Medical Weight Loss

Medical Weight Loss

Do you struggle with weight loss, even while following a healthy diet and exercise? If you do, you are not alone.  Losing weight is not always easy and some patients need medical intervention to support weight loss goals.  It is important to understand that while weight loss medications can help you lose up to 15% of your body weight, they are just one piece of the puzzle.  They are intended to help you develop a framework to change your overall lifestyle by improving your diet, exercising regularly and building more muscle mass to improve metabolism.

Weight Loss Management and Primary Care Providers

As primary care providers, we are at the center of your overall health care team. We combine traditional primary care services with preventative care to ensure your overall good health.  We develop a relationship with you, understanding your complete medical and family history, helping us to notice changes in your health and coordinate specialty care as needed.  We also know the importance of healthy weight management to our patients’ overall health and well-being. We are trained to treat those who are overweight or obese, and to help manage the obesity-related diseases that may result.

Body Mass Index

Your body weight category is identified by your body mass index, or BMI. It is calculated by dividing your weight in pounds, by your height in inches squared, then multiplying by 703 and rounding to one decimal place.  For example: if a person is 5’4″ and weighs 145 pounds, the calculation is 145 / 64² x 703 = 24.9 BMI.

BMI is interpreted using standard weight categories, which are the same for men and women.

Obesity Risk Factors

Obesity can develop over time as a result of consuming more calories than your body requires to perform general functions, including physical activity, digestion and breathing.  Your body uses key nutrients in the foods you eat, including carbohydrates, proteins, sugars and fats, to store as energy. Some is used immediately for daily functions and some is stored for future use.  If you have an energy, or calorie, imbalance, which means your energy in is higher than your energy out, then your body stores more fat than it needs. Both sides of the equation can lead to obesity.  The amount and type of food you eat is your energy in.  Your level of physical activity is your energy out. Factors that affect your risk for developing obesity include:

• Unhealthy eating habits including excess saturated fat and sugars
• Overeating
• Lack of physical activity
• Poor sleep quality affects the hormone that controls hunger signals
• High stress levels trigger the release of hormones such as cortisol which controls energy balance and hunger signals
• Genetics can cause a pre-disposition for obesity
• Health conditions such as metabolic syndrome may cause weight gain
• Medicine may interrupt the chemical signals that communicate hunger to your brain

Obesity Complications

Carrying excess weight is more than a cosmetic concern.  It is a complex disease characterized by excess levels of body fat and it can put you a risk for developing a number of chronic conditions and complications:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Liver disease
• Sleep apnea
• Cardiovascular disease
• Stroke
• Difficulty breathing
• Gallbladder disease
• Musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis
• Diminished self-esteem.

Weight Loss Options

Treating obesity is similar to treating any other disease.  Depending on a person’s BMI, multiple steps may be required. If a patient recently suffered a significant weight gain, diet and exercise may be the first step since it is the safest way to lose weight.  Some patients may qualify for weight loss medications. These can work well for patients with a lower BMI who would benefit tremendously from a 10-15% loss in body weight.  Patients with a higher BMI (over 40) may benefit from medication as a first step but may need further intervention, such as weight loss surgery to achieve success.

Diabetes Medications

Medicines originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes are also an option. Semaglutide, which is prescribed to treat diabetes under the name Ozempic, has shown to be very effective in promoting weight loss.  It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration under the name Wegovy for patients with obesity, even if they do not have diabetes.  That being said, semaglutide and other similar medications are intended to treat health conditions. Obesity is a chronic medical condition which further exposes individuals to other medical complications and risks. These drugs are not intended for non-medical weight loss pursued for cosmetic reasons.

Medical Weight Loss Clinic

To ensure our patients enjoy longevity and the highest possible quality of life, we are offering Semaglutide injections paired with nutritional guidance for those diagnosed with obesity.

Semaglutide is non-habit forming, has minimal side effects, and helps to control cravings and reduce your appetite. Potential results include reduced body weight, lowered blood sugar levels, improved glycemic control, reduced blood pressure and inflammatory markers, and a decrease in cardiovascular risk factors such as BMI and waist circumference.

These drugs are injected into the abdomen weekly and some patients may find difficulty using them for that reason.  In addition, they are not intended as a quick fix for people who struggle to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Patients may need to take these medications for years and they are to be paired with lifestyle changes to ensure weight loss is maintained once the medication is stopped.

While patients who qualify for Ozempic for type 2 diabetes are typically covered by insurance, those who qualify for Wegovy for weight loss are often not.  As a result, it is important to understand the financial impact if you qualify for and choose this course of action.

Disclaimer:  Our weight loss clinic is cash based and we will NOT bill medical insurances. The weight loss clinic is also separate from your Primary Care and only weight loss will be discussed during these visits.

Contact our office today to learn more about our Medical Weight Loss Clinic and discuss your personal weight management goals.

Semaglutide Pricing For Medical Weight Loss

Initial consult fee: $100 for new patients and $50 for existing patients

**Prices are subject to change depending on Market conditions

Proudly Serving: Carrollwood.