At Phoenix NP, our Medical Weight Loss program is designed to address your individual needs with a combination of safe and effective prescription weight loss medications, healthy eating and exercise coaching, and continuous support.
Whether you're in your 20s or your 50s, trying to lose weight for the first time or been struggling with your weight for years, with a focus on personalized individual plans and weight loss medications, we’ll help you find the right combination of tools to make real progress.
What are the differences between regular weight loss plans vs. Medical Weight Loss?
When it comes to losing weight, not all approaches are created equal. Understanding the differences between regular weight loss plans and medical weight loss can help you make the right choice for your health and long-term success.
Regular Weight Loss Plans:
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Typically include diets, exercise routines, fitness apps, or commercial programs
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Often use a one-size-fits-all approach, with little personalization
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May lack medical oversight or understanding of individual health conditions
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Can result in short-term success but high rates of weight regain
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Often fail to address hormonal imbalances or metabolic issues
Medical Weight Loss:
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Supervised by licensed healthcare providers
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Begins with a comprehensive evaluation of medical history, labs, and lifestyle
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Customized treatment plans tailored to your body and health needs
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May include FDA-approved medications like GLP-1s (semaglutide, tirzepatide)
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Addresses root causes of weight gain (e.g., insulin resistance, hormonal shifts)
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Offers ongoing support, monitoring, and adjustments for long-term success
Medical weight loss offers a more targeted and sustainable solution by combining medical expertise with real-world lifestyle support. It’s ideal for individuals who haven’t found lasting success with traditional methods or are managing weight-related health concerns.
What Treatment Options Are Available in Medical Weight Loss?
Medical weight loss combines evidence-based tools to support sustainable, long-term results. Common treatment options include:
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Prescription Medications: FDA-approved medications like GLP-1s (Semaglutide, Tirzepatide) help regulate appetite, improve metabolism, and support fat loss.
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Nutritional Counseling: Personalized meal plans and education tailored to your health needs and lifestyle.
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Lifestyle & Behavioral Coaching: Guidance on stress management, sleep, exercise, and habit-building strategies.
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Lab Testing & Health Monitoring: Evaluations for metabolic health, hormone levels, thyroid function, and more.
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Exercise Recommendations: Individualized physical activity plans to enhance fat loss and preserve muscle.
Other Options (Not Offered by Phoenix NP):
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Endoscopic Procedures (e.g., gastric balloons): Non-surgical tools that reduce stomach volume but may come with side effects like nausea, discomfort, or complications.
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Bariatric Surgery (e.g., gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy): Surgical interventions for severe obesity that carry risks including infection, nutritional deficiencies, and longer recovery times.
Please note: Phoenix NP does not offer endoscopic or surgical procedures, but focuses on non-invasive, personalized medical weight loss care.
Understanding Medical Conditions Affecting Weight
Certain medical conditions can significantly impact weight management and loss. Conditions such as hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalances often contribute to weight gain or make weight loss more challenging. Hormone changes are also common contributors to weight gain, such as new birth control pills or pre-menopause and menopause for aging women. Addressing these conditions in a hollistic manner can sometimes be the difference maker in seeing actual results for weight management!
Other weight loss clinics charge you for the medications and leave you on your own. Our Arizona licensed Nurse Practitioner, Jenny, will factor in your underlying conditions and overall medical history to provide a treatment and wellness plan that works for you, with regular follow ups appointments and messages to give you the best support for long-term success.
How Do I Get Approved for Medical Weight Loss?
Getting started with medical weight loss can feel overwhelming—especially when it comes to understanding the different options, eligibility, safety, and then navigating insurance coverage or costs. Approval typically depends on a combination of clinical criteria, insurance policies, and the specific treatment you're pursuing.
Approval Requirements Vary by Treatment Type
Each medical weight loss option—such as prescription medications or bariatric procedures—comes with its own set of eligibility criteria. These often include:
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BMI requirements (usually ≥30, or ≥27 with weight-related health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes)
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Documented attempts at weight loss through diet and exercise
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Lab work and medical evaluations to rule out other conditions
Some treatments, like bariatric surgery, require additional steps such as psychological evaluations, dietitian visits, or months of medically supervised weight loss programs before approval.
Insurance Pre-Authorization: A Common Roadblock
For patients using insurance, pre-authorization is often required before starting most prescription weight loss medications or procedures. This process can involve:
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Submitting clinical documentation from your provider
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Waiting for insurer review (which may take anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks)
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Potential denials requiring appeals or additional paperwork
Unfortunately, many insurance companies do not cover weight loss medications, or they have strict policies that delay or deny access, even for patients who meet all clinical guidelines.
Phoenix NP Makes It Simple
At Phoenix NP, we eliminate the guesswork. Our non-invasive medical weight loss program features FDA-approved GLP-1 medications like Wegovy® (semaglutide) and Zepbound® (tirzepatide) — without relying on insurance coverage. Jenny, our Nurse Practitioner, started Phoenix NP because of how difficult it was to help her patients get insurance approvals when they clearly could benefit from it, so she could provide a no insurance option at a lower cost.
Here’s how we simplify the process:
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No insurance required – No waiting on approvals or jumping through hoops
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Women-focused care – Our clinic specializes in medical weight loss for women, considering hormonal, metabolic, and lifestyle factors that are often overlooked
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Fast access to treatment – Get started quickly through our 100% online telehealth platform with weekend and evening appointments available. New labs are not required if you can provide recent lab results, saving you time and a blood draw. Our intake process from starting with our program to your prescription being sent to the pharmacy can be as quick as 1-2 days!
