Wondering how does medical weight loss work and if it’s the right fit for you? If you’ve spent countless years on diets, exercise plans, reading new research, or promising to “start over on Monday” without lasting results, we can help. From Lipo-Plus to testosterone therapy when medically appropriate, we’ll help determine which options may be the right choice for you. Our medical weight loss approach looks beyond willpower and generic advice and uses personalized evaluations, treatment, and ongoing support to help you get the results you deserve.
What Is Medical Weight Loss?
Medical weight loss is supervised by qualified healthcare professionals. We take into account your health history, goals, lifestyle, challenges, nutrition, and individual needs to figure out how to best help you. Depending on your needs and the kind of results you want, your plan may include:
- Medication
- Nutrition
- Fitness
- Lifestyle coaching
- Hormone testing
Medical weight loss can include medications like appetite suppressants and injections, but that does not mean they’re automatically necessary for your journey.
How Medical Weight Loss Programs Work
When you sign up for medical weight loss, the process starts with a medical intake and detailed health history. We also listen to your challenges, lifestyle, and past approach to weight loss. When needed, we may recommend lab work to look for hormonal imbalances or thyroid issues that can complicate weight loss. Once we have a full picture of what’s going on, we develop a personalized treatment plan. If weight loss medications are prescribed, they’re fulfilled through a licensed pharmacy. Regular follow-up is also integral to your success. We monitor your progress and make adjustments to your plan as necessary.
Why Medical Weight Loss Is Different From Dieting
Although nutrition counseling handled by a medical provider is a big part of medical weight loss, it’s not a traditional diet. Standard diets are usually full of generic advice that gives everyone the same rules. They’re not always reliable or consistent and don’t usually provide long-term results. Medications, appetite, metabolic health, thyroid concerns, hormonal factors, sleep, stress, and daily routines can all have a significant impact on weight gain and weight loss in ways that diets don’t address. That’s why our team at RCMC supports you through plateaus and looks at medical factors that may be making weight loss more difficult.
Medical Weight Loss FAQs
How does medical weight loss work?
Medical weight loss starts with a review of your health history, goals, current medications, lifestyle, and other factors that may affect weight management. A licensed provider evaluates whether you are a candidate and may order lab work when needed. Your personalized plan may include medication, nutrition support, fitness, lifestyle coaching, or a combination of approaches. Follow-up care helps monitor safety, progress, and whether the plan needs to change.
What happens if I stop losing weight during a medical weight loss program?
A weight loss plateau does not automatically mean the program has failed. It can be a signal to review what has changed, including hunger, adherence, activity, sleep, side effects, or other health factors. One advantage of medically supervised weight loss is that your progress can be reassessed and your plan adjusted when appropriate rather than simply telling you to try harder.
How long does medical weight loss take?
There is no single timeline that applies to everyone. Weight loss can vary based on starting weight, medical history, treatment plan, adherence, lifestyle factors, and individual response. A medical weight loss program should focus on monitoring your progress and adjusting your plan when appropriate rather than promising a specific number of pounds by a specific date.
Can I do medical weight loss through telehealth?
Yes. RCMC Medical Center’s personalized wellness programs are available through telehealth. RCMC’s in-house providers serve patients in California and Texas. In 48 additional states, RCMC partners with Qualiphy, a LegitScript-certified telemedicine provider, so patients are evaluated by providers licensed in their respective states. Any prescription requires medical evaluation and is fulfilled through a licensed pharmacy.
What should I expect at my first medical weight loss appointment?
You can expect to provide information about your medical history, current medications, previous weight loss efforts, health concerns, and goals. A licensed provider reviews your information, determines whether additional evaluation or labs may be appropriate, and assesses which treatment options may fit your needs. The goal is to build a plan around your individual health profile rather than hand you a generic program.
Schedule Your Consultation for Medical Weight Loss Today
If you’re ready to get started with medical weight loss, we can help. Our personalized wellness programs may include testing, medically appropriate medications and injections like Lipo-Plus, all supported through telehealth services. Contact us today to get started with medical weight loss.