Medical Weight Loss FAQs

  • Maintaining weight loss can be a challenging task due to several scientific and physiological factors. The human body has evolved to defend against weight loss and preserve energy stores, which can make it difficult to sustain long-term weight loss. Here are some scientific reasons behind this challenge:

    1. Metabolic Adaptation: When you lose weight, your metabolic rate decreases. This adaptive response is a survival mechanism aimed at conserving energy, as the body becomes more efficient in utilizing fewer calories. As a result, it becomes harder to continue losing weight or maintain the weight loss achieved.

    2. Hormonal Regulation: Hormones like leptin, ghrelin, and insulin play crucial roles in appetite regulation and energy balance. Weight loss can disrupt the delicate hormonal balance, leading to increased hunger, cravings, and a slower metabolic rate. These hormonal changes can make it challenging to resist overeating and maintain a lower weight.

    3. Genetic Predisposition: Genetics can influence a person's susceptibility to obesity and their ability to maintain weight loss. Certain gene variants may affect metabolism, fat storage, and appetite control, making weight management more challenging for some individuals.

    4. Environmental Factors: Our modern environment is filled with abundant, highly palatable, and calorie-dense food options. Food marketing, social cues, and easy accessibility can trigger overeating and undermine weight maintenance efforts.

    5. Behavioral and Psychological Factors: Habits, behaviors, and psychological factors play significant roles in weight management. Emotional eating, stress, lack of support, and unhealthy coping mechanisms can contribute to weight regain.

    Understanding these scientific factors can help individuals develop strategies to overcome the challenges associated with maintaining weight loss. At Bruce Bariatrics, we address these factors using pharmacotherapy and creating sustainable lifestyle changes, including a balanced diet, regular physical activity, stress management, and good sleep hygiene.

  • Yes. The American Medical Association has designated obesity as a chronic disease, no different than high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Therefore, it needs to be treated as a chronic disease, which equates to regular followup and therapy.

  • No. Our visits are scheduled typically between 4 and 12 weeks, and prescriptions are written to accommodate those time periods.

  • Yes, we do! Though we love to see our patients in person we realize that time and distance may make it inconvenient to do so.

  • Ozempic and Wegovy will need to be refrigerated.

  • For once-a-week injectables:

    If missed 1 dose and the next dose is

    >2 days away (48 hrs) administer as soon as possible.

    <2 days away (48 hrs) do NOT administer a dose and WAIT to resume dosing on the regularly scheduled day of the week.

    If you have any questions please contact your pharmacist or the office.

  • Some medical weight loss injectables have been FDA-approved for children over the age of 12.

  • You can call your insurance company or check your policy online. Our office is also able to help should you need it.

  • Yes, there are a few things you can try.

    -Eat bland, low-fat food such as crackers, toast, or rice.

    -Eat foods that contain water, such as soup and gelatin.

    -Do NOT lie down after you eat.

    -Eat more slowly.

    -Go outside and get some fresh air.

  • Yes, please carry the injectables in the box that you get from the pharmacy with your identification on it. There are cooler cases specifically designed for traveling with medication that needs to be kept cold.

  • Yes, you cannot take weight loss medication while pregnant.