Understanding Medical Weight Management
Medical weight management looks at weight and metabolic health as a whole picture rather than a single number on a scale. It can combine a review of your health history, current medications, lifestyle patterns, and lab context with a conversation about whether a medication-supported approach may be worth discussing.
Two medication classes come up often in these conversations: GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide, and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists like tirzepatide. Both work on receptors involved in appetite regulation and blood sugar control, but they are not interchangeable, and neither is automatically right for every person.
This page explains what each topic generally involves so you can walk into a consultation with better questions. It is not a substitute for individual clinician review, and it does not promise that any specific medication is available, appropriate, or effective for your situation.
What a Clinician May Review
Eligibility for any weight-management medication is never assumed from a web page — it comes from individual clinician review. That said, it helps to know generally what a clinician may consider relevant: your health history, current medications, prior weight-management attempts, relevant lab values if applicable, and your personal goals and preferences.
Lab testing may be requested when clinically relevant, but not every reader will need the same tests, and this page cannot tell you in advance which labs, if any, apply to your situation. Similarly, if you are currently receiving treatment elsewhere, a consultation can be a useful way to ask questions about your current plan or explore whether a second opinion makes sense for you.
The goal of this evaluation step is to have an honest, individualized conversation — not to fit you into a predetermined program.
What Happens After You Reach Out
Requesting a consultation starts with a short form on our Contact Us page. After you submit it, our team follows up using the contact details you provide to answer initial questions and explain what next steps could look like based on what you share.
This first conversation is about understanding your situation and questions — it is not a guarantee of any specific treatment, and it does not create a clinical relationship on its own. If a personalized plan does move forward, that would happen through further individual clinician review.
If you want more background before reaching out, our articles on what to know before a consultation and how evaluation works walk through common reader questions in more depth. You can also review plain-language definitions on our Medical Weight Management glossary page.
Ready to Ask Your Questions?
A consultation request is the first step, not a commitment. Share a bit about your goals and history, and our team will follow up to talk through what next steps may look like for you.
FAQs
Is semaglutide the same as tirzepatide?
No. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, while tirzepatide acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. They share some effects but work through different combinations of hormone pathways, and a clinician can help you understand which topic, if any, is worth discussing further for your situation.
Do I need blood work before requesting a consultation?
Not necessarily. Lab testing may be requested when it's clinically relevant to your situation, but not every reader needs the same tests. This is something a clinician can clarify during your individual review.
Is telehealth available for this consultation?
Our consultation process is built around remote, telehealth-style communication. Specific details about your appointment format will be discussed after you submit a request.
I'm already on a weight-management medication elsewhere. Can I still request a consultation?
Yes, you're welcome to reach out. Many people request a consultation while comparing providers or looking for clearer follow-up on their current plan. Bring your current treatment details to the conversation so it can be discussed accurately.
What does a consultation cost, and does insurance apply?
Cost and insurance details vary and are best discussed directly with our team after you submit a request, since we don't want to state a figure here that may not apply to your specific situation.
Will I be prescribed medication after one consultation?
Not automatically. A prescribing decision depends on individual clinician review of your health history and goals, and it is never guaranteed by anything described on this page.