Metabolic Evaluation
First, we look for medical and metabolic factors that may affect your weight.
A More Personal Approach to Weight Management
Medical weight management helps you understand the medical, metabolic, behavioral, and lifestyle factors affecting your weight—and build an individualized plan with ongoing clinical support.
- Comprehensive evaluation
- Individualized treatment plan
- Ongoing progress monitoring
Comprehensive Medical Weight Management
Weight Involves More Than Willpower
Many factors can affect weight gain and weight loss. These include appetite, insulin resistance, thyroid function, and other hormones. Sleep, stress, medicines, food, activity, aging, and other health conditions also play a role.
Hormonal Health
Your provider may check thyroid and other hormone levels when your symptoms, history, or examination support testing.
Nutrition & Lifestyle
Nutrition, activity, sleep, stress, behavioral patterns, and muscle preservation remain important parts of treatment.
Medication When Appropriate
GLP-1 therapy is only one option. Your provider may consider several medication classes depending on your individual needs.
Your Starting Point
We Look for the Reasons Behind the Weight
Two people at the same weight may need different care. Their metabolism, health history, hormones, medicines, and daily challenges can differ.
01
Medical & Weight History
Review weight trends, previous strategies, medications, medical conditions, family history, appetite, sleep, activity, and relevant symptoms.
02
Metabolic & Hormone Evaluation
Your provider may assess blood sugar, insulin resistance, blood fats, thyroid function, and other hormones. Blood pressure, body composition, and lab tests may also help guide care.
03
Goals & Treatment Options
Discuss realistic goals, nutrition, activity, prescription options, potential benefits and risks, insurance coverage, monitoring, and affordability.
Individualized Treatment
Your Plan May Combine Several Strategies
Medical weight management often combines several approaches. Together, we choose a plan based on your health, metabolism, goals, and preferences. We then adjust it based on results and side effects.
Build a Sustainable Foundation
- Nutrition guidance based on your health, protein needs, eating patterns, and goals.
- Strength and activity planning to support fitness, mobility, and preservation of lean muscle.
- Body composition monitoring to evaluate changes beyond the number on the scale.
- Sleep and behavioral strategies that may support appetite regulation and long-term consistency.
Address Relevant Health Factors
- Metabolic health: assess blood sugar, insulin resistance, lipids, blood pressure, and cardiometabolic risk.
- Hormone evaluation: assess thyroid or other hormone-related factors when clinically indicated.
- Medication review: identify current medications that may influence appetite, metabolism, or body weight.
- Ongoing follow-up: monitor response, side effects, body composition, laboratory findings, and changing needs.
More Than GLP-1 Therapy
We Offer Multiple Medical Weight-Loss Options
We do not assume that every patient needs semaglutide or tirzepatide. Medication is one tool within a broader medical weight-management strategy.
How We Choose Medication
First, your provider reviews your metabolic health, body-mass index, and weight-related conditions. Heart health, blood pressure, digestive history, mental health, and pregnancy potential also matter. We also review current medicines, safety risks, past treatment results, insurance coverage, and your goals.
Semaglutide
Semaglutide acts on the GLP-1 receptor. FDA-approved products include Wegovy® for approved weight-management indications and Ozempic® for approved type 2 diabetes indications.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. FDA-approved products include Zepbound® for approved weight-management indications and Mounjaro® for type 2 diabetes.
Other Prescription Weight-Management Options
GLP-1 and dual GIP + GLP-1 medications are not the only prescription options. Your provider may also consider other established prescription options based on your history and goals.
Phentermine
A medicine that reduces appetite. Your provider first reviews your heart health and medical history to assess whether it is appropriate.
Qsymia®
A prescription combination of phentermine and extended-release topiramate used for chronic weight management in appropriate patients.
Contrave®
A prescription combination of naltrexone and bupropion that may help address appetite and food cravings in appropriately selected patients.
Other Options
Your provider may also consider other medicines or strategies based on your history, past results, and care needs.
Treating the Underlying Metabolic Picture
For some patients, the underlying cause needs attention too. This may involve metabolism, thyroid function, other hormones, sleep, medicines, or daily habits. Addressing these factors can be as important as choosing medication.
Our goal is to understand what affects your weight and build a plan that fits your health needs.
Compounded Medication
A provider may discuss compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide when an available FDA-approved medicine cannot meet a patient’s medical needs. This requires a clinical assessment and must be legally permitted.
Licensed pharmacies prepare compounded medicines. These products are not FDA-approved and differ from FDA-approved branded medicines.
Your treatment is individualized.
Not every medication is right for every patient. Your provider
will review your medical history, current medications, relevant
risks, laboratory findings, and goals before recommending an option.
