Innovative Primary Care to Offer Newly FDA Approved Obesity Drug

Obesity is a chronic medical condition that requires long term management. It is associated with many serious health conditions and decreased life expectancy. So why don’t we treat it the same way we treat so many other chronic conditions more often? We use medications for blood pressure, cholesterol and other conditions in association with diet and exercise, yet with obesity, patients are too often expected to make a change on their own. This is beginning to change. Earlier this month, the FDA approved Wegovy to be used in addition to diet and exercises. 

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is an injectable, once weekly medicine used for adults 18 and above, with BMI 30 or above, or BMI 27 and above who also have weight-related medical problems to help them to lose weight and keep the weight off. 

Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP1 receptor agonist, with 94% similarity to naturally occurring human GLP-1 hormone. It induces weight loss by reducing hunger, increasing feeling of fullness and thereby helping people to eat less. Participants in clinical trials lost an average of 17-18 percent of their weight and sustained their weight over 68 weeks. This is a significant amount when you consider it equates to 45-60lb lost for someone 300 pounds. 

While the drug has been officially approved by the FDA, it is not yet widely available for use in weight management. Insurers have not yet determined how much of this prescription-only drug will be covered, but there is a savings program. You can pay $25 for a 28-day supply for Wegovy. Without insurance, semaglutide can cost up to $1,500 per month. 

We are excited to have another tool in our arsenal in the fight against obesity, and we are excited to include Wegovy in our Innovative Weight Management program. 

Innovative Weight Management

If you have struggled with your weight for years, it may be time for a new approach. Innovative Primary Care can help. You won’t find fad diets here. We offer medical weight loss solutions to help you achieve a healthy weight. 

Having your physician by your side is a game-changer when it comes to weight loss. Sure, your doctor has probably suggested you lose weight before, but have they ever really helped you accomplish it? Innovative Weight Management is a physician led program. We record benchmarks and help you every step of the way. Insurance is accepted.  

The 12-month program includes:

• Regular check-ins (weekly for the first four weeks, monthly thereafter)
• All four core elements of weight management will be addressed: behavior, nutrition, physical activity and pharmacology. 

Let’s reach your goals together. Schedule an appointment at Innovative Primary Care today.