What is Medical Weight Loss?

If you have tried to lose weight through standard channels. Such as eating a healthy diet and increasing the amount of physical exercise. You are getting but have had little success, medical weight loss may be for you.

Nevertheless, doctors use the phrase “medical weight loss”. To describe a scientific and medically-based program conducted under their supervision. Finally, the objective of medical weight loss is to assist higher-weight patients.  Not only in improving their health through losing weight but also sustaining their weight loss long-term.

What does a Medical Weight Loss Program include?

Medical Weight Loss usually consists of:

Medications in our Weight Management Programs

When used correctly, weight loss medications can make your hard work pay off faster. Furthermore, they all function very similarly to boost the body’s natural level of GLP-1. Additionally, it helps in controlling blood sugar and metabolizing fat. Also, it can help control hunger and delay gastric emptying so you feel satisfied longer.

However, when combined with exercise and a healthy diet. Weight loss medications can help patients lose more weight and keep it off. Moreover, at IBI Healthcare Institute we offer the following FDA-approved weight loss medications:

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®)

Tirzepatide is like Ozempic, it's a weekly skin injection. Usually, starts with a low dose, then steps up for results. In May 2022, the FDA greenlit a new diabetes med. Mounjaro® copies body hormones, aiding blood sugar control. It outperforms rivals in trials.

Semaglutide (SlimMed)

The Semaglutide injection is the prescription medication. Semaglutide has been used for over a decade to treat type 2 diabetes along with Levocarnitine which helps with fat metabolism. It is administered through pre-filled syringes that are injected subcutaneously once a week.

Forms of Medication for Weight Management

Weight loss medications most commonly come in the form of a pill or injection:

  • Patients take some medications daily, while they take others weekly.

  • We expect users to dispose of injections properly when using pre-filled syringes or injection pens designed for one-time use.

  • Some injections come in the form of multi-dose pre-filled injection pens that use a new needle attachment for each injection.

Who is a Candidate for a Weight Loss Program?

What are the Benefits of a Weight Loss Program?

Medical Weight Loss FAQs

Nonetheless, a medical weight loss diet provides guidelines on the types of foods and quantities that an individual should eat. Nevertheless, in conjunction with the Bariatric and Medical Weight Loss Center you are working with. They typically give you a personalized weight loss program. 

Although, this diet normally structures around reducing calorie intake. Additionally, it includes no processed foods, no sugar, few starches, reduced salt. And the green leafy vegetables and food that is high in proteins.

Medical weight loss can be very successful if it is used as a tool like it is intended to be. Taking medication to help alleviate hunger and boost metabolism coupled with a large support system. It will go a long way to help patients lose weight and keep it off. These are just tools that can help boost the effort that is put in by the patient.

If the patient puts in very little effort, then they will find very little success with their program. Likewise, if the patient puts forth a significant amount of effort and follows their diet and exercise program diligently. They will find great success with medical weight loss treatments.

Medical weight loss programs are safe when run by board-certified doctors who specialize in weight loss.

Under a doctor’s care, the healthcare professional evaluates you and provides medication to help with your weight loss efforts. Moreover, the doctor will provide you with a restricted-calorie diet. And an approved program of exercise/physical activity for you to follow while also using the medication.

Normally, you must participate in monthly support sessions and check-ins with a dietitian who will help keep you on track.

You will have monthly appointments to meet with your doctor. However, discuss your progress and make any dose adjustments to your medication. Typically, healthcare professionals administer medication at the lowest available dose, and over 5 months, they raise the dose each month until reaching the maximum.

At your first consultation, your Medical Weight Loss Doctor will find out as much as they can about your personal and family medical history. The doctor will talk with you about your goals, ideal weight, and current lifestyle and then formulate a realistic plan to help you achieve those goals.

You may also undergo some testing to determine the appropriate medication that will work best for you. Otherwise you may be asked to return after going to your primary physician with the information necessary.

You will get to know the doctor and many of the medical support professionals and determine which ones you will need to make your program successful.

Wegovy® is a prescription medication Semaglutide that was originally approved by the FDA in 2017 to treat type 2 diabetes. Then approved in June of 2021, for the treatment of obesity. Wegovy® is administered through a preloaded one-time-use injection pen to be used once a week.

On the other hand, Saxenda® the prescription drug Liraglutide. It was FDA-approved in 2010 to treat type 2 diabetes. And now approved for use in weight management and the treatment of patients with obesity. It is administered subcutaneously with an injection pen that is pre-filled with a one-month supply.