If weight loss were simply a matter of willpower, the diet industry would not be filled with people starting over every January, Monday or “after vacation.” Lasting weight loss depends on much more than willpower. Nutrition, hormones, activity, medications, sleep, metabolism and long-term habits all influence your progress.
That is the approach behind our weight loss program Una Vida Restorative Medicine at Rejuvené MD in El Paso, TX. Rather than handing you a generic meal plan and sending you home, our physician-driven wellness and longevity clinic looks at the factors that may be influencing your progress, then builds a plan around your health, goals and daily life.
Why “Sustainable” Matters More Than “Fast”
Quick changes on the scale can feel rewarding, but lasting weight management asks a more important question: what can you realistically continue?
The CDC reports that 40.3% of U.S. adults had obesity during August 2021 through August 2023. The same data found severe obesity in 9.4% of adults. Weight management is a common health concern, and these numbers show just how many adults are navigating it.
Sustainable weight loss also does not have to mean dramatic weight loss. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, losing 5% to 10% of your starting body weight may help improve blood sugar, blood pressure and triglyceride levels.
What Medical Weight Loss Adds to the Conversation
A medically guided weight loss program begins with context. Instead of focusing only on what you eat or how much you exercise, medical weight management considers your health history, relevant lab work, current habits and goals when determining which strategies may be appropriate for you.
This level of detail is critical because two people with the same goal weight may need completely different approaches. One person may benefit from more structure around food choices. Another may need an activity plan that accounts for joint limitations, work demands or current fitness. Someone else may be a candidate for prescription weight loss medication.
Medical weight loss adds another question to the conversation: Why might this approach work for you?
At Rejuvené MD, we have that individualized conversation through Una Vida.
What Is Una Vida?
At Rejuvené MD, we offer weight management through Una Vida, our restorative medicine program led by Dr. Randy Goldstein. Una Vida brings nutrition, weight management and other wellness services into the same medical setting as Rejuvené MD’s dermatologic and aesthetic care.
For weight loss patients, this creates an opportunity to look beyond calories alone. Your weight can be influenced by your eating patterns, activity level, metabolism, hormones, medications and other health factors. Una Vida’s Weight Loss & Nutrition services consider these individual factors when developing recommendations for you.
Depending on your needs, your care may include nutritional guidance, physical activity recommendations, a review of pertinent lab work, and prescription weight loss medications such as semaglutide or tirzepatide when medically appropriate.
Where GLP-1 Medications Fit Into the Program
For some patients, medication can be one part of a sustainable weight loss plan. GLP-1 medications can support weight management, but they do not replace nutrition, physical activity or ongoing medical guidance. The decision to use one should be based on your health history, goals and whether you are an appropriate candidate.
Research offers a useful look at the results patients may experience with these medications. In the STEP 1 trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine, adults with overweight or obesity who received once-weekly semaglutide alongside lifestyle intervention lost an average of 14.9% of their starting body weight over 68 weeks. Participants who received a placebo alongside lifestyle intervention lost an average of 2.4%.
Importantly, participants in the STEP 1 trial did not receive semaglutide in isolation. The study also included a lifestyle intervention. At Una Vida, medication can similarly be combined with nutrition, activity and ongoing support rather than serving as the entire weight loss plan.
Three Questions Your Weight Loss Plan Should Answer
A sustainable weight loss plan should give you more than instructions. It should help you understand what you are working toward, why certain strategies make sense for you and what happens when your needs change.
Before you leave a weight-management consultation, you should have answers to three questions:
- What is my goal? Your goal should reflect your individual health, needs and starting point rather than an arbitrary number on the scale.
- Which tools are appropriate for me? Nutrition, physical activity and prescription medication can all play different roles. Your plan should make clear which strategies are appropriate for you and why.
- How will we measure and adjust my progress? Regular follow-up gives you and your provider opportunities to assess what is working and modify nutrition, activity or medication when necessary.
Sustainable care is not static. Your plan should be able to change as your body, health and circumstances change.
Build a Plan You Can Still Be Living Six Months From Now
A sustainable plan should feel specific enough to guide you and flexible enough to survive real life. Vacations happen. Schedules change. Progress can stall. A plan you can return to after those disruptions may be far more useful than one you can follow perfectly for only a few weeks.
At Una Vida, your consultation is the starting point. The team can help you clarify realistic goals, determine whether medical therapies are appropriate and create a plan designed for long-term follow-through. If you are ready to take a more personalized approach to weight management, schedule a consultation with Una Vida in El Paso, TX, to explore your options.
