What to Expect During Your First Medical Weight Loss Consultation in Ann Arbor

Key takeaways

• Your first visit is an exam and a planning session, not a sales pitch, and you leave with a plan.
• Expect a full health history, body measurements beyond the scale, and a broad set of labs.
• Medicine is chosen after your labs come back, so it fits your body and your history.
• Medical weight loss differs from dieting because it treats the biology that makes weight loss hard.

Why Medical Weight Loss Is Different From Dieting

First, it helps to know why medical weight loss is not the same as a diet program.

When you cut calories on your own, your body fights back. It slows your metabolic rate (how fast you burn energy). It raises hunger hormones, mainly ghrelin (the hormone that makes you feel hungry). It also turns down the signals that tell you that you are full. This is why most diets fail over time. Your biology is working against you.

Medical weight loss works with your biology instead. It uses FDA-approved medicines, full lab work, and regular check-ins with a clinician. A 2023 review in JAMA backs this approach. Good obesity care combines behavior support, nutrition, physical activity, medicines, and metabolic procedures as each patient needs. In that review, GLP-1 agonists and GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists (drugs that copy gut hormones to curb appetite) produced about 8% to 21% weight loss (Elmaleh-Sachs et al., 2023).

Step 1: Scheduling and Pre-Visit Preparation

When you book your first weight loss visit at Arbour Longevity, you will get a short prep list:

• Medical history forms. Fill these out online or in the office. They cover your health history, past weight loss attempts, current medicines, and family history.
• Fasting instructions. If labs will be drawn that day, you may be asked to fast for 8 to 12 hours first.
• Medication list. Bring a current list of every medicine and supplement you take.
• Insurance card and ID. These are for verification and possible lab coverage.
• Your goals. Think about what you want to achieve and any concerns you want to raise.

Step 2: Full Health History Review

Your visit begins with a careful review of your health history. Gandhi Bhattarai, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, Anti-Aging/Functional Medicine BC will take time to learn the full picture, not just your weight:

• Weight history. When did the weight gain begin? What were your highest and lowest adult weights? What have you tried?
• Medical conditions. These include diabetes or prediabetes (blood sugar that is high but not yet diabetic). They also include thyroid disorders and PCOS (a hormone condition in women). Sleep apnea, heart and blood vessel disease, joint problems, and mental health conditions matter too.
• Medications. Many common medicines add weight. Examples include some antidepressants, antipsychotics, beta-blockers, corticosteroids (steroid drugs), and insulin. Spotting these is critical.
• Family history. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and metabolic conditions in your family.
• Lifestyle factors. Sleep, stress, physical activity, eating patterns, and your relationship with food.
• Past weight loss attempts. What worked, what did not, and what you could not keep up.

This is not a rushed talk. Knowing your full story is the key to a plan that works for you.

Step 3: Physical Exam and Body Composition

This step goes beyond the scale. Your exam includes:

• Weight and BMI (body mass index, a weight-to-height ratio). These are your baseline numbers for tracking progress.
• Waist size. This is a key sign of visceral fat (fat stored deep in the belly around your organs). It is tied more closely to metabolic risk than total weight.
• Blood pressure. High blood pressure is common in people who carry extra weight.
• Body composition. This shows how much of your weight is muscle and how much is fat. It guides treatment and tracks real progress beyond the scale.
• Physical exam. Your provider checks for signs of metabolic trouble, thyroid issues, hormone imbalances, and other conditions that can drive weight gain.

Step 4: Lab Testing

Full lab work is a cornerstone of medical weight loss. Your labs may include:

Lab Test	Why It Matters
Fasting glucose and HbA1c	Screen for diabetes and prediabetes
Fasting insulin	Assess insulin resistance, a major driver of weight gain
Lipid panel	Evaluate cardiovascular risk
Comprehensive metabolic panel	Assess liver and kidney function
Thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4)	Rule out thyroid dysfunction
Complete blood count	Baseline health assessment
Vitamin D	Deficiency is common and linked to metabolic dysfunction
Hormone levels	Testosterone, estradiol, and other hormones that influence metabolism and body composition

Results usually come back within a few days. If your labs are drawn at the first visit, Gandhi Bhattarai will go over them with you at a follow-up visit or by telehealth. Then your plan is finalized. A result inside the standard reference range is not always an optimal result. That is why it helps to understand how optimal lab ranges differ from standard normal ranges.

Ready to see what your visit would involve?
Your $35 first visit in Ann Arbor includes your history, exam, body composition, and a plan that fits your life, with the fee applied toward treatment.
Book your $35 first visit Call (734) 436-3357

Step 5: Choosing a Medication

Next, your provider reviews medicine options that fit your history, exam, and labs. Current medical weight loss medicines include:

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) copy a natural gut hormone. That hormone lowers appetite, slows how fast the stomach empties, and improves how your body responds to insulin. This drug class is also being studied for effects beyond weight. Read more in our article on GLP-1 therapy and the longevity connection.