By removing the barriers of insurance and streamlining access to effective, evidence-based treatment, Phoenix NP empowers women to start their weight loss journey confidently and without delay.
What are GLP-1 Medications?
GLP-1 medications, or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, are a class of medications primarily used in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, they've also gained attention for their significant impact on weight loss in individuals with obesity, without the need for invasive procedures or surgery.
These medications mimic the action of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is naturally produced in the intestines in response to food intake. Here's what they do:
1. Regulating Appetite:
GLP-1 medications work in the brain to reduce feelings of hunger and increase the sensation of fullness. This helps individuals feel more satisfied with smaller portions, reducing overall food intake.
2. Slowing Gastric Emptying:
They slow down the rate at which the stomach empties, which can lead to prolonged feelings of fullness after meals, further assisting in controlling appetite.
3. Improving Blood Sugar Control:
Originally developed for managing blood sugar levels in diabetes, these medications also have the beneficial side effect of improving insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar levels.
4. Aiding Weight Loss:
One of the most significant effects observed with GLP-1 medications is their ability to assist in weight loss. They have been found to help people lose weight by decreasing appetite, reducing food intake, and potentially increasing the body's ability to burn fat.
5. Potential Impact on Metabolism:
There's ongoing research into how GLP-1 medications might impact metabolism, potentially leading to increased energy expenditure or fat burning.
6. Considerations and Usage:
These medications are typically prescribed in conjunction with lifestyle modifications, including diet and exercise, for optimal results. They're often considered for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) above a certain level who struggle with weight management despite lifestyle changes.
Safety and Side Effects:
While generally well-tolerated, they can have side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, especially when starting treatment. However, these side effects often improve over time.
Always consult with a healthcare provider to understand if GLP-1 medications are suitable for your specific health needs and to manage any potential side effects. You can learn more about the GLP-1 medications Phoenix NP offers on our pages explaining "What is Wegovy®?" and "What is Zepbound®?"
Understanding Costs
We understand cost considerations are important. The typical cost of branded weight loss medications without insurance can vary but are typically high in cost per month (4 doses, taken 1 per week). Although these medications have been FDA approved and clinical trials have demonstrated their safety and effectiveness for weight loss, many insurance companies still do not cover the cost of these medications. There are some manufacturer coupons available but they are typically temporary (e.g. can be used for only 3 months), you must meet certain criteria to qualify for them (e.g. Type II Diabetes diagnosis and commercial insurance), and can face difficulties getting pharmacies to apply them to your orders.
For GLP-1 Medications like Wegovy® and Zepbound®, these medications are prescribed to their respectively offered direct pharmacies to send you FDA-approved branded medications. We strive to provide additional value and support for healthy eating, coaching, exercise planning, and providing Women's Healthcare.
Schedule your free introduction appointment to discuss your individual needs or check out our upfront and transparent Plans & Pricing page.
How does this membership process work?
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Free Introduction Call (Optional)
Schedule an appointment with our Nurse Practitioner on our booking page for an online Zoom video/phone call to meet and understand your weight loss goals and journey. We will screen your medical history and determine if you are a candidate for our weight loss program, which includes GLP-1 medications if applicable. You'll have a chance to get to know our Nurse Practitioner more, ask any questions, and see if Phoenix NP is the right fit for you!
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Sign Up and Membership Processing
After signing up for one of our monthly plans, we will create a patient account for you within our electronic medical record system, which will give you patient portal access. We will send you consent forms and an intake form to fill out once you create your patient portal account.
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Initial Consultation
Once all forms and intake has been completed, the initial consultation is scheduled to discuss and prescribe GLP-1 medications based on your medical history, goals, and preferences. Typically, GLP-1 treatment is started with a low dosage and then gradually rise to the higher doses, if tolerable. Other initiatives, such as nutrition logs and exercise regimen will be discussed so that we can understand what your normal lifestyle is like so we can create a personalized plan that you will be comfortable with. No forced calorie counting or strict food diets.
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Initial Prescription and Training
Your GLP-1 prescription is sent to their respective direct pharmacy. They will send you texts/emails regarding your order and payment for the cost of the medications. Once the medication is shipped to you, you can schedule a follow up appointment to receive teaching/education on how to prepare and administer the medication to yourself, and answer any additional questions/concerns.
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Continued Follow Up and Membership
Follow up appointments will typically be every 3-4 weeks at your convenience, where your overall progress and goals are discussed or adjusted as needed. A personalized health and wellness plan is provided to you each month with updates on what to focus on for that month. The prescription may be increased over time depending on whether you are tolerating the dosage well and whether more is needed for continued weight loss.
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Cancel at Anytime
If you're not satisfied with our provider, service, or hopefully have lost so much weight you don't need to continue your membership plan, you are able to cancel at anytime. Once medications have been shipped, they can not be returned to us or the pharmacy, so no refunds can be provided for a paid month that medications have shipped already. If medications have not been shipped yet, then you will receive a full refund of the most recent month regardless of any coaching or appointments you have had already. We want everyone to find the right provider for them, so we don't lock anyone into long term contracts and do our best to provide upfront pricing and fair billing practices.