Kilow - Medically Assisted Weight Loss App (GLP-1)
Helping people kickstart their weight loss journey through habit, dietary, and lifestyle changes
Kilow
2024
Health-tech
4 Months
Casestudy
Challenge
Obesity rates in Saudi Arabia are among the highest globally. Many individuals struggle with:
• Ineffective diets and workout plans
• Lack of medical oversight
• Inconsistent guidance and motivation
• No unified platform integrating health, wellness, and medication
Solution
A platform designed to guide users on a medically-supervised weight loss journey using GLP-1 injections, plus:
• Eligibility quiz & doctor consultation
• Lab test integration
• Personalized medication plans
• Meal plans, exercise routines, and water/calorie and habit tracking
• Continuous coaching and motivation (via doctors, nutritionists, psychiatrists, and fitness coaches)
• Digital tools: weight tracker, mindfulness, chat, and community features
• Lifestyle integration: Introduction to wearables and Health apps
70%+
of adults in Saudi Arabia are either overweight or obese. (Source: WHO, MOH)
1 in 3
Adults in Saudi Arabia is clinically obese (BMI > 30).
45%
of HR managers believe financial wellness tools improve employee retention.
About the project
Kilow is a digital health platform based in Saudi Arabia that offers a medically-guided weight loss journey through GLP-1 shots and personalized support. From eligibility assessment to post-treatment health optimization, Kilow empowers individuals to achieve sustainable weight loss through a comprehensive, tech-enabled ecosystem.
Process
Research & Discovery: I conducted user 20+ interviews, 2 surveys, and 8 usability tests to understand how weight is being controlled by patients between the age of 20 and 50.
I also analyzed over 15+ competitive products across GLP-1 platforms, fitness, wellness, and health management apps.
Key insights I focused on:
How users track weight, calories, and medications
What features drive retention and conversion in health apps
Cultural and regulatory considerations in Saudi Arabia
Strategy Workshops: I ran collaborative strategy sessions to define:
Target personas: overweight/obese individuals in Saudi Arabia aged 20–50
Primary pain points: lack of medical guidance, unsustainable diets, motivation issues, and access to effective treatments
Business objectives: Build a scalable platform for GLP-1-based weight loss programs supported by holistic wellness tools
Feasibility review: Covered medical regulation, tech stack options, and operational capabilities like doctor matching and lab integrations
These workshops helped solidify our problem statement and value proposition:
“Help users lose weight with medically guided, personalized treatment that fits into their lifestyle.”
Concept Development:
Onboarding via medical eligibility quiz (20 page questionnaire)
Connecting with doctors for lab testing and prescriptions (soft eligibility check)
Personalized weight loss tracking, nutrition, medicine delivery and mental health support
A holistic journey with community, challenges, vetted resources and rewards.
Prototype & Testing: I built a high-fidelity interactive prototype and conducted usability tests with both male and female patients who suffer from obesity. Feedback led to the formation of the current solution.
Iterative Design & Validation: Based on review feedback
We refined UI to be more culturally localized (Arabic-friendly layouts, tone)
Streamlined flows (e.g., lab booking and prescription flow simplified)
Balanced the medical vs lifestyle feel of the app to appeal to wider segments
Based on user interviews & desk research
“I start strong, but then I lose motivation after a couple of weeks.”
GLP market insights
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Saxenda are gaining fast popularity globally and are now in high demand in the GCC, including KSA.
The global GLP-1 weight loss market is projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030, with the GCC expected to be a key growth region.
49% of Saudis trying to lose weight report “medical guidance” as a missing factor in their past attempts.
There’s a 300% rise in Google searches in Saudi Arabia over the past year for “Ozempic for weight loss” (2023–2024 trend).
Digital health opportunity
Over 80% of Saudi adults use mobile health apps, yet most focus only on step counting or general fitness.
In a 2023 study, 63% of Saudis said they would prefer doctor-supervised digital weight loss programs over generic apps.
Demand for at-home lab testing and e-prescriptions has grown by over 40% YoY post-COVID.
User Behavior
92% of users would prefer an initial quiz to determine eligibility before speaking to a doctor.
76% of early testers said they would pay for a personalized plan if it included:
Medical prescription & delivery
Consistent medication supply (now low stock)
Personalized meals
Easy access to doctors
Weight tracking & coaching
Key Research Summary
92% wanted a doctor’s opinion before starting any new program
76% were open to GLP-1 medication if supervised and safe
88% said convenience (lab tests from home, not clinics) is a key need
61% said they’ve tried at least two weight loss apps before — and failed to stay motivated
100% wanted meal plans based on foods they already eat, not Western diet fads
Look and Feel v2
Product Design v1
Onboarding Flow
Shown below is a simplified flowchart of the onboarding flow, This flow includes an example of the questions asked to the patient in order to build their eligibility criteria.
Onboarding UI
First version if the UI for the onboarding flow.
Full App UI
First version if the UI for the rest of the app.
