Achieving your ideal shape and improving your overall well-being is possible with the support of effective weight loss programs. This article explores various weight loss options available in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Santa Fe, Texas, including medical weight loss programs, personalized plans, and wellness approaches.
Understanding the Need for Weight Loss Programs
In a country where obesity rates continue to rise, taking control of your weight and prioritizing your health has never been more crucial. Many individuals seek assistance in their weight loss journey to feel better, have more energy, and improve or avoid health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. An estimated 45 million Americans go on a diet and spend $33 billion on weight loss products each year. Weight loss programs offer structured and supervised approaches, guided by healthcare experts, to help individuals achieve their weight management goals.
Medical Weight Loss Programs
Medical weight loss programs provide a comprehensive and supervised approach to losing weight, guided by healthcare experts. These programs often begin with a thorough assessment of your overall health, including medical history, current medications, and any underlying medical conditions that may impact weight loss efforts.
Shapely: Telehealth Weight Loss Program
Shapely is a top-rated medical weight loss program that provides care via telehealth. As a Shapely member, you'll have access to everything you need to lose weight, including:
- 1:1 consults with board-certified physicians and providers
- Prescriptions for weight loss medications such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and more (if appropriate)
- Access to a personal dietitian and meal planning to help you stay on track
- Affordable access to weight loss medications
- Unlimited support via chat and our app
Shapely memberships do not include labs (typically covered by insurance or $75) and medications we prescribe.
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Medications Offered:
- Semaglutide
- Tirzepatide
- Wegovy®
- Ozempic ®
- Zepbound ®
- Mounjaro ®
- Contrave®
Prescriptions are at the medical provider’s discretion and may not be appropriate for everyone. Individual results may vary. Average 15% weight loss was seen with Wegovy in Step 1 trial, while average 21% weight loss was seen with Zepbound in Surmount 1 trial, and 6.1% weight loss was seen with Contrave in the COR-1 trial. Weight loss medications can help you lose 21% of your body weight when paired with lifestyle change. These miracle drugs have transformed weight loss, resulting in significant weight loss with minimal side effects. These foundational meds set the stage for weight loss and have been safely used for years.
Insurance and Payment Options:
Shapely is in network with Medicare and most major PPO plans. For those paying without insurance, Shapely provides affordable cash-pay options for world-class care.
Eligibility:
Currently, Shapely serves adults aged 18 and older in Texas, Florida, New York, and California. The program will soon be expanding to all 50 US states.
Insurance Coverage:
Shapely navigates insurance on your behalf and is able to work with the vast majority of insurance companies to get cost-effective access to GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy. For patients with commercial insurance, medication co-pays are typically $25 per month but depending on the plan may be higher. If you do not have insurance, or if insurance doesn't cover the cost, Shapely offers an accessibility program and will send your prescriptions to a compounding pharmacy. Labs are also typically covered by insurance though there may be a co-pay. For patients without insurance, Shapely offer labs for a flat rate of $75, requiring you to go to a Labcorp location for lab draw.
Accessibility Program:
For patients who do not have insurance or whose insurance does not cover the cost of medication, Shapely offers an accessibility program, partnering with compounding pharmacies to allow you to affordably access the medications you need, including compounded semaglutide for $199 per month and compounded tirzepatide starting from $299 per month. For patients without insurance, Shapely has also partnered with LabCorp to offer a comprehensive lab-panel for a flat-rate of $75.
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Expected Weight Loss:
Typically, patients who have started taking GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy can lose up to 15% of their weight. With Mounjaro and Zepbound, weight loss can be as much as 20%. With other medications, weight loss can be up to 10%. Results are not guaranteed and may vary.
Timeframe for Weight Loss:
Typically, patients who are taking GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy will lose 10% of weight by 6 months and 15% within 1 year. Results will vary by patient, intervention, and medication prescribed (if appropriate). Patients benefit from at least a 12-month comprehensive weight-loss program to establish the proper habits to sustain long-term weight loss.
Alternative Options:
If you are not a good candidate for GLP-1 agonists, physicians will offer different modalities of weight loss for you, including alternative medications, lifestyle modification, continuous glucose monitoring, and other tools.
Lab Requirements:
Recent labs are required prior to taking most weight loss medications. Shapely will either order labs for you or accept labs completed within 6 months before program enrollment. Labs are typically covered by insurance though there may be a co-pay.
Ageless Aesthetics: Ageless Wellness and Weight Loss Program
Ageless Aesthetics in Santa Fe offers the Ageless Wellness and Weight Loss program, designed to help you achieve long-lasting weight loss results in a safe and medically supervised environment. The program features prescription weight loss medications to regulate appetite, reduce food cravings, and increase the feeling of fullness, leading to decreased calorie intake and weight loss.
