Weight Loss

In addition to direct access primary care, SFP offers medical weight loss management. I have gained a lot of experience over the past couple of years prescribing and managing GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide. I have seen first hand how successful these medications are at helping patients lose weight, and the data backs this up! Weight loss medication is generally considered successful with 5% of baseline weight lost after 3 months of use (so a person that weighs 200lbs is able to lose 10lbs in 3 months). However, studies of GLP-1 medications have shown up to 20% or higher of baseline weight loss!! And even better, a study showed that this weight loss was sustained years later.

These medications work in two basic ways, one physically and one mentally:

Physically, they slow down the movement of food in the GI tract. This helps you feel full for longer, thus reducing appetite. This mechanism of action is what is underlying the most common side effects when taking GLP-1s - nausea, constipation, bloating, and other GI upset. Starting the medication at a low dose and increasing over several months, along with learning how to change your eating patterns, will help reduce side effects.

Mentally, these medications work on the area of the brain that tells you “eat that!” A lot of patients describe this sensation to me as quieting down the food noise. They are no longer constantly thinking about food, and find themselves able to easily walk by something tasty in the break room that they previously couldn’t help themselves from devouring.

This combination of feeling mentally and physically full is what leads to such successful weight loss outcomes. If you have struggled with being over weight or obese, reach out to SFP to schedule a consultation to see if these weight loss medications might be right for you!