What We Do — and How We’re Different

 
 

Our Approach to GLP-1 Medications and Safe Weight Loss

GLP-1 medications are one of the biggest topics in medicine right now — so let’s address them directly.

New Start Medical providers do prescribe GLP-1 and similar medications when they’re a good fit for a patient’s needs and barriers to weight loss. They’re powerful tools. But like any powerful tool, they come with real limitations, and they work best — and most safely — as part of a complete plan that also includes proper nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral change.

Here’s why that combination matters so much:

Studies Show that many patients stop taking these medications — and regain the weight.

Roughly half to two-thirds of patients discontinue GLP-1 medications within a year. Of those who stop, most return to their starting weight within about a year. Our program has shown much better results than this due to our comprehensive and individualized programs and how we prescribe these medications. Our goal is to help you build habits and achieve results that last well beyond use of any single medication.

Side effects are real, and dosage matters.

Common short-term side effects include appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, dizziness, rapid heart rate, indigestion, headaches, and increased infection risk. Rare but serious risks include pancreatitis, medullary thyroid cancer, acute kidney injury, and worsening diabetic eye disease.

Side effects tend to increase as dosage increases — and improper nutrition makes this worse. That’s a key reason why we don’t treat medication as a standalone solution.

Nutrition and exercise make these medications safer and more effective.

When protein intake is optimized and exercise is part of the plan, patients tend to lose weight more effectively and experience fewer side effects. This is the foundation of our four-pillar approach — nutrition, physical activity, behavioral modification, and medication — and it’s what allows us to prioritize both your safety and your long-term success.

Protecting your health and muscle mass, not just lowering the number on the scale.

Patients on GLP-1 medications often lose a significant percentage of lean body mass (muscle mass), which can cause its own health problems and lead to an early weight-loss plateau. Our goal for every patient is to keep muscle mass loss at 10% or less. This improves your overall health and allows you to lose more weight and to keep it off long-term.

We do not prescribe compounded medications.

Compounded versions of medications like tirzepatide and semaglutide have not been approved by the FDA and are considered potentially risky. Some compounded products contain added ingredients with little to no proven benefit — often included specifically to work around FDA regulations.

Why We Order Labs

Obesity is a medical condition that affects the entire body — so before recommending any treatment, we need a clear picture of your health. That’s why we order specific lab tests, including markers for:

  • Blood sugar

  • Cholesterol

  • Thyroid function

  • Liver and kidney function

  • Cardiovascular disease risk

Each of these can influence — and be influenced by — your weight. If you start a weight-loss medication, we recheck relevant labs periodically to confirm the treatment is working well and remains safe for you.

In short: labs aren’t a formality. They guide us in building a treatment plan tailored specifically to you, and help us track your progress along the way.

References

  1. Obesity and life expectancy pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11786232

  2. BMJ, 2025 bmj.com/content/392/bmj-2025-085304

  3. GLP-1 discontinuation and weight regain pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12957034

  4. Compounded GLP-1 medications

    https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41689811/

  5. Mayo Clinic GLP-1 medications and muscle loss — https://store.mayoclinic.com/education/glp-1-medications-and-muscle-loss-what-to-know-about-nutrition-and-supplements/?srsltid=AfmBOopEiUR80AAgqRj1cw7p1ztTsn_x8LRAq-dTjvtMR3kVgNrydOfg