WEIGHT LOSS
What Is an Obesity Medicine Clinician?
For many people, working with an obesity doctor or health care provider is more effective than any other attempts at weight loss. Self-help and diet books may not lead to significant or sustained weight loss. Obesity medicine clinicians are specially trained to treat obesity and obesity-related conditions using evidence-based approaches.
Obesity medicine providers treat obesity as a disease. Because so many different factors contribute to obesity, obesity medicine clinicians develop personalized treatment plans comprised of nutrition, physical activity, behavior therapy, and medication.
Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) members are physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare providers who take a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to treating obesity.
Lutricia Bennett, NP-C
Misty Wright, NP-C
IM&A Weight-loss Clinicians
Lutricia Bennett, NP-C and Misty Wright, NP-C have completed the course load and are now certified in obesity medicine. What does this mean? We take a comprehensive approach to obesity medicine. Not only do we prescribe medications, but we do a complete assessment of each patient's overall physical well-being, complete history, and may include lab evaluation, EKG and a physical.
Furthermore, our initial evaluation includes a bioimpedance analysis. A bioimpedance analysis is a technique that measures total body resistance at different frequencies and calculates total body water, extracellular fluid, lean body mass, and fat mass. This is critical to know since we want patients to lose mostly fat while retaining lean body mass (muscle). That data is then used to calculate dietary protein, carbohydrates, fats and calories. At each followup appointment, this bioimpedance data will be followed and assessed for fat or muscle loss.
Medications that may be prescribed:
Semaglutide (brand name Ozempic and Wegovy)
Tirzepatide (brand name Mounjaro and Zepbound)
Phentermine
Phentermine/Topiramate (brand name Qsymia)
Naltrexone/Bupropion (brand name Contrave)
Diethylpropion
Phendimetrazine
Lipo-B12 (B12 with MIC) - MIC stands for methionine, inositol and choline, three antioxidants that are vital to breaking down fatty tissues in the body.
Super Lipo B12 (B12 with MIC and L-carnitine) - L carnitine is an amino acid that transports fatty acids into the cells and used for energy (burns fatty acids). Several studies have shown significant weight loss with weekly usage.