Not One-Size-Fits-All: How SheMed Is Personalizing Weight Care for Women in the UK
Conversations around women’s health have grown louder, more urgent, and more visible. Yet, gaps in care still persist. That’s where SheMed comes in, a healthtech startup aiming to redefine how women access weight and metabolic health support in the UK.
We have interviewed Olivia and Chloe Ferro, the founders of SheMed to see their vision and know more about the steps they are taking to help women seeking help.
A Shared Frustration Becomes a Vision
Sisters Olivia and Chloe Ferro didn’t just build SheMed from a business opportunity, they built it from personal experience. Both founders have faced the all-too-common frustrations of being overlooked or dismissed in healthcare settings.
The idea of SheMed started when they saw that 80% of the people on weight loss programs were women yet no GLP-1 programs in the UK were specifically designed for women. “That disconnect hit hard,” says Olivia. “Women were clearly showing up, seeking support… but the solutions weren’t built with them in mind.” SheMed was created to close this gap. It’s the UK’s first female-focused GLP-1 program, designed not only to address metabolic and hormonal issues but to do so in a way that finally puts women at the center of their own care.
Meeting the Moment
“Now is the right time for SheMed because women’s healthcare needs to get the attention it deserves—and innovative platforms like ours are stepping in to lead where the traditional system has fallen behind,” says Olivia. She emphasizes that for too long, women had to navigate outdated systems and rushed appointments, especially when it comes to weight management and metabolic health. With the rise in popularity of GLP-1 medications, an issue remained: “We saw a huge gap: women looking for help with weight and hormone-related issues were either dismissed or given one-size-fits-all solutions. SheMed exists to change that.”
A Responsible, Clinical Approach to GLP-1s
Unlike many providers who skip proper screening, SheMed places patient safety at the forefront. “At SheMed, patient safety comes first and that starts with proper screening,” says Chloe. “We require a comprehensive blood panel before prescribing any GLP-1 medication. Our screening evaluates key metabolic markers like HbA1c, triglycerides, liver enzymes, and thyroid function which can reveal conditions that might make GLP-1s unsafe or less effective,”. SheMed’s approach doesn’t stop at initial screening; it includes ongoing clinical follow-ups to ensure safe and effective treatment.
Changing the Narrative Around Obesity and GLP-1s
Olivia is passionate about changing the narrative around GLP-1 medications, stressing that they’re not for cosmetic weight loss. “One of the biggest issues is that the conversation around GLP-1s has become too focused on cosmetic weight loss; how fast someone can lose weight or what they look like,” she explains. “That framing misses the point entirely and oversimplifies what these medications actually do.”.
“One of the biggest issues is that the conversation around GLP-1s has become too focused on cosmetic weight loss — how fast someone can lose weight or what they look like,” Olivia explains. “That framing oversimplifies what these medications actually do. GLP-1s are a powerful biological tool that can help address weight at its root, and in doing so, may also help reduce the burden of other weight-related conditions our patients are managing.”
What the SheMed Experience Looks Like
Chloe explains what patients can expect when they sign up with SheMed: “From the moment someone joins SheMed, our goal is to make them feel supported, informed, and empowered to take control of their health.” The experience includes:
- Personalised Intake: A thorough onboarding to understand the patient’s health history, goals, and symptoms.
- At-Home Blood Test Kit: Every patient receives an easy-to-use at-home blood test kit to screen for metabolic markers.
- Clinician Review + Eligibility Assessment: A licensed provider reviews the results, ensuring GLP-1 therapy is a safe option.
- Ongoing Support + Follow-Ups: Regular check-ins to monitor progress, manage side effects, and ensure the treatment is effective.
“Our goal is to deliver more than a prescription; it’s about giving women access to real answers, real care, and a plan that’s built around them,” Chloe emphasizes.
The App That Prioritises Personalisation and Scalability
The SheMed app is integral to supporting long-term success. Olivia explains, “Our app is a core part of how we support long-term success — it’s not just a tracking tool, it’s a personalised health companion.” The app helps track progress, manage side effects, and provide guidance on sustainable habits that extend beyond treatment.
Scaling personalised care without compromising quality is a challenge Chloe and Olivia are tackling head-on. “We’ve standardized the most critical parts of the process: every member receives the same comprehensive metabolic screening, every lab is reviewed by a licensed provider,” Chloe explains. SheMed combines this with smart technology for a seamless experience. “The result is a scalable model that still feels one-to-one,” Chloe adds.
Success, By the Numbers and Beyond
SheMed has helped thousands of women, and for Olivia, the real success lies in the impact on individual lives. “We’ve had women who, whether due to hormonal imbalances, genetic markers, or circumstantial factors, struggled with unexplained weight gain for years only to discover underlying conditions like prediabetes or fatty liver that had gone undiagnosed,” Olivia shares. “One member told us, ‘This is the first time I’ve felt like a doctor actually listened to me and didn’t just tell me to eat less and exercise more.’”
Overcoming Challenges and Growing From Them
A major challenge for SheMed has been navigating marketing restrictions around GLP-1 medications. They focus a lot on transparency. However, they are unable to mention the names and the content of the medications they prescribe due to regulatory guidelines. “It’s frustrating because we’re doing this the right way, requiring lab work, involving licensed clinicians, and putting safety first but we can’t always say that directly.”
Looking Ahead
Chloe looks forward to the future of SheMed, both in terms of expanding its offerings and its geographic reach. “We’re constantly listening to our members and tracking the data coming out of our ongoing study and that insight is already pointing us toward what women need next,” she says. “We’re exploring areas like hormone therapy, vitamins, and supplements, especially where we see clear connections between these solutions and the metabolic and hormonal issues our members are facing.”