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Benefits of Medical Weight Loss at Ageless Aesthetics:
- Significant weight loss (up to 15% of body weight)
- Lowered blood pressure
- Reduced cholesterol levels
- Improved blood sugar control
- Enhanced overall health
- Sustainable lifestyle changes
Lean for Life Membership:
This program is targeted specifically for medical weight loss and includes:
- Free Pre-Qualification appointment with a registered nurse
- Appropriate Lab Panels to verify if the program is appropriate for patients
- Exam and Medical History review appointment with our clinical supervisor, nurse practitioner for a one time fee
- Weekly Injections
- 15% OFF any regular priced services
- 15% OFF any regular priced products
Membership Details:
Memberships are a 1-year commitment, continuing on a month-to-month basis after the first year. A 30-day notice is required for cancellation. A $200.00 cancellation fee applies if the membership is cancelled prior to satisfying the terms and conditions detailed on the contract.
Expected Timeline for Weight Loss:
You can start feeling the positive effects of Medical Weight Loss at your first dose, and should start experiencing weight loss within the first 2 weeks of your program. Everyone’s weight loss journey looks different, and how much weight you need to lose will determine the duration of your program. However, you will see the most weight loss once you reach your target dose. It is essential to remember that weight loss can take time, and you’ll see the best results when you use your medication combined with a healthy diet and exercise.
Addressing Common Concerns:
- Hidden Fees: There are no hidden fees; you can expect the same monthly rate within your selected membership tier.
- Weight Regain: The program emphasizes sustainable changes and long-term strategies to maintain progress after tapering off medication.
- Suitability for Health Conditions: Injectable weight loss medication has been shown to benefit individuals with conditions like type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol, but it may not be appropriate for everyone.
Gameday Men's Health: Physician-Led Weight Loss Program
Gameday offers a physician-led weight loss program that helps you achieve better health without surgery or intense dieting. Their medical weight loss programs start with a comprehensive assessment of your overall health, including medical history, current medications, and any underlying medical conditions that may impact weight loss efforts.
GLP-1 Injections:
Gameday utilizes GLP-1 injections, which mimic the hormone GLP-1 to regulate hunger and food intake. When taken on a weekly basis, GLP-1 suppresses the hormone glucagon to prevent feelings of hunger. A recent study of 1,961 people found that in people with a BMI over 30 and who did not have diabetes, GLP-1 injections combined with exercise resulted in a mean decrease in body weight of 14.9% over 68 weeks.
Dosage and Administration:
It often is not until 4 or more weeks on a dose of 0.5 mg that patients will start to see a decline in weight. Studies have shown that GLP-1 is most effective when combined with exercise and changes in diet. Potential side effects can include headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, changes in mood, constipation or diarrhea, heartburn, and bloating. GLP-1 injections only need to be given once per week as a subcutaneous injection. The dosage is typically increased over time as the weeks’ progress. The exact amount of dosage given will depend on your specific health, weight, and needs.
Personalized Weight Loss Approaches
Personalized weight loss programs tailor their services to meet the specific needs and goals of each individual. These programs consider factors such as lifestyle, medical history, and personal preferences to create a customized plan for success.
Santa Fe FIT Medical Weight Loss
Santa Fe FIT Medical Weight Loss provides innovative and effective weight loss and weight control programs to assist clients in reaching their weight management goals, including diet, nutrition, and fitness exercise programs. They focus on helping clients lose fat, build muscle, and make their body burn fuel more efficiently with diet, nutritional, and exercise programs that are uniquely targeted to each individual's weight loss needs. Santa Fe FIT Medical Weight Loss avoids diets that force you to eat pre-packaged meals or shakes.
Additional Considerations for Weight Loss
Beyond specific programs, several factors can influence your weight loss journey and contribute to your overall success.
Addressing Adrenal Dysfunction
Adrenal dysfunction due to stress with elevated cortisol can lead to blood sugar imbalance, inflammation, leaky gut, and thyroid issues that impair carbohydrate and fat metabolism and impact your ability to maintain a healthy weight. Addressing these underlying issues can be crucial for effective weight loss.
Importance of Diet and Exercise
Studies have shown that GLP-1 is most effective when combined with exercise and changes in diet. Weight loss is best achieved through a combination of medication (when appropriate), a healthy diet, and regular exercise.
Real Patient Experiences
Many individuals have found success with weight loss programs in and around Santa Fe. Here are a few examples:
- Vanessa: Lost 53 lbs in 9 months with the help of GLP-1 medications.
- Kathy: Lost 42 lbs in 6 months and is no longer on blood pressure medication.
- Tara: Lost 72 lbs in 12 months, normalizing her A1c and lowering her risk for diabetes and heart disease.
- Mary Jane: Lost 40 lbs in 5 months and is maintaining her weight loss with encouragement from the Shapely team.
- Jeanine: Lost 57 lbs in 6 months, experiencing a transformation in her emotional eating and cravings.
- Cynthia: Lost 74 lbs in 6 months, reclaiming her health and confidence.
- Patricia: Lost 36 lbs in 8 months with support from Dr. Zaghi and Megan.
- Robin: Lost 85 lbs in 9 months, feeling in control of her weight and finding the Shapely program affordable.
- Laurel: Lost 56 lbs in 7 months, experiencing reduced food noise and cravings with Shapely.