Metabotherapy

(AKA Weight Loss Clinic)

We know, the word is funny. But "weight loss clinic" doesn't cover nearly enough of the bases. We're helping with weight loss, you bet! We're helping with body image - absolutely! We're also going all "family medicine" on this one. Preventing things like diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, sleep apnea, acid reflux, strokes, heart attacks... to name a few.

So you want to lose weight...

Maybe you tried another diet that worked for a few months, then didn't work at all. Maybe there's a family history of weight-related health concerns that you're trying to avoid. Or maybe your labs are teetering on the verge of diabetes. Or you've been hitting the gym, but a back strain set you back six months.

We all know the risks of being overweight, and we all want to avoid those outcomes. But there are so many barriers to reaching a healthier life - working full time, ferrying your kids to their sports, trying to get a hot meal on the table, or remembering to fold the laundry. There's just no energy left to go for a jog. Somehow, you find your way to the doctor.

Annnnnnnd we fail you. We're part of the problem.

We tell you about the risks of obesity, but instead of giving you tools, we give you an insurmountable "to do" list. Exercise 30 minutes a day, eat fewer saturated fats, cut down on simple carbohydrates, eat more fish, increase your fiber and protein intake, add resistance training, make a food and activity log, calculate your total daily caloric intake and your basal metabolic rate. And then in our total desperation, we make a referral to bariatric surgery.

Where has this approach gotten any of us?

We’ve had a painfully, harmfully narrow view of obesity and metabolic medicine. Instead of looking at the issue through a telescope, we need to recognize that it's more of a kaleidoscope. Good thing we're family docs - we know that the sum is greater than its parts.

We want to be intentional about your wellness, which means we're going to look at all the factors - sleep, mood, hormones, medications, lifestyle, family history, disability, your home zip code, and how you get to work (yeah, those play a role too. Stay tuned!).

Strap on your seatbelts

Guess what! Dr. Ngo has a whole degree in Health, Behavior, and Society and spent a good part of his career working on obesity prevention.

He made changes to some of the big picture issues that impact obesity - brought refrigerators to liquor stores so they can stock healthier food, lobbied for calorie labeling on the McDonald's cheeseburger (that small print was 20 years in the making!), and found sneaky ways to make you walk more and eat healthier (Whatever happened to those soda vending machines? Or that new roundabout that slows down traffic?).

Now, we're able to bring all of this together. We can look at your city, and we can zoom in too: what you do for a living, your genetics, your favorite foods, your hobbies. We can figure out what's "doable" - walking a block after meals, putting the ice cream tub away before you get out the spoon (Dr. C....), and even starting medications.

One small step...

In the last few years, science has made a giant leap and has given us more tools than ever to help prevent chronic disease and obesity. You might have heard of Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, tirzepatide (this types out like word salad). But is it actually legit? Well, we've read the data, looked at the articles, corroborated with the specialists, and poured ourselves into the research. No medication is a panacea, but these medications really do bring it home. This is, thankfully, more than another fad diet.

Here's the problem - your insurance probably won’t cover the medication until you do develop diabetes or gain another 30 pounds. With prior authorizations and a phone call to the insurance company, we can occasionally get the medication covered (sometimes still to the tune of $1,000 a month…. ). In reality, the medication itself is relatively cheap. But Big Pharma protects their investment by patenting the pen the medication comes in and driving up the cost.

In true LAPIS fashion, we’re going to bypass that garbage, and we'll pass that savings on to you.

Let's get curious - Is there an alternative to the Paxil that's made you gain 20 pounds? Can we control your sleep apnea so you feel more energized during the day? How can we figure out another way to cope with stress than eating an entire loaf of bread in one sitting? Could OMT help relieve the knee pain that's keeping you from your hikes? Give us a call, let's explore your relationship with food, that unused gym membership, and whether it's a good time to consider medications.

The Nitty Gritty:

Members: If you're already a Lapis member: You just pay for the medication and we're done!

Non-members: If you're not a Lapis member, what are you waiting for? Sign up and we'll get started!

The official numbers:

Current cost of Lapis Membership: $150/month

Starting cost of medication and injections: $350/month