Weight Management: Achieving Sustainable, Long-Term Health
In today’s fast-paced world, managing weight has become one of the most pressing health concerns for individuals. With nearly three-quarters of adults in the United States classified as overweight, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can seem overwhelming. At Garcia Family Medicine, we provide a comprehensive, physician-supervised weight management program that focuses on helping patients not only lose weight but also maintain that weight loss long-term.
Let us make one point perfectly clear: If you are looking for a 2-month program in which you starve yourself and use semaglutide to quickly take off pounds to get you into your bikini for the summer or fit into your wedding dress in time for the big day, our program is not for you. It takes time to change your eating habits so that once you come off the program, you will be able to maintain your weight loss. Our weight management program is for people who are committed to change. If you have that level of commitment, read on further to see the plan.
What Is Weight Management?
Weight management at Garcia Family Medicine involves more than just losing pounds; it’s about creating sustainable, healthy behaviors that reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension and allow the patient to come off the program without experiencing a weight regain. Our program is built on a foundation of:
Counseling and Motivational Support
Personalized sessions with Dr. Garcia to help patients understand their eating behaviors and triggers, providing emotional and psychological support for long-term success.
Nutrition Planning
We work to develop healthy, balanced eating plans tailored to each patient’s needs and preferences. Unfortunately, most doctors’ approach to weight loss is to tell you to “eat less and move more.” This has never been effective, and you will never get this message from Dr. Garcia. She believes that weight management is not a matter of how much you eat but, rather, what you eat and when. Nutritional education and meal planning are part of the nutritional aspect of our weight management program, but only in rare instances is there a focus on portion control. We teach you how to eat in a healthy manner without being hungry at the end of a meal.
Cyanocobalamin Injections
These fat-burning injections are designed to enhance your body’s metabolism.
Developing a whole new way of eating that you can maintain when you have left the program
The major problem with weight management programs is the weight regain when the program is over. Throughout our entire program, we work to avoid this by teaching new behaviors surrounding eating that last a lifetime.
Through medical guidance and continuous support, we help patients not only achieve their weight loss goals but also maintain them for long-term health and vitality. Our program addresses the underlying factors that contribute to weight gain, such as eating according to external triggers, lack of exercise, and metabolic imbalances.
The Role of Direct Primary Care (DPC) in Weight Management
The Direct Primary Care (DPC) model at Garcia Family Medicine offers a patient-centered, cost-effective approach to weight management that eliminates many of the financial hurdles seen in traditional insurance-based care. For individuals looking to lose weight, DPC provides consistent access to a physician, personalized care plans, and regular, frequent counseling—covered under one monthly membership fee. There are, however, some additional costs—intake labs—which are available for low fees negotiated by Dr. Garcia.
This membership means that patients don’t have to worry about co-pays, deductibles, or surprise bills for routine weight management services. With DPC, our patients have the freedom to focus entirely on their health, receiving the attention and resources needed to achieve lasting weight loss without the stress of mounting medical costs.
Cost Savings of DPC for Weight Management vs. Traditional Insurance
Traditional insurance-based healthcare often comes with high premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket costs for various treatments, including weight management services. Further, some insurance companies do not pay for weight management services at all. In contrast, the DPC model simplifies costs by providing comprehensive care for a monthly fee. This fee covers office visits, consultations, follow-ups, and many essential weight management services, including counseling, nutrition planning, and basic treatments like cyanocobalamin injections.
To better understand the financial benefits, let’s compare the cost of DPC-based weight management to a traditional insurance model:
| Feature | Traditional Insurance Model | Direct Primary Care (DPC) Model |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium | $400 - $600 | $200 - $300 per person (membership fee) |
| Deductible | $1,000 - $7,000 per year | No deductible |
| Co-Pays for Doctor Visits | $20 - $50 per visit | No co-pays |
| Cost for Weight Management Counseling | $100 - $200 per session | Included in the membership |
| Cyanocobalamin Injections | $50 - $150 per injection (out of pocket) | Included in the membership |
| Follow-Up Visits | $50 - $200 per visit | Included in membership |
Example Scenario: Weight Management in DPC vs. Traditional Insurance
Let’s explore a typical scenario for a patient undergoing weight management treatment, including counseling and regular follow-up visits.
Traditional Insurance Model
- Monthly Premium: $500 - $600
- Co-pay for each doctor visit: $25 - $50
- Weight Management Counseling: $150 per session
- Labs: May be covered by your insurance, $1,400 if your deductible has not been met
DPC Model
- Monthly Membership Fee: $200 - $300
- Co-pay for visits: $0
- Weight Management Counseling: Included in membership
- Labs: $250 - $350
In this example, the patient saves by choosing the DPC model and receives continuous, personalized care that supports their weight loss journey. It should be noted again that the weight management program at Garcia Family Medicine is not a quick 6-week program. Taking that into account, the cost savings with DPC are even greater.
Value of DPC in Weight Management
The Direct Primary Care model provides several key advantages for patients seeking to lose weight and improve their overall health:
- Predictable and Affordable Costs
With DPC, patients know exactly what they’re paying each month. The membership fee includes unlimited office visits, weight management counseling, and basic treatments, ensuring there are no surprise bills or hidden fees. In contrast, traditional insurance often comes with unpredictable costs, including high deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket expenses. At Garcia Family Medicine, patients are told about costs in addition to the membership fee before they start the program: a lab panel that screens for diabetes, insulin resistance, vitamin deficiencies, cortisol imbalances, thyroid function, cholesterol, and basic chemistries. Low costs have been negotiated by Dr. Garcia for the labs.
- Direct Access to Your Doctor
Patients of Garcia Family Medicine benefit from direct access to Dr. Garcia via phone, email, or text, enabling them to ask questions, adjust treatment plans, and receive support outside of their biweekly in-person visits. This means that if a patient is experiencing a crisis or needs urgent support, they can contact Dr. Garcia immediately without waiting for an appointment. This ease of access is particularly important for those undergoing weight loss treatment, as frequent motivational support is crucial to success. Counseling is scheduled every two weeks and is all provided by Dr. Garcia.
- Comprehensive, Personalized Care
DPC allows for a more individualized approach to weight management. Doctors in DPC practices often have smaller patient panels, allowing them to spend more time with each patient and develop personalized treatment plans. This is especially important in weight management, where understanding the patient's lifestyle, challenges, and goals is key to success and the doctor-patient relationship is of paramount importance.
- Focus on Long-Term Success
Because DPC emphasizes preventive care and long-term health management, our weight loss program is designed not just to help patients lose weight but to sustain that loss. Regular follow-ups, continuous counseling, and personalized nutrition and exercise plans are integral parts of the program, helping patients maintain their weight loss and reduce the risk of related chronic diseases.
Conclusion: DPC and Weight Management for a Healthier Future
At Garcia Family Medicine, we believe that achieving and maintaining a healthy weight should be accessible and affordable for everyone. Our Direct Primary Care (DPC) model ensures that patients receive high-quality, personalized care without the financial barriers imposed by traditional insurance. Our weight management program provides patients with the tools they need to succeed—at a fraction of the cost of traditional healthcare.
By choosing Garcia Family Medicine, you’re investing in a more personalized approach to your health, with the added benefits of predictable costs, direct access to Dr. Garcia, and innovative, non-invasive treatments for weight loss. Let us help you achieve your health goals and live a happier, healthier life.
