Medical Weight Loss

This is not the average weight loss clinic. We know that weight loss involves much more than merely eating less and spending more time in the gym. Our weight loss program is specially tailored to fit your body and your goals.

More than 42% of people in the U.S. are obese.
According to the CDC, about 1/3 of people in Georgia are obese.
Drinking water before a meal increases your metabolism by 30%.
Drinking beverages containing sugar increases your risk of obesity.
Gastric bypass surgery, the most common popular surgery for weight loss, costs an average os $23,000.
Less than 20% of people who try to lose weight are successful.
Within 5 years, people who lose weight tend to gain 80% of the weight back.
People with college degrees are less likely to be obese.
Obese people tend to spend $1,800 per year more than non-obese people on healthcare.

Why should I lose weight?

You may just be looking to shed the extra pounds or getting ready for swimsuit season. Maybe you do not feel like you're the healthiest version of yourself. Those who fall into the category of "obese" should be concerned. Those people who are obese are at increased risk for certain health conditions and diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Losing weight often helps to reduce this risk to varying degrees.

Excess body fat actually causes your immune system to become active. The result is that the immune system begins to cause inflammation in other parts of the body. This results in damage to those parts of the body and results in the diseases mentioned above. These inflammatory changes happen very slowly and progress over time.

What do you do differently from every other weight loss clinic?

We are the only weight loss clinic in the greater Atlanta area that offers a comprehensive approach to weight loss. Our clinic does not simply provide you with a prescription and wish you the best. We don't tell you just to eat less and run more. Unfortunately, there's no silver bullet to weight loss. Our reputation depends on the results of our hard work, giving you all of the tools, knowledge, and support necessary for you to reach your goal.

When you come to the office for your first appointment, be prepared. First, we get your height, weight, vital signs, and complete medical history. Next, we will review your goals with you - including methods you've tried but didn't work. Then, we conduct a thorough examination and work with you to determine the best course of action going forward. Depending on your medical history, this may include laboratory tests, cardiac examination, or clearance from your other doctors prior to moving forward.

Your individualized, comprehensive medical weight loss program may include:

Prescription Medications for weight loss. Some prescriptions may include those that are FDA-approved for weight loss, while others may include off-label treatments.
Weight Loss Supplements.
Radical dietary modification to include timing of meals.
Individually tailored exercise regimen that coincides with your level of fitness, medical conditions, and schedule.
Peptide therapy or bioidententical hormone therapy. These may be offered if your hormone levels are found to be abnormal.

During the program, you will be responsible for returning to the office periodically for follow-up visits. The costs of these visits are included in your treatment plan.

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What are the FDA approved medications for weight loss?

Some of the FDA-approved medications for weight loss include:

Phentermine (Adipex) is a stimulant medication taken as a pill. It works by reducing appetite and by causing fat cells to break down fat. It is derivative from amphetamine and has similar effects on appetite.
Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion) is a combination medication taken as a pill. Naltrexone works by blocking opioid receptors. Bupropion works by reducing appetite and increasing energy expenditure.
Saxenda (liraglutide) is an injectable peptide medication that was originally approved for type 2 diabetes under the brand name Victoza. It is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It works by decreasing glucagon release, resulting in decreased appetite and slowing digestion.
Xenical (orlistat) is a pill that prevents the breakdown of fat in the intestines. It does this by inhibiting an enzyme called lipase. Since the fats you eat can't be broken down, your body excretes them. A lower dose of orlistat is available over the counter without a prescription.
Qysmia (phentermine/topiramate) is another combination medication that is taken as a pill. Phentermine, as stated above, is a stimulant medication. Topiramate was originally approved as a treatment for epilepsy. Exactly how topiramate helps to lose weight is unknown.
Belviq (lorcaserin) is a pill that works on a specific type of serotonin receptor in the brain. It works by improving mood and reducing appetite.
Wegovy (semaglutide) is another injectable peptide medication that was originally approved for type 2 diabetes under the brand name Ozempic. Just like Saxenda, it is a GLP-1 agonist. It decreases glucagon release, decreasing appetite and slowing digestion.

Although the drugs listed above are approved by the FDA for weight loss, no medication is perfect for everyone. In addition to the medications approved by the FDA, some doctors prescribe medications off-label. Off-label medications are medicines that the FDA approves for one condition, but is prescribed for a different condition. Off-label prescribing is a very common practice in the U.S. In fact, as many as 20% of prescriptions written are for off-label uses.

Off-Label Weight Loss Treatments

What are the off-label medications used for weight loss?

Some of the prescription medications that have been used off-label for weight loss include:

Victoza (liraglutide). GLP-1 agonist approved for treating type 2 diabetes.
Rybelsus/Ozempic (semaglutide). GLP-1 agonist approved for treating type 2 diabetes.
Wellbutrin/Zyban (bupropion). Norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor approved for depression and smoking cessation.
Symlin (pramlinitide). Amylin analog approved for type 2 diabetes.
Zonegran (zonisamide). Anticonvulsant medication approved for epilepsy.
Bydureon (exenatide). GLP-1 agonist approved to type 2 diabetes.
Canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Myalept (metreleptin). A leptin analog approved to treat lipodystrophy.

These are just a few of the drugs that doctors prescribe off-label. There are many others that are not listed here. Some of these drugs are prescribed more frequently than others as an off-label treatment for weight loss.

Research and Publications on Weight Loss

Hendricks EJ. Off-label drugs for weight management. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2017 Jun 10;10:223-234. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S95299. PMID: 28652791; PMCID: PMC5473499.