Dual GIP/GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. In clinical trials it produced even greater weight loss. In a 2025 phase 3 trial, tirzepatide cut body weight by 20.2% at 72 weeks. Semaglutide cut it by 13.7% in the same trial (New England Journal of Medicine; Aronne et al., 2025).

Each medicine works in a different way and has its own side effects and trade-offs.

Nauck and D'Alessio call the dual-agonist approach an unprecedented advance in obesity drug therapy. In their review, a sizable share of patients lost more than 10% of their body weight (Cardiovascular Diabetology; Nauck & D'Alessio, 2022).

Your provider will explain the benefits, risks, expected results, and costs of each option. Then you decide together.

Step 6: Nutrition and Lifestyle Planning

Medicine is a powerful tool, but it works best as part of a full plan. At your visit you will discuss:

• Protein. Enough protein, typically 0.7 to 1.0 grams per pound of goal body weight, is critical for keeping lean muscle while you lose fat.
• Meal structure. Simple, lasting approaches to meal timing and what goes on your plate.
• Hydration. Many patients on GLP-1 medicines need a deliberate plan for fluids.
• Movement. A realistic exercise plan that puts resistance training first, to protect muscle and heart health.
• Sleep. Poor sleep is a major, often missed driver of weight gain and metabolic trouble.
• Stress. Long-term stress raises cortisol (the body's main stress hormone), which pushes fat storage into the belly.

This is not about rigid meal plans or extreme dieting. It is about building habits you can keep that support your treatment and long-term health.

Step 7: Follow-Up and Accountability

Before you leave your first visit, you will have a clear follow-up plan:

• Week 1-2. A phone or telehealth check-in after you start the medicine, to see how you tolerate it and handle any side effects.
• Week 4-6. First in-person follow-up, with a weight check, symptom review, and a possible dose change.
• Monthly. Ongoing visits for the first 3 to 6 months to track progress, adjust medicines, and offer support.
• Quarterly. Lab work to confirm your metabolic health is improving and your medicines are safe.

This structured follow-up is what separates medical weight loss from handing someone a prescription. Steady monitoring and small adjustments are the key to getting results and keeping them.

Your $35 Consultation: The Next Step

At Arbour Longevity, your first medical weight loss visit is $35, and that fee is applied toward your treatment plan. It includes:

• A full health history review.
• A physical exam.
• Body composition analysis.
• A treatment plan discussion.
• Medication selection.

Lab work, if ordered, is billed separately and is often covered by insurance.

This visit is your chance to learn your options, ask questions, and decide if medical weight loss is right for you. There is no obligation to start treatment the same day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a certain weight to qualify for medical weight loss?

In general, these medicines are indicated for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher (obesity). They are also indicated at a BMI of 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. At your visit, your provider will judge your candidacy from your full health picture.

Will my insurance cover weight loss medication?

Coverage varies a great deal by plan. Some plans cover GLP-1 medicines when prescribed for obesity. Others exclude weight loss medicines entirely. At Arbour Longevity, we can help you work through your coverage. When it fits, we can also discuss compounded options (medicine custom-mixed by a pharmacy rather than a standard factory product) that may cost less. Compounded versions have not been reviewed or approved by FDA.

What are the side effects of GLP-1 medications?

The most common side effects are digestive: nausea, occasional vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. They are usually mild to moderate. They show up mostly while the dose is being raised, and they often fade as your body adjusts. Starting low and titrating (raising the dose step by step) slowly cuts their severity a great deal. Your provider will guide you through this.

How much weight can I expect to lose?

Results vary with the medicine used, how closely you follow the plan, and your lifestyle changes. In clinical trials, GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 medicines produced average weight loss of 15% to 20% of body weight over 12 to 18 months. For a 250-pound person, that could mean losing 37 to 50 pounds. Your provider will set realistic, personal expectations at your visit.

Is medical weight loss safe?

FDA-approved weight loss medicines have been through rigorous clinical trials with tens of thousands of participants. When a qualified provider prescribes and monitors them, they are considered safe for the right candidates. Regular visits and lab work help keep your treatment safe and effective over time.

Take the First Step

Your first medical weight loss visit is about information, not pressure. It is a chance to understand the science behind your weight, explore your options, and choose a path forward with an experienced provider.

Book your $35 first visit at Arbour Longevity or call (734) 436-3357 to take the first step toward lasting, medically supervised weight loss in Ann Arbor.

References

According to PubMed, the clinical evidence cited in this article includes:

• Aronne LJ, et al. (2025). Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 393(1), 26-36. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2416394
• Nauck MA, D'Alessio DA. (2022). Tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor co-agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes with unmatched effectiveness. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 21(1), 169. DOI: 10.1186/s12933-022-01604-7
• Elmaleh-Sachs A, et al. (2023). Obesity Management in Adults: A Review. JAMA, 330(20), 2000-2015. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.19897

This article is educational and does not replace individualized medical advice.