If you have worked on nutrition and activity but have not made the progress you hoped for, you are not alone. Weight is influenced by biology, sleep, medications, health conditions, and daily circumstances—not simply willpower.
At Davie ObGyn, select patients may benefit from prescription weight-management medication as part of a broader care plan.
Understanding Medical Weight Management
How can medication help?
Some medicines act on signals that influence hunger and fullness. Think of them as helping adjust the body’s appetite messages. They work alongside nutrition, movement, and other health habits.
For many adult weight-management medications, eligibility includes a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition. BMI is one part of the assessment—not a complete measure of health. NIDDK explains medication eligibility.
Concerns to discuss
- Weight changes despite sustained lifestyle efforts.
- High blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, or sleep apnea.
- Medications that may affect weight.
- Pregnancy plans or breastfeeding.
- Eating concerns, mood changes, or major sleep problems.
Rapid, unexplained weight change should be assessed rather than assumed to need weight-loss treatment.
Why an in-person evaluation matters
An office visit helps assess your blood pressure, health history, current medicines, and treatment goals. Selected lab tests may identify health risks or conditions affecting treatment safety.
Ultrasound is not routinely needed for weight-management prescribing.
What to Expect at Your Visit
- Review your goals and previous efforts without judgment.
- Assess relevant measurements and medical history.
- Discuss pregnancy plans, medication interactions, and safety.
- Compare potential benefits, side effects, cost, and coverage.
- Plan follow-up to assess response, nutrition, and tolerability.
Prescription Options and Safety
Options may include FDA-approved weight-management medicines such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, along with other medications when appropriate. Tirzepatide acts on both GIP and GLP-1 pathways.
These are prescription treatments evaluated through an office visit; this does not mean every medicine is administered in the office.
Nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea can occur. Certain medicines have important restrictions, including a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2.
When to get urgent care: Severe, persistent abdominal pain or inability to keep fluids down requires prompt medical attention.
Zepbound prescribing information details these risks.
Weight-loss medicines are not used during pregnancy. Semaglutide should be stopped at least two months before a planned pregnancy. Tirzepatide users taking oral hormonal contraception need a nonoral method or added barrier protection for four weeks after starting and after each dose increase. See the Wegovy label and Zepbound label.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I qualify just because I want to lose weight?
No. Eligibility depends on the medication, health risks, and clinical assessment.
Do I still need nutrition and activity changes?
Yes. Medication supports a broader health plan.
Will insurance cover treatment?
Coverage varies. Some plans require prior authorization or exclude weight-management medicines.
Will I need medication long term?
Possibly. Obesity is a chronic condition, and weight regain can occur after treatment stops. NIDDK discusses long-term treatment.
Physician-Guided Care in Davie
Davie ObGyn offers board-certified evaluation for patients in Davie, Cooper City, Weston, Plantation, and Pembroke Pines. Treatment decisions consider both your overall health and reproductive plans.
For an emergency, call 911. Not sure what you need? See our patient resource center.
Medically reviewed by Rahil Malik, MD, FACOG, board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. Last reviewed: September 26, 2026. This page is general information and does not replace a visit with your doctor.