Why Whole-Health Support Is Essential For Your Medical Weight Loss Program
Why you should build whole-health support into your medical weight loss offering
Did you know that after stopping semaglutide, most patients regain about two-thirds of their weight loss within a year? This isn't just a clinical problem; it's a business risk. When patients regain weight, you lose revenue through churn, damage your reputation, and miss out on the recurring income that ongoing support programs generate.
In this article, we'll show you why integrating continuous care is no longer optional. It's how you protect patient outcomes, increase lifetime value, and differentiate yourself in a crowded market.
Four major factors that can affect weight loss outcomes
As previously mentioned, numerous factors are involved when patients choose to lose weight, which is why professional guidance should be considered a non-negotiable for success.
Let’s discuss four of those factors and how ongoing support delivered via telehealth could prove helpful in managing them.
1. Biological predisposition and metabolic response
Genetic factors strongly influence body weight, with studies estimating that between 40 and 70% of an individual's predisposition to obesity is inherited.
These genetic variations also play a role in how individuals respond to weight loss efforts. For instance, in a study of 1,080 people who were dieting, researchers discovered that about half (49%) of the reason why some people lost a lot of weight and others didn't is due to tiny differences in their genetic makeup.
2. Medical factors and pharmaceuticals
Patients who increase their physical activity and improve their diet may still face obstacles, especially if they have certain medical conditions. Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and hypothyroidism are all disorders that promote weight gain.
Many medications—especially antidepressants—can cause weight gain by altering metabolism and appetite; ongoing telehealth support (async or live) helps providers identify these effects and adjust weight-management plans alongside existing treatments.
3. Psychological factors
Mental health and weight are bidirectional, meaning they influence each other in a continuous loop. In fact, there’s even research that consistently suggests that psychological interventions should be strengthened to improve weight loss effectiveness, and here’s why:
One study found that when participants conducted self-weighing and observed weight gain, they reported more guilt and shame, and lower confidence in weight control. Researchers observed that these negative feelings directly predicted less effective weight control behavior that day.
Conversely, another study on adolescents showed that implementing emotion regulation strategies, such as reappraisal, was strongly correlated with greater weight loss.
Repeated dieting and unrealistic expectations also bear a mental toll, with multiple weight loss attempts associated with increased symptoms of anxiety and depression.
4. Lifestyle factors and cultural expectations
It’s known that a sedentary lifestyle can greatly increase one's risk of gaining weight, which is why physical activity is one of the primary tools in obesity management. However, researchers are also finding that one’s lifestyle and culture can play a role as well.
Sleep: Skimping on sleep can spike cravings for fatty foods—and weight.
Nutrition: Crash dieting and poor eating habits can negatively reduce key nutrients (vitamin D, iron, magnesium, zinc, etc.).
Social connection: Strong support networks can boost weight-loss results, especially for individuals of color.
Culture: In some communities, bigger is seen as healthier; weight loss can face pushback—steady, judgment-free support helps.
Leveraging social support mechanisms, such as coaching programs, individual counseling sessions, or group support delivered via telehealth, can help patients overcome some of the cultural or societal barriers they face.
Four ways ongoing care can help promote weight loss success
Many patients start their weight loss journey believing that it’s simply a matter of eating less and exercising more. However, weight loss isn’t a monolith, even when using GLP-1 receptor agonists.
There is substantial clinical evidence that certain GLP-1 RAs can produce clinically meaningful weight loss when used as indicated and combined with lifestyle changes. Additionally, pairing ongoing patient support with medications can help maintain program success. Here are some key benefits to consider:
Behavioral guidance: Support can help patients identify and overcome harmful eating and emotional patterns, which in turn may help improve long-term success and maintenance beyond the initial weight loss.
Accountability and motivation: Regular check-ins can boost adherence, as evidenced by a 2023 study in which participants in a weight loss program with two-month follow-up interviews experienced increased compliance.
