Weight Loss & GLP-1 Management
Weight is a medical issue, not a character issue. It deserves the same workup, the same follow-up, and the same seriousness as any other condition we treat.
Medical weight management at IM Clinic combines evaluation of the causes behind weight gain, nutrition and activity planning, treatment of related conditions, and prescription medication, including GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, when they are clinically appropriate for you.
We start with why
Weight gain is rarely just intake. Thyroid disease, sleep apnea, insulin resistance, depression, chronic pain, and a long list of common medications all push weight up. Before we discuss treatment, we look for what is contributing in your case, because treating an underlying cause is often the most effective intervention available.
GLP-1 medications
GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide, tirzepatide, and related medications, have meaningfully changed what is achievable in weight management. They are genuinely effective, and they are also real medications with real side effects, real contraindications, and real cost considerations. We discuss whether you are a candidate, what the medication does and does not do, what side effects to expect early on, and what the plan is long term.
Supervised, not just prescribed
These medications work best inside actual medical care. That means baseline labs, monitoring how you respond, adjusting as needed, attention to protein intake and muscle preservation, and coordination with the rest of your health, not a prescription issued by someone who has never examined you and will not follow you afterward.
Coverage and cost
Insurance coverage for weight-loss medication varies widely and changes often. Some plans cover it, some cover it only with documented criteria, and some do not cover it at all. We will tell you plainly what we find when we check your plan, and discuss the alternatives if coverage is not there.
It is not only medication
Nutrition, resistance training, sleep, and stress all still matter, and they matter more once a medication is doing part of the work. We build a plan you can actually sustain, and we keep seeing you, because weight management is a long relationship, not a prescription event.
Common questions
Do you prescribe semaglutide or tirzepatide?
We prescribe GLP-1 medications when they are clinically appropriate, after an evaluation and baseline labs. Whether one is right for you depends on your health history, other conditions, and what we find in that workup. It is a medical decision, not an order form.
Will my insurance cover it?
Coverage varies a great deal by plan and changes frequently. We check your specific plan and tell you what we find. Call or text us at (256) 715-9598 and we can start looking into it.
Do I have to be a patient of the clinic?
Yes. Weight management requires ongoing medical supervision, so it is offered as part of primary care here rather than as a standalone service. Registering as a patient takes a few minutes online.
What if I do not want medication?
That is a completely reasonable position, and medication is one option among several. Evaluation for underlying causes, nutrition planning, and treating conditions like sleep apnea are valuable on their own.
How often will I be seen?
More often at the start, typically every few weeks while a medication is being titrated or a plan is being established, then at longer intervals once things are stable.
Other care we provide
Primary Care
An ongoing relationship with a care team that knows your history, not a chart handed to a stranger.
Preventive Care
Annual physicals, screenings, and Medicare Annual Wellness Visits that catch problems early.
Telemedicine
Video visits from home or work for follow-ups, medication checks, and many routine concerns.
Same-Day Care
Same-day and next-day sick visits for established patients, at your own clinic rather than an urgent care.
Joint Injections
In-office knee, shoulder, and hip bursa injections for select patients, with no separate referral.
Appointments
How to get an appointment
Two paths, depending on whether we have seen you before.
New patients
Register, then we'll call you
Complete your registration online. It takes a few minutes. Our office contacts you to schedule your first visit and verify your insurance before you come in.
Existing patients
Request in the portal or the app
Send an appointment request through the patient portal or the athenaPatient app and our staff will schedule it. You can also text us at (256) 715-9598. For anything same-day or urgent, please call. The phone is faster.
Prefer to talk to someone? Call (256) 715-9598 during office hours: Monday through Wednesday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Thursday and Friday 7:30 AM to noon. That same number accepts text messages.
Accepting new patients
Come see if we are a good fit for you. Register online in a few minutes, or call and we will walk you through it.
Already a patient? Request an appointment in the portal or use the athenaPatient app.