical, easy-to-follow tips to stay on track

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