Flexible Self-Pay Options
Simple Pricing, No Required Membership
For eligible patients, compounded weight-management medications start at $249 per month, with medical management included.
Insurance or Self-Pay? We’ll Help You Compare.
Review Your Options
We can review insurance benefits for eligible FDA-approved medications and discuss self-pay options when appropriate.
Insurance Coverage
Have Insurance? Let Us Help Explore Your Benefits.
We can review your benefits and determine whether an appropriate FDA-approved weight-management medication may be covered under your plan.
Prior Authorization Support
If your plan requires prior authorization, our team can help submit clinical records for review.
Depending on your diagnosis, medical history, eligibility, and benefits, we may pursue coverage for an appropriate FDA-approved medication such as Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Qsymia®, Contrave®, or another covered treatment when clinically indicated.
We help you understand your benefits and possible coverage. You can then review your expected out-of-pocket costs.
Coverage varies by plan.
Approval is not guaranteed, but our team can help you
understand your plan requirements and available options.
Dual GIP + GLP-1 Receptor Agonist
Tirzepatide: Start Low and Adjust Gradually
Tirzepatide acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Your provider tailors treatment to your results, side effects, goals, history, and care needs.
FDA-approved tirzepatide dosing reference
FDA-approved tirzepatide dosing begins at 2.5 mg once weekly for the first 4 weeks, followed by 5 mg once weekly. Additional increases may be considered in 2.5 mg increments after at least 4 weeks at the current dose.
Starting
2.5 mg
Once weekly
Next Step
5 mg
Once weekly
If Needed
7.5 mg
Once weekly
Additional
10 mg
Once weekly
Higher Dose
12.5 mg
Once weekly
Maximum Labeled
15 mg
Once weekly
The Dose Ladder Is a Guide — Not a Goal
You do not automatically need to increase your dose every month or progress through every dose level. Your provider may recommend remaining at an effective, well-tolerated dose or adjusting treatment based on appetite control, weight-management response, side effects, goals, and individual needs.
This chart shows FDA-approved tirzepatide dosing for general education. Your provider will give you your individual dosing instructions. Compounded tirzepatide is not FDA-approved and is different from Zepbound® and Mounjaro®.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonist
Semaglutide: Individualized Stepwise Dosing
Semaglutide acts on the GLP-1 receptor. Treatment typically begins at a low dose and may be increased gradually based on tolerability, response, goals, and individual medical needs.
FDA-approved semaglutide dosing reference
Standard injectable Wegovy® titration begins at 0.25 mg once weekly and generally progresses gradually through higher doses. A 7.2 mg Wegovy® injection dose is also an FDA-approved higher-dose option for certain adults.
Starting
0.25 mg
Once weekly
Step 2
0.5 mg
Once weekly
Step 3
1 mg
Once weekly
Step 4
1.7 mg
Once weekly
Maintenance Reference
2.4 mg
Once weekly
Higher-Dose Option
7.2 mg
Wegovy® for certain adults
Your Dose Does Not Automatically Need to Increase
Dose escalation is individualized. Your provider may recommend remaining at a lower dose when it is providing an appropriate response and is well tolerated, or may adjust treatment based on appetite control, response, side effects, goals, and clinical needs.
This chart shows FDA-approved semaglutide dosing for general education. Your provider will give you your individual dosing instructions. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and is different from Wegovy® and Ozempic®.
Ongoing Clinical Support
A Process Built Around Your Health
At follow-up, your provider reviews your metabolic health, progress, and body composition. You also discuss medication results, side effects, and challenges. Together, you assess whether the plan still fits your needs.
-
01
Evaluate
Review your medical history, metabolic factors, hormones when indicated, medications, risks, and goals.
-
02
Personalize
Build a treatment plan using the nutrition, lifestyle, medical, and medication strategies appropriate for you.
-
03
Monitor
Follow weight trends, body composition, metabolic markers, symptoms, medication response, and tolerability.
-
04
Adjust
Refine medication, dosing, nutrition, and other components as your health and treatment needs evolve.
Treatment That Evolves With You
More Than a Prescription
Medical weight management should consider your overall health. First, we review relevant metabolic and hormone factors. Then we compare options and explore insurance coverage. Follow-up helps us track results and adjust your plan as your needs change.
Comprehensive Medical Weight Management
Find the Right Weight-Management Strategy for You
Meet with an Alpha Hormones® provider to review your weight history and metabolic health. You can also discuss hormones when relevant, food choices, daily habits, and current medicines. Together, explore insurance benefits and suitable care options.
This page is for general education. Your treatment, medication, dose, and monitoring are individualized after medical evaluation. Insurance coverage is not guaranteed, and compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Pricing and availability may change.