Call Us
Get your weight loss medication from a weight loss expert.
Medical weight loss at St. Louis Bariatrics is a comprehensive, medically-supervised program overseen by Dr. Jay Michael Snow which offers an effective, non-surgical weight loss solution for patients at our St. Louis and Festus, Missouri locations.
Benefits of a Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program
Support: Medically supervised weight loss can help you overcome the struggle of managing your weight on your own. Studies show that diet and exercise alone often fail to help people lose weight and keep it off, but a medically supervised weight loss program helps people to lose a significant amount of weight and successfully sustain their weight loss.
Accessibility: Bariatric surgeries, such as gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, are proven effective for weight loss and offer many health benefits, but not everyone is ready for a surgical solution. If your health insurance doesn’t cover bariatric surgery, medical weight loss can be an affordable option that may be covered by insurance.
Customization: Your medical weight loss plan will be custom-tailored to meet your needs. We offer a full range of prescription weight loss medication and you will be monitored by health care professionals to ensure your plan is right for you.
Prescription Weight Loss Medications
There are several different types of prescription medications for weight loss. Some, such as phentermine-based medications like Adipex or Lomaira™ work by suppressing your appetite. Others, such as semaglutide medications like Wegovy™, regulate hormones to help with weight loss. We also offer Mounjaro™, which has been proven to help patients with Type 2 diabetes improve their A1C levels while losing weight.
Each medication has different criteria and our Nurse Practitioner will evaluate you and determine which medication is right for you based on your medical history and lab tests.
Weight loss medications include:
- Phentermine (Adipex or Lomaira™)
- Phentermine/Topiramate (Qsymia®)
- Naltrexone HCL/Bupropion (Contrave®)
- Liraglutide (Saxenda® or Victoza®)
- Semaglutide (Ozempic® or Wegovy™)
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro™ or Zepbound™)
Patient Results
Patient Name: Danielle
How Does the Medical Weight Loss Program Work?
The first step is a consultation appointment with our Nurse Practitioner, who will review your medical history and discuss your current diet and lifestyle habits in order to create a personalized plan for you. Appointments are available in-office or virtually, but an in-person appointment and lab work are required for medication prescriptions. If you have had lab work done in the last three months, you can bring those to your first appointment.
Follow-up appointments will be scheduled monthly, including at least one appointment with our Registered Dietitian to help you develop healthy eating habits for weight loss success.
Am I a Candidate for Medical Weight Management?
If you have a BMI over 27 and you are seeking an effective weight loss solution, our medical weight loss program may be right for you.
Candidates for medical weight loss fit into one of the following categories:
- Have a BMI of 27 to 30, along with co-morbid conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or hypertension
- Have BMI above 30
- Had bariatric surgery more than 6 months ago and are struggling to reach or maintain their weight loss goal
Weight loss medications cannot be prescribed to patients who are breastfeeding, pregnant, or trying to become pregnant
Frequently Asked Questions About Medically Supervised Weight Loss
Will my health insurance cover medical weight loss?
Many health insurance plans cover the cost of prescription medications, even if they do not cover weight loss surgery. Use our free insurance check tool to learn what your plan covers.
How Much Does Medical Weight Loss Cost?
Your out-of-pocket costs will vary depending on your personalized plan and the details of your insurance plan. Contact us to learn more.
Will medical weight loss improve diabetes?
Yes, weight loss through a medically supervised program can improve Type 2 diabetes.
Are there any side effects of weight loss medications?
Prescription weight loss drugs are generally safe, although any medication carries a risk of side effects; the most common side effects of weight loss prescriptions are temporary nausea, constipation or diarrhea, but these effects typically lessen over time. Each type of prescription varies and our nurse will work with you to find the one that is most beneficial for you.
Can I maintain my weight loss after the medical weight loss program?
Our medical weight loss program is designed to set you up for success. Once you lose weight, you can reference our healthy recipes and exercise tips to keep you on track.
Contact us
At St. Louis Bariatrics, our team is dedicated to empowering you on your weight loss journey. We look forward to answering any questions you have and giving you the tools you need to succeed. Contact us to get started.
1 Krishnaswami, Ashok et al. “Real-World Effectiveness of a Medically Supervised Weight Management Program in a Large Integrated Health Care Delivery System: Five-Year Outcomes.” The Permanente journal vol. 22 (2018): 17-082. doi:10.7812/TPP/17-082
2 Wilding JP. The importance of weight management in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Int J Clin Pract. 2014;68(6):682-691. doi:10.1111/ijcp.12384
3 Mayo Clinic. Weight loss. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss-drugs/art-20044832 Accessed May 11, 2022
Dr. Jay Snow has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
SILVR