Medical weight care, without reducing you to a number.

Medical weight management may be appropriate for people who want to lose weight, improve body composition, address metabolic health concerns, or reduce health risks associated with excess weight. Eligibility is based on more than the number on the scale. Your provider considers your weight history, body composition, metabolic health, medical conditions, medications, previous weight-loss efforts, nutrition, activity, sleep, and personal goals. From there, we determine whether medication, nutrition support, exercise programming, behavioral changes, or a combination of approaches may be appropriate.

Fountain approaches weight management as a medical and body-composition problem, not simply a matter of lowering the number on the scale. We look at factors that may be influencing your weight and metabolic health, including nutrition, muscle mass, hormones, medications, sleep, activity, and other medical conditions. Depending on your needs, your program may include comprehensive biomarker testing, DEXA scans to measure fat and lean mass, repeat testing to track progress, and ongoing medical follow-up. You may also work with a registered dietitian nutritionist and, when appropriate, a strength and fitness specialist. The goal is to understand what is changing inside your body, preserve lean mass and nutritional health, and adjust your plan as your metabolism, body composition, and goals change.

Semaglutide and tirzepatide are medications that affect pathways involved in appetite, fullness, blood sugar regulation, and metabolism. Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, while Mounjaro and Zepbound contain tirzepatide. The medications differ in their mechanisms and FDA-approved indications. There is not one medication that is right for everyone. Your provider considers your medical history, weight and metabolic goals, previous treatment response, potential side effects, contraindications, and other clinical factors when determining whether one of these medications may be appropriate.

Digestive symptoms such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, reduced appetite, or abdominal discomfort can occur, particularly when beginning treatment or increasing the dose. For many patients, these effects are manageable and may improve as the body adjusts. Your provider can modify dose progression, nutrition, hydration, meal size, or other parts of the treatment plan when needed. The goal is to find a dose that is both effective and well tolerated rather than simply increasing medication as quickly as possible.

There is no single required diet for someone taking a GLP-1 medication. Because appetite can decrease significantly, the priority is making sure you continue to get enough protein, fiber, micronutrients, fluids, and overall nutrition. Some patients tolerate smaller meals better than large or very rich meals. When appropriate, Fountain’s registered dietitian nutritionist can help build a nutrition plan around your medication, body-composition goals, food preferences, activity level, and any side effects you are experiencing.

Weight loss can include both body fat and lean tissue, which is why we do not measure success by the scale alone. Preserving muscle is important for strength, physical function, metabolic health, and maintaining results over time. Your plan may include adequate protein intake, resistance training, nutrition support, and monitoring of body composition through tools such as DEXA. When appropriate, a strength and fitness specialist can also help build a program around your current abilities and goals. The objective is to improve body composition, not simply make your body weight lower.

Plateaus are common and do not necessarily mean treatment has stopped working. When progress slows, we look at the broader picture, including nutrition, activity, sleep, medication response, dose, body composition, other medications, and possible hormonal or metabolic contributors. Sometimes the treatment plan should be adjusted. In other situations, the appropriate goal may temporarily shift toward maintaining weight, preserving or building muscle, or improving metabolic health before pursuing additional weight loss.

Not necessarily. The appropriate duration of treatment depends on your health, response, goals, and what happens as medication is reduced or discontinued. For some patients, longer-term treatment may be appropriate. Others may eventually transition to a different dose or strategy, or discontinue medication while continuing the nutrition, strength, sleep, and behavioral changes developed during treatment. We think about how you will maintain your results from the beginning, rather than treating weight loss as a short-term intervention.