Considering medical weight loss in houston? Start with a consultation.
Book Consultation(opens in a new tab)What it treats
- Excess weight that has not responded to diet and exercise alone
- Insulin resistance and prediabetes
- Weight gain associated with hormonal shifts (perimenopause, menopause)
- Patients who have had weight-loss success but plateaued
- Patients who want a sustainable medical framework rather than a yo-yo diet
Products used in this treatment: Zepbound (tirzepatide, FDA-approved for chronic weight management), Mounjaro (tirzepatide, type 2 diabetes - off-label for weight in some cases)
How these medications work, briefly
The medications we prescribe do three things that produce weight loss. First, they slow gastric emptying, which means food stays in your stomach longer and you feel full for longer. Second, they reduce appetite signaling in the brain, so you naturally want less food. Third, they improve insulin sensitivity and glucose handling, which addresses the metabolic side of why weight has been difficult to lose.
The result for most patients in pivotal trials and in my practice is steady weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week, with meaningful improvement in waist circumference, blood pressure, and fasting glucose alongside the weight number.
Why we use brand-name, FDA-approved medication
At MV I prescribe the FDA-approved, brand-name versions of tirzepatide - Zepbound and Mounjaro - made by the manufacturer. That is a deliberate choice, and I want you to understand why.
The branded medication is the exact formulation that was studied in the clinical trials, manufactured to a consistent, verified dose, with the manufacturer standing behind it if anything goes wrong. That is the standard of care I am comfortable putting my name on.
It is not the cheapest option you will find advertised. It is the one with the safety profile of the actual studied drug and the dosing precision of factory-made product. If cost or coverage is a barrier, we will talk through it honestly at your visit rather than cut corners on the medication itself.
What your first month looks like
The first visit is 45 to 60 minutes. We review your full medical history, current medications, weight history, what you have tried before, and what your actual goal is. We talk about realistic expectations and the side-effect profile honestly. I do not start anyone on these medications who has not heard the full story of what could happen with their stomach for the first month.
Initial dosing is conservative. We start low to let your gut adapt. Common first-month side effects include nausea, constipation, and appetite changes that take some adjustment. Most patients move past these by week 3 or 4. We see each other every 4 weeks for the first three months to titrate dosing and address anything that comes up.
Nutrition counseling - the half of the program that lasts
The medication does part of the work. The other part is learning to eat in a way that supports the new baseline. We focus on protein adequacy (especially important on these medications where you might be eating less overall), fiber, hydration, and sustainable food patterns rather than rigid diets.
Patients who treat the medication as a temporary fix and do not change their relationship with food regain weight when they stop. Patients who use the medication as a window to rebuild habits keep the result.
Who I will not start on this program
- Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN-2 (FDA-listed contraindication).
- Patients with active pancreatitis or significant pancreatic disease history.
- Patients who are pregnant or trying to conceive in the next 2 months. We discontinue these medications in pregnancy.
- Patients with severe gastroparesis already.
- Patients with a current eating disorder.