Injectable Weight Loss Program at Assure Wellness Group

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 73.6% of adults over age 20 are overweight. 41.9% of those people are considered obese. These are staggering numbers. In fact, the CDC now lists obesity as a national epidemic.

It’s important to note that even “skinny” people can be at risk for health issues caused by being overweight. Your weight might not show that you are technically overweight, but if you are carrying extra fat around your abdominal area, you are also at a higher risk of a decreased life expectancy. “Skinny” fat, also known as visceral fat, is associated with higher levels of inflammation and puts you more at risk for high blood sugar and high insulin levels, and predisposes you to pre-diabetes.

A study conducted by Duke University has shown that the life expectancy for Gen Xers and Millennials is going down. This is the first time in decades that this has happened. Being overweight or obese is the root cause of many chronic diseases, including:

– Coronary artery disease
– Stroke
– Type 2 diabetes
– High blood pressure
– High cholesterol (includes triglycerides which contribute to plaque in the arteries)
– Fatty liver disease
– Certain cancers
– Osteoarthritis
– Sleep apnea
– Endocrine disorders, including Insulin Resistance
– Alzheimer’s and/or dementia
– Mood disorders
– Back and joint pain

A healthy weight reduces many risks. We want to help you along the way to achieve a healthy lifestyle and a healthy weight.

We understand fad diets can provide quick weight loss; however, most people on these diets ultimately end up gaining the weight back as soon as they stop the diet. Also, some fad diets are extremely calorie-restricted and can end up causing more harm than good.

Our weight loss providers are true experts with a collective experience of more than 50 years. We embrace the latest and most safe science that is supported in research. This means our program is safe and effective.

Semaglutide mimics a health-promoting, naturally occurring peptide in the body (GLP-1). Studies have shown it reduces appetite, improves control of eating, and reduces food cravings, improves blood sugar control and may even help with stopping addictive behaviors.

Semaglutide is NOT a stimulant, so no dry mouth, jitters or sleep disturbances.

More specifically, Semaglutide is a small protein (peptide) that activates metabolic pathways in the body to increase blood sugar metabolism and reduce appetite. It imitates a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). You may have heard of Semaglutide before. It has been used to help treat type 2 diabetes under the brand names Ozempic ® and Saxenda®.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Semaglutide to be used to treat type-2 diabetes in 2017. Further research and studies have shown that Semaglutide is also suitable for losing weight, and in June of 2021, it was FDA-approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy®.

We do not prescribe Semaglutide under the brand names associated with treating type 2 diabetes or weight loss listed above. We start all of our patients off at a lower, compounded dose for the first month and then increase the dosage for the second and third months, respectively.

Our pharmacy uses the actual semaglutide base and not a “salt” that is being used by other pharmacies. Additionally our pharmacy sends every batch manufactured to an outside independent lab for potency and purity testing, ensure the highest quality.

Semaglutide is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) and not into a muscle. A very small needle is used and its quite easy.

The most common side-effect of Semaglutide is nausea and possibly other digestive issues. But we take proactive measures to ensure that the chances of this happening to you are slim.

For your first month, we will start you at a lower dose of Semaglutide to allow your body to get used to it. We typically increase incrementally at month two and month three, however, everyone is different. The goal is for you to lose a few pounds a week with no nausea.

If you find you are not losing any weight at all in the beginning, we can we can accelerate the dose increases to determine what is right for you.

Absolute Contraindications to the Semaglutide Weight Loss Program are:

– Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer
– Type-1 diabetes (an auto-immune condition)
– MEN – multiple endocrine neoplasia
– Pancreatitis
– Decreased kidney function

Semaglutide reduces your appetite and makes you feel fuller for longer periods of time. It also keeps you in “fat-burning” mode. Because Semaglutide targets fat cells and regulates blood sugar, you don’t have to worry about losing muscle mass or dehydration (water weight loss).

Simply…

– Physical hunger is gone
– Better sleep
– Higher energy levels
– Helps with insulin pathways and blood sugar levels
– The more momentum you gain, the better you will feel
– On average, you can expect to lose 15% to 20% of your body weight over 12-16 weeks

We encourage our patients to do a “Lazy Keto or Keto Light” program along with Intermittent fasting.

While exercise is not required with this program, we recommend you start to incorporate an activity regime into your lifestyle because of the health benefits. It can be just walking more than you do today.

Patients typically see a weight loss of 1 to 3 pounds per week. However, that can vary depending on the weight of the patient. Patients who have more weight to lose can see greater results.

Insulin Resistance can be a root cause of metabolic syndrome and many other chronic diseases. Its especially a predictor of high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes. A physical indicator for Insulin Resistance is the amount of belly fat that you carry, so yes, even thin people can have it. If you are female and your waist measurement is over 35 inches, you likely have Insulin Resistance. If you are male and your waist measurement is over 40, the same holds true. Further, those that have had difficulty losing weight may have a more severe case of Insulin Resistance. We can test for your insulin resistance score at an additional fee.

Our program has been developed with two options, weekly in office or at home.

The in-office program is paid on a monthly basis and starts at $325, while at home program runs approximately 12 weeks and starts at $1,250. The initial consultation and visit is $250.

Our program includes:

– Initial consult
– Weekly check in’s at home or in office
– Monthly telemedicine or face-to-face doctor follow up
– Lipo-burn energy spray (for the first month at no cost)
– Body Mass Analyzer scale for home use
– An optional maintenance program (discounted fee)
 
For more information, please contact us or request an appointment online. We serve patients from Chesapeake VA, Portsmouth VA, Norfolk VA, Bethesda MD, Chillum MD, Alexandria VA, Springfield VA, Hybla Valley VA, Jacksonville NC, Half Moon NC, Piney Green NC, Forestbrook SC, Socastee SC and surrounding areas.