Why Weight? SFCHC Answers the Call for Healthy Weight Today
Welcome to the Weight Management Program at San Fernando Community Health Center! Our community asked us for support with weight loss medication. We’ve provided it so you can continue getting whole-person care from the team you know.
Who Is the Program For?
Participants might be here for help with their diabetes, but not necessarily. “If you’re interested in weight loss of any kind, then this would be appropriate for you,” says Dr. Visaal Buch, SFCHC’s Director of Adult Medicine. About 90% of Angelenos are overweight, meaning they have a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29. You can ask your medical provider about weight lost medication to get started.
Our Approach
Most weight loss medications are only approved for patients with obesity, meaning a BMI of 30 or higher. For this reason, providers start by talking with patients about the three levels of weight management:
Diet: regulating your daily calories
Lifestyle: finding healthy exercise habits
Nutrition: including vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains in what you eat
If a patient is still struggling, the providers in the program may prescribe medication.
Weight loss medication has been available in the form of oral tablets for decades. However, injection therapy has only been introduced in the past few years. You may have heard about it in the news or from a friend or family member. As a result, the injectable medication is now in high demand. Both types of medication can also have unusual side effects, so you should only get them from your provider. Once you do, they’ll also do monthly follow-ups to make sure the medication is still a benefit to your health.
Dr. Buch leads the weight management program with support from other SFCHC providers. Someone in the nutrition department is always available to answer questions or provide help. The department also has resources for patients without diabetes, like our teaching kitchen and the FEAST program.
Support You Already Know
Providers typically prescribe a combination of medication and weight management – to great success! “Anyone that tries does really well, because we do have the nutrition support and we have the nurse that is at check-in, and we do have the tablets and we do have the technology,” says Dr. Buch. “I would say probably about 50% of patients see weight loss within the first three months.”
SFCHC is happy to help you get to a healthy weight without the hassle of finding another provider you can trust. “Just come here,” says Dr. Buch. “Just come to San Fernando, just make it easy.”
