Skipping the Wait: Medical Weight Loss Options in San Diego
One of the largest challenges that people face with regards to weight loss treatment is waiting. If you’ve explored the UCSD weight loss clinic waiting list, you’re probably familiar with the emotions that come with a protracted wait list.
The impact on progress of waitlists
It’s best to be consistent when trying to manage your weight. A late start can lead to a late lab order, late medication orders and late momentum! Time is even more important for patients who suffer from prediabetes, joint pain, sleep apnea or high blood pressure. The time it takes to wait does not ease those conditions.
Understand that a “no waitlist” does not actually mean “no waitlist”
A medical weight loss doctor without a wait list in San Diego is a doctor that allows you to schedule a consultation without having to obtain a referral or wait for months in line. That does not mean to put on the cheap. A good practice will still assess your health history, check if you are taking any medication and will order labs if necessary.
The telehealth advantage
Specialized care is now more easily available due to technology. With obesity medicine telehealth in San Diego, your intake, consultation and follow-ups happen online. There is no commute across the county, no parking and no waiting room.
A typical telehealth trip would be as follows:
- Fill out a brief online health assessment.
- Video conference with provider to address objectives and options.
- Get a customised plan, and, if needed, a prescription.
- Monitor regularly: your provider will monitor the progress and make adjustments when necessary.
Questions to ask prior to starting
- Have the physician obtain a Board Certification in obesity medicine?
- Are follow-ups regularly scheduled?
- What if I get any side effects?
- Total cost (including labs and medication)?
Setting realistic expectations
Medication can be a very effective tool but it works best in combination with nutrition, protein consumption, strength training and sleep. Everyone has different results and a good provider will tell you that.
Led by triple board-certified physician Dr. Sara Siavoshi, DrBrainRx is an online alternative for people in the San Diego area. A no-cost consultation is an easy and non-threatening method to determine if you should receive treatment. More often than not, it’s easier to start early than to start right.