Diabetes care
Regular monitoring, medication management and lifestyle support for diabetes and prediabetes.
Learn moreA medical approach to weight loss
Weight is affected by more than diet and willpower. Thyroid function, sleep, other health conditions and the medications you already take can all play a part. That is why our program starts with an evaluation, not a prescription. Your provider looks at the whole picture first, then works with you on a plan that fits your health, your goals and your daily life.
Because we are a family practice, the people supervising your weight loss are the same providers who handle the rest of your care. They can see how weight connects to your blood pressure, blood sugar, joints and sleep, and they adjust your plan as your health changes. Our office is in West Chester Township, a short drive from Liberty Township and Mason, and convenient for patients across Butler and Warren counties, Greater Cincinnati and the Dayton area.
Is this program right for you?
That is a question for a visit, not a web page. Weight is affected by thyroid function, sleep, medications you already take and other conditions, so the first visit is an evaluation rather than a prescription. Here is what that evaluation covers, so you know what to expect and what to ask about.
How we decide together
- We review your medical history, current medications and past attempts at weight loss, and check for conditions that contribute to weight gain or that change which treatments are safe for you.
- We talk through your goals, and what a realistic result looks like for your situation rather than an average from a study.
- If medication is appropriate, your provider explains the expected benefits, the side effects, the cost and coverage, and the alternatives, and you decide together whether to start.
How GLP-1 medications work
GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide mimic a hormone the body already makes. They act on the areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake. Most people who take one report feeling full sooner and staying full longer, which makes a change in eating habits easier to keep up. The medication is a tool that supports those changes, not a replacement for them.
We prescribe a GLP-1 medication only after an evaluation, and only when your provider judges it appropriate for your health history. It is not right for everyone. For some patients, hormone therapy may be part of the plan instead of or alongside other treatment, again only when the evaluation shows it is appropriate.
14.9% average body-weight reduction in a 68-week trial. In the STEP 1 trial, adults with overweight or obesity who took once-weekly semaglutide alongside lifestyle counseling lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% for those given a placebo.
A trial average is not a prediction for any one person. How much weight an individual loses varies widely. It depends on the dose, how well they tolerate the medication, other medical conditions and medications, and the changes to diet and activity they make alongside treatment. Some people lose considerably more than the average. Others lose little or stop treatment because of side effects.
Source: Wilding JPH, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine 2021;384:989–1002. Read the study
Monitoring and follow-up
Weight management medication is not a one-visit treatment. Doses are started low and increased gradually, and you come back for scheduled check-ins. At each one, your provider tracks your weight, blood pressure, labs as needed, side effects and how you are tolerating the dose. Then they adjust, pause or stop treatment based on what those visits show. Between visits, call the office at (513) 860-4600 if you have questions or new symptoms.
Side effects and risks to discuss
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal discomfort are the most common side effects of GLP-1 medications like semaglutide. They are usually worst after a dose increase and often ease over time, but they are the most common reason people stop treatment. Less common but more serious risks include inflammation of the pancreas, gallbladder problems, and kidney problems caused by dehydration from ongoing vomiting or diarrhea.
These medications are not appropriate for everyone. Your provider will ask about, among other things:
- A personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
- Previous pancreatitis
- A prior serious reaction to a GLP-1 medication
- Whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy
Bring a full list of your current medications and supplements to the first visit.
Other options
Medication is one path, not the only one. Depending on what the evaluation finds, the plan may center on nutrition and activity changes, treating an underlying condition, adjusting a medication that is driving weight gain, a different class of medication, or a referral for surgical evaluation. If medication is not appropriate for you, we will say so and talk about what is. If you also live with type 2 diabetes, your weight plan and your diabetes care are managed together.
When to see a specialist
Most patients can be evaluated and followed here. We will refer you to a specialist if your evaluation points to a hormone disorder that needs specialist care, if you and your provider want to look at weight-loss surgery, or if your eating patterns suggest you would benefit from more focused support. We keep coordinating your care while you see them.
