GLP-1 Weight Loss in Stuart, FL
Losing weight can feel frustrating when healthy eating and exercise no longer seem to work the way they used to. Many people struggle with increased appetite, low energy, slow metabolism, or weight gain that becomes harder to manage with age. In Stuart, Dr. Chris Rao, MD, a family physician, uses GLP-1 to help bring your weight down.
“ His compassionate approach and attentive ear were reassuring.”
Janeth A., Google review
(772) 286-0226 · You’re welcome to call with any question first, including what the first visit costs.
Dr. Rao himself, for a full evaluation before any prescription
adults who meet the state's weight criteria, checked at your evaluation
a shot once a week, starting at a low dose
Does This Sound Like You? When Weight Loss Stalls Despite Diet and Exercise
Maybe it’s moments like these:
You eat well and stay active, and the scale won't budge.
Weight has settled around your middle.
You've tried diets and programs that didn't last.
You're curious about the shots, but worried about nausea or muscle loss.
That isn’t a willpower failure. It’s what medical weight loss is for.
What GLP-1 Weight Loss Can Do for You
GLP-1 is a hormone your body already uses to help regulate appetite and how much you eat. Semaglutide acts like it, and tirzepatide acts like it and like a second gut hormone, GIP.
If you’ve been fighting weight gain that won’t shift, here’s what a GLP-1 medicine is made for, alongside your own changes to food and activity:
- Lower weight, kept down long term for as long as you stay on the medicine
- A quieter appetite, since they act on appetite and lower how much people eat
- More fat lost than lean mass, with a plan that aims to protect your muscle
- Better heart and metabolic risk factors, as seen in the large trials of semaglutide in 1,961 adults and tirzepatide in 2,539 adults.
- One shot a week, started low and raised over several weeks
Why Body Composition Matters More Than the Scale on a GLP-1
Dr. Rao cares less about the number on the scale than about what your weight is made of. That’s your body composition, and we can measure it in our office.
So, do you lose muscle on a GLP-1? Some, yes. More of the weight lost is fat, but some of it is lean mass, which includes muscle.
That’s why the goal is to lose the fat while protecting your muscle and bone. Enough protein and strength work help limit the muscle you lose, so both are built into your plan.
Food, movement, sleep, and fluids stay at the center. As Dr. Rao puts it, the more you do the non-medical, the less you have to do the medical.
What matters besides the medicine?
The basics: what you eat, how much you move, how well you sleep, and how much water you drink. Dr. Rao puts these first, because nothing else he prescribes works well if they’re off.
Who Qualifies for GLP-1 Weight Loss in Stuart, and How the First Visit Works
Florida sets a minimum before any weight-loss medicine. You may qualify with a BMI of 30 or more, a BMI over 27 plus a weight-related health problem, or measured body fat of at least 25% for men or 30% for women.
GLP-1 medicines are meant for adults with obesity, or overweight plus a related health problem, and Dr. Rao checks both.
It starts with a call or a message. We’ll schedule your consultation promptly.
Next, you sit down with Dr. Rao. He takes your full history, examines you, and asks how you eat, move, and sleep.
Then comes your lab work. Florida requires tests first, and your results shape your plan.
And you decide together. He explains the benefits and risks, and if a GLP-1 fits, you sign your consent before your first prescription.
Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, Side by Side
| Medicine | What it acts on | How it's taken |
How it starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | One hormone pathway, GLP-1 | A shot once a week | A low dose, stepped up over several weeks |
| Tirzepatide | Two hormone pathways, GIP and GLP-1 | A shot once a week | A low dose, stepped up over several weeks |
Which one suits you is a choice you and Dr. Rao make together, from your history, your goals, and how you handle the first doses. He sets your dose and how fast it rises.
Dr. Rao, the Family Physician Who Sees You Himself
Dr. Rao founded Unison Pro-Youth Institute and is its only physician. He’s been licensed in Florida since 1993 and is board-certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine.
He sees weight the way he sees all of health: there’s not one magic pill, shot, or cream. So his medical weight loss starts with food and movement, and medicine comes in as one piece of the plan, never the whole answer.
He sees you himself, at your evaluation and at every re-check. He also tries to walk the talk, with an active life and balanced eating of his own.
What Patients Say About Dr. Rao's Care
“ They then follow up with action, and not just throw meds at the issue.”
Brett O., Google review
“ Explained in detail the results of lab work & how to utilize medicine to maximize the benefits.”
Gary Y., Google review
“ I never feel rushed when I’m in there.”
John L., Google review
Will the Shots Make Me Sick? Side Effects and Who Shouldn't Take Them
It’s a fair worry. The most common side effects are stomach-related, like nausea, and in the large trials they were mostly mild to moderate.
That’s why your dose starts low and steps up slowly. Dr. Rao checks your labs before any prescription and sees you at least every three months after you start.
What are the side effects of semaglutide and tirzepatide?
The most common are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and stomach pain. In the large trials, they tended to ease with time on semaglutide and came mainly while the dose was being raised on tirzepatide.
Some less common side effects are serious: inflammation of the pancreas, gallbladder problems, kidney problems from dehydration, severe stomach problems, allergic reactions, and low blood sugar in people who take diabetes medicines.
Dr. Rao evaluates you and checks your labs before any prescription, starts you on a low dose, and re-checks you at least every three months.
Will I lose muscle on a GLP-1?
Some, yes. More of the weight lost is fat, but some is lean mass, which includes muscle. Enough protein and strength work help limit it, so both are part of your plan.
Who shouldn't take GLP-1 medicines?
These medicines aren’t for you if you:
- Have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2
- Have had a serious allergic reaction to the medicine
- Are pregnant (semaglutide is stopped at least two months before a planned pregnancy)
- Already take another GLP-1 medicine
If you take birth control pills, you’d switch or add a barrier method for four weeks after starting tirzepatide and after each dose increase. Tell Dr. Rao everything you take, and your history, at your first visit.
Common Questions About GLP-1 Weight Loss
Can I take a GLP-1 with hormone therapy or during menopause?
Menopause on its own doesn't decide it: whether you can start a GLP-1 medicine like semaglutide comes down to the same Florida criteria and evaluation as anyone else. These medicines slow how fast your stomach empties, which can change how pills are absorbed, so Dr. Rao reviews everything you take, hormones included. Estrogen hormone therapy isn't recommended for age-related weight gain, and we offer bio-identical hormone therapy for women separately.
How often will I see Dr. Rao once I start?
You'll see Dr. Rao at least every three months while you're on a GLP-1 medicine, as Florida requires for weight-loss medicine. He sees you himself at each re-check and adjusts your plan with you, including your dose. Between visits, our phone is answered during business hours, so you can call with questions as they come up.
Do I need to come in, or can I do GLP-1 weight loss by telemedicine?
Your first evaluation for GLP-1 weight loss is in person, at our Stuart office. Florida requires a physical exam before any weight-loss medicine. After that, some visits can be by telemedicine when it's clinically appropriate, which Dr. Rao decides with you.
Talk to Dr. Rao About GLP-1 Weight Loss in Stuart
The aim is a better body composition, not only a smaller number on the scale, with a doctor who sees you himself every step of the way. Your first step is a conversation, not a commitment.
Have questions first? Call us and ask anything, including what the first visit costs.
Not ready to call? Send your question through our contact form.
Visit Our Clinic in Stuart, FL
Unison Pro-Youth Institute
Mon - Fri:8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday:By Appointment Sunday:Closed
Patients come to our Stuart office from Palm City, Jensen Beach, Port St. Lucie, Hobe Sound, and Jupiter.