Is Medical Weight Loss Right for You?

Most patients will qualify for treatment with weight loss medication if their BMI is >= 30, or if their BMI => 27 with weight related health conditions.

Most patients will qualify for treatment with weight loss medication if their BMI is >= 30, or if their BMI => 27 with weight related health conditions.

Medical weight loss can be a good fit for patients who wish to avoid weight loss surgery. It’s also a good option for patients with smaller weight loss goals, or for patients who have already had weight loss surgery and want to further enhance their results.

Yes. People who have already had weight loss surgery usually respond very well to weight loss medications. Medications are a great option to optimize results from surgery, or treat weight regain after weight loss surgery.

There are several GLP-1 medications that have been approved by the FDA for weight loss - this means that preliminary data on these medications suggests acceptable safety over the time that they were studied. While side effects to medications such as nausea or constipation are fairly common, dangerous side effects are very unusual. 

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound are all injectable GLP1 medications. The active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy is the same (semaglutide), but Ozempic is used to treat type 2 diabetes, while wegovy is used for weight loss. The active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) is the same, but Mounjaro is used for type 2 diabetes while Zepbound is used for weight loss. Candidacy and coverage for each of these medications will depend on patient history and insurance coverage.

Yes. Weight loss medications will reduce appetite for most people who take them. Different weight loss medications work to suppress appetite in different ways.

Most available weight loss medications will produce, on average, 5-22% total body weight loss at 1-2 years of therapy. Maintenance of this weight loss is dependent on ongoing therapy with medication.

This is generally the case, unless a person substitutes a different therapy to maintain their results - a different medication, or weight loss surgery. Some people are able to reduce their doses of weight loss medications after reaching their goal, but coming off completely will typically result in significant weight regain.

Stopping all weight loss medications will result in a return of hunger and significant weight regain for almost all people.

Yes. Stopping all weight loss medications will result in significant weight gain for almost all people. Appetite returns, sometimes with a vengeance, and it becomes nearly impossible to follow the same nutritional pattern as when the medication was on board.

Think of weight like any other health condition, such as high blood pressure. When a person stops taking high blood pressure medication, they will develop high blood pressure again.

Most people will see results within the first few weeks of therapy, with maximal weight loss at 1-2 years.

Different weight loss medications have different side effects. Stimulant medications such as phentermine can cause dry mouth, high blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia, and constipation, among other things. GLP1 medications typically cause nausea, stomach discomfort, and constipation. Not all patients will experience side effects.

Available data suggests that GLP-1 medications are safe for long-term use for at least 4 years, and potentially longer than this. The safety of lifelong therapy is simply not known as this time, as many of these newer medications have only been available for the last several years.

Yes. Many weight loss medications will improve control of diabetes. Thyroid issues will usually not improve with weight loss medication, however weight gain caused by thyroid imbalance may improve with treatment of the thyroid condition in combination with weight loss medication.

Consultations and follow-up appointments for medical weight loss are often covered by insurance. Insurance coverage for weight loss medications will vary, depending on specific plan details and personal history of each patient.

The cost of medical weight loss can vary, depending on insurance coverage for office visits and certain medications. The most affordable weight loss medications can be less than $20 a month, while the more expensive options can be over $1000 a month if not covered by insurance.

Weight loss medications can be purchased at a variety of price points, depending on the medication prescribed and a patient’s insurance coverage. Some of the more affordable options may cost less than $20 a month. More expensive medications may cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars a month.