Emotional and social resilience: In one study, participants in a health-behavior change program reported an increased sense of social support, which in turn influenced their motivation, commitment, and overall success in making positive changes.
Expert monitoring and adjustment: In the 2023 study mentioned earlier, participants also received additional support from physicians who adjusted the intervention based on each patient’s lifestyle. This encouraged sustained dietary change.
Remember: Some GLP-1 RAs are FDA-approved for chronic weight management in specific populations; others are indicated for type 2 diabetes. These are prescription medications and a licensed clinician must determine appropriateness.
Ongoing care can help reduce the risk of weight rebound
Once treatment ends, patients often rebound and find themselves sliding back to baseline.
The data even reveals that this is happening. Consider the following:
8, 12, 20, 26, and 52 weeks after stopping anti-obesity medications, patients experienced significant weight regain compared to controls (1.50 kg, 1.76 kg, 2.50 kg, 2.30 kg, and 2.47 kg, respectively).
Patients who discontinued treatment regained approximately two-thirds of their weight loss within one year.
As you can see, this pattern isn’t unique to a single medication, like liraglutide or semaglutide; it’s consistent across all GLP-1 receptor agonists. What’s also telling is that the weight gain occurred even when patients continued basic lifestyle interventions, such as exercising and following a low-calorie diet, after stopping medication. This further reinforces the notion that cutting calories alone is insufficient.
Ultimately, this isn’t a medication failure; it’s a treatment model failure that underscores why ongoing clinical support must be integrated into weight loss clinics from the start, and not treated as optional.
Treatment shouldn’t stop at medication
Weight loss medication, whether GLP-1 RAs or other pharmaceutical interventions, shouldn’t be viewed as a standalone solution. Without continued clinical support that addresses the biological, psychological, behavioral, and lifestyle factors previously discussed, patients are left vulnerable to the same patterns that led to weight gain initially.
Sustainability is crucial, and we’ve learned that weight management requires more than willpower and basic education. It requires ongoing support, where clinicians can identify early warning signs, address metabolic adaptations, adjust interventions, and provide the psychological support needed to navigate the inevitable challenges.
When it’s better for your patients, it’s better for business
When patients maintain weight loss with your program, they can become true believers and advocates for your brand. However, regaining after treatment can breed disappointment, erode trust, and potentially hurt your reputation. Patients want long-term results, and adding ongoing support can help sustain results and deliver brand benefits like:
Brand loyalty: Patients who successfully maintain their weight loss will trust your brand and return for future health needs.
Improved patient retention. It’s unlikely that patients will abandon their program if they continue to see success and feel supported. As discussed in the meta-analysis earlier, patients are most likely to regain weight between 8 and 20 weeks post-treatment; however, ongoing support can help keep them engaged during these critical periods.
Organic growth via referrals: Satisfied patients are your most credible marketing channel, as word-of-mouth can be worth more than any advertisement.
Differentiated market position in a crowded market: A value proposition like “We help you lose weight and keep it off” is powerful and can help separate you from competitors offering medication alone.
Helps avoid reputational damage: When patients regain weight after your program, it can reflect negatively on your brand. However, ongoing support ensures you’re part of their success story, and not their disappointment.
Overall, investing in ongoing support shouldn’t just be viewed as an optional add-on. It should be embraced as the standard for providing superior weight loss outcomes.
Leverage patients' medical weight loss efforts with telehealth
Providers hoping to help patients address overweight and obesity can’t just focus on the simple energy model, even with GLP-1s. As revealed here, numerous other factors are involved that can affect the effectiveness of medical weight loss efforts. Practices can help patients achieve better weight reduction results while also generating a lucrative revenue stream by introducing ongoing support through telehealth.
At OpenLoop, we make delivering virtual care seamless with our reliable, white-label telehealth infrastructure. Additionally, we have credentialed providers available in all 50 states, 24/7, enabling practices to meet patients exactly where they are.
Want to learn more? Contact us here!
*This content is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, please consult a licensed attorney.