Semaglutide for Weight Loss in Scarsdale, NY

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a once-weekly injection that copies a gut hormone the body releases after a meal. It slows how quickly the stomach empties and acts on appetite centers in the brain, so many people feel full sooner and think about food less. Ozempic (approved for type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy (approved for chronic weight management) both contain semaglutide. In the STEP 1 trial (NEJM, 2021), adults on semaglutide lost an average of 14.9% of body weight at 68 weeks, against 2.4% on placebo. That is a trial average, not a prediction for any one person.

The FDA-approved weight-management version of semaglutide is labeled for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition. Your provider confirms eligibility at the evaluation; the intake quiz is a starting point, not a prescription.

• Adults with a BMI of 30 or higher
• Adults with a BMI of 27 or higher and a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol
• People who want a medical plan with labs and follow-up, not a prescription alone
• Not for anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2, or during pregnancy

GLP-1 medications carry a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors, based on studies in rodents. They are not used in anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, or during pregnancy.

Common side effects. Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation are the most common, usually while the dose is being increased.

Serious risks. Rarer but serious risks include pancreatitis and gallbladder problems. Seek care promptly for severe or persistent abdominal pain.

Semaglutide or tirzepatide. Tirzepatide acts on two hormone receptors (GLP-1 and GIP) rather than one. Which medication suits you depends on your history, side effects and cost, and is a provider decision.

In person or telehealth. Many patients from across Westchester County start with a visit in Scarsdale and continue by telehealth. Others do the whole program virtually.

An evaluation before a prescription. A provider reviews your history, medications and goals and confirms whether semaglutide is appropriate before anything is prescribed.

Labs drawn in Scarsdale. Blood is drawn on site at the clinic, so baseline labs and follow-up labs happen in the same place as your visits.

Body composition, not just the scale. A SECA body composition scan measures fat and lean mass separately, so you can see whether you are losing fat or muscle.

Dose increases with follow-up. