FAQ
What is Medical Weight Loss?
Medical weight loss is different from traditional dieting. Rather than focusing solely on calorie restriction, it addresses the underlying physiological and behavioral factors that drive weight gain—such as hormones, metabolism, and habits—leading to more achievable and sustainable long-term results.
It is medically supervised by a licensed provider, such as a physician or nurse practitioner, and moves beyond restrictive diets or relying on willpower alone—unlike generic programs that are often led by unlicensed staff and focus primarily on short-term weight loss.
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Who is a candidate for the program?
Medication may be appropriate for individuals with a BMI ≥27 with an obesity-related condition, or ≥30 regardless of additional conditions. BMI serves as a clinical guide when considering treatment options.
Medication is always optional. Patients can fully participate without it through our core lifestyle pillars—behavior, nutrition, and physical activity. Excellent results can be achieved with or without medication and are primarily driven by engagement, consistency, and commitment to the process.
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What sets you apart from other medical weight loss clinics?
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What sets Pillars 4 Life apart is our comprehensive Four Pillar approach—built on behavior, nutrition, and movement as the foundation, with medication used thoughtfully and only when appropriate to support the process. Unlike most other weight loss clinics that highlight a medication-first approach to losing excess weight, we highlight a behavior-first approach to losing excess weight. This makes us very unique from other medical weight loss clinics. We find a behavior-first approach improving ones mindset and habits is the most powerful and effective way to set someone up for success in creating the health they want including maintaining a healthier BMI.
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Besides this 4 Pillar and behavior first approach, we also are different than other clinics because we prioritize depth with patients over the amount of patients we have, taking the time to truly understand each patient’s goals, barriers, and medical history so care is highly personalized—not one-size-fits-all.
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We don’t believe in quick fixes. We focus on building sustainable habits that turn health into a way of life—Because lasting health and weight management are achieved through consistent, sustainable habits—not quick shortcuts.
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What kind of results can I expect?
Results vary depending on a myriad of factors. I have seen people lose no weight and lose as much as 100 lbs. Some variables include patient engagement in the lifestyle pillars of behavior, nutrition, and physical activity, a person’s genetics, their unique metabolism, their level of belief in their ability to succeed, medication prescribed, among others.
What are some common side effects of the medication?
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If you are a candidate and are prescribed medication, some common side effects, as well as the benefits and risks will be discussed for each particular medication at your visit.
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How will I get my prescription medication?
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Your medication will be prescribed and sent to your pharmacy OR it will be prescribed to a mail order pharmacy in which they will reach out to you, collect payment, and conveniently ship the medication right to your home.​
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Do you need to have anything from me before my first visit?
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Yes—please provide a faxed copy (will accept bringing in person though less preferred) of your most recent PCP visit and labs from the past 6 months (including a CMP). If your labs are older than 6 months, you can update them with your PCP or we can order them at your first visit.
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You may still be seen without these, but medication cannot be prescribed until we have both a recent visit note and can see visible labs within 6 months.
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What can I expect at each visit?
Each visit includes a body composition analysis, physical exam, and vitals, along with a progress review focused on what’s working well. We’ll provide personalized coaching across all four pillars, adjust your plan as needed, answer any questions, and update your treatment plan—along with medication refills or dose adjustments if appropriate.
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Do I have to come in weekly?
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No—only if you want or need to. Standard care is a 30-minute follow-up at 2 weeks, then monthly visits. Frequency can increase based on your need for support, accountability, or medical guidance. Visits help ensure your plan is working, medications are tolerated, and adjusted as needed.
​Do you take insurance?
No. Unfortunately, insurance companies still refuse to treat and cover most obesity programs and medications despite the American Medical Association (AMA) classifying obesity as a chronic disease in 2013.
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How much does it cost?
At Pillars 4 Life, we believe you shouldn't have to choose between high-quality care and affordability.
Our program is designed to provide comprehensive, personalized medical weight loss that goes beyond simply prescribing medication. Every patient receives individualized guidance built around our Four Pillars of sustainable weight loss—Behavior Modification, Nutrition Therapy, Physical Activity, and Medication Management (when appropriate)—along with body composition tracking, ongoing accountability, and personalized support.
Our goal is to deliver exceptional value by offering a more comprehensive approach while keeping our pricing competitive and accessible compared to many traditional medical weight loss programs.​
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For current pricing and program options, please visit our Pricing page.