Medical Weight Loss

The Problem: Effort Without Results, and No Clear Medical Path Forward

Most people who struggle with weight have already tried the standard recommendations. They have adjusted their diet, increased their activity, and followed programs. Some lose weight and regain it. Others see minimal change despite sustained effort. The frustration is real, and so is the biology behind it.

Weight is not simply a matter of willpower or consistency. Hormonal regulation of appetite, metabolic rate, insulin sensitivity, and energy storage all play significant roles in why some people struggle to achieve and maintain a healthy weight despite doing the right things. These are clinical factors, and they require clinical solutions.

Commercial weight loss programs are not built to address the medical side of the equation. A physician-supervised program is.

Our Approach: Physician-Supervised GLP-1 Therapy

At M. Chavez MD, SC, medical weight loss is supervised directly by a board-certified family physician with 28 years of clinical experience. Every step of your treatment, from medication selection to dosing adjustments to monitoring, is guided by a physician who knows your complete medical history.

Our program uses FDA-cleared GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, currently the most clinically proven class of medications available for medical weight management. These are not supplements or unproven treatments. They are rigorously studied, widely used, and prescribed with careful attention to each patient's individual profile.

GLP-1 Medications We Prescribe

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists act on receptors in the brain and gastrointestinal tract to regulate appetite, slow gastric emptying, increase satiety, and improve insulin sensitivity. The result is a meaningful reduction in caloric intake and, over time, significant and sustained weight loss.

• Semaglutide: A once-weekly injectable GLP-1 agonist shown in clinical trials to produce significant reductions in body weight over 68 weeks. Widely used and well-tolerated in most patients.
• Tirzepatide: A dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist offering an enhanced hormonal response. Associated with greater average weight loss compared to GLP-1 monotherapy in head-to-head trials.

Who Is a Candidate

Medical weight loss therapy is appropriate for adults who meet established clinical criteria. Candidacy is determined at your initial consultation based on a full medical history review.

• Body mass index (BMI) of 27 or greater
• Prior unsuccessful attempts at weight reduction through diet and exercise alone
• No contraindications to GLP-1 therapy (including personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2)
• Commitment to monthly follow-up appointments and lifestyle modification

What the Program Looks Like

• Initial evaluation with full medical history and metabolic assessment
• Individualized medication selection and starting dose
• Monthly provider visits with weight and progress assessments
• Dose titration as clinically indicated to optimize results and tolerability
• Ongoing monitoring for side effects and medication response
• Guidance on nutritional habits and sustainable lifestyle changes

Common Side Effects

GLP-1 receptor agonists are generally well-tolerated. The most commonly reported effects are gastrointestinal and typically resolve as your body adjusts to the medication during the dose titration period.

• Nausea and vomiting, most common during initial dose escalation
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Reduced appetite (an intended therapeutic effect)
• Mild injection site reactions

Program Pricing

Monthly medication costs typically begin around $350, with variation based on the specific medication and dosage prescribed. Pricing is reviewed in detail at your initial consultation. This is a self-pay program and is not billed through insurance.