Medical weight loss is a weight-loss plan led by a physician, not a diet you follow alone. At Yaso Wellness in San Antonio, Leticia Vargas, MD, OB/GYN, starts with a health review, then a 12-week lifestyle program covering food, movement, sleep and stress. FDA-approved medicine may be added if it fits. Results vary.
Medical weight loss means a licensed physician looks at the whole picture before you change anything. That includes your weight history, your health conditions, the medicines you take, your sleep, and your goals. Some medicines and health problems make weight harder to lose, such as some steroids, some mood medicines, an underactive thyroid, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Finding these first helps shape a plan that is safer for you.
A medical program can also check whether weight loss is the right goal right now. During pregnancy, for example, it isn't.
The program runs for 12 weeks. It blends nutrition, physical activity and daily habits into one plan that fits your schedule and your food culture, not a strict menu. Depending on your needs, it may include:
This lines up with what the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher: intensive programs that combine diet, activity, self-monitoring and support. In the studies the Task Force reviewed, most programs held 12 or more sessions in the first year.
Many adults may benefit, including people who:
A plan may need changes, or care from another specialist, if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, have a history of an eating disorder, or have serious heart, kidney or liver disease. Please tell us about these at your first visit.
Sometimes. For adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition, FDA has approved several prescription medicines to use with diet and activity. Some are GLP-1 medicines, given as a weekly shot or a daily pill.
These medicines are not for everyone. They carry an FDA boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodent studies, and they are not used by people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or a rare inherited condition called MEN 2. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation. Serious risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems and kidney injury from dehydration. Dr. Vargas reviews these risks with you before any prescription. Read more on our GLP-1 weight-loss medicines page.
Many women notice changes in their 40s and 50s. The Menopause Society notes that aging is the main reason for midlife weight gain, but that menopause shifts fat toward the belly. Fat around the waist is linked to higher blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol problems. Poor sleep and stress, both common in perimenopause, can add to it. A plan that accounts for these changes may work better than one written for a 25-year-old. Our guide on weight gain in menopause explains more.
Less than most people think. The CDC says even modest weight loss, such as 5% of body weight, may help improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. For someone who weighs 200 pounds, 5% is 10 pounds. The CDC also notes that people who lose weight slowly and steadily, about 1 to 2 pounds a week, are more likely to keep it off.
Is medical weight loss the same as weight-loss surgery? No. This program uses lifestyle medicine and, when it fits, prescription medicine. It does not include surgery. If surgery may be a better option for you, Dr. Vargas can talk with you about a referral.
Do I have to take medicine to join the program? No. Many people follow the lifestyle program without medicine. Medicine is an option only when it meets FDA labeling and is a safe choice for you.
Can I do the program by telehealth? Yes, if you are physically located in Texas at the time of each visit. Some steps, such as a physical exam or lab work, may need an in-person visit.
How fast will I lose weight? It varies. Many people lose about 1 to 2 pounds a week with steady changes. Your body, your health and your plan all play a part, and no result can be promised.
I have diabetes, thyroid disease or PCOS. Can I still join? Often, yes. Tell us about every condition and medicine. Some diabetes medicines need dose changes as you lose weight, so we may coordinate with your other doctors.
Call (210) 903-1030 or Book a visit. In-clinic in San Antonio • Telehealth for people located in Texas
Leticia Vargas, MD, OB/GYN, founder of Yaso Wellness Health Clinic. About Dr. Vargas
Education only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. In an emergency, call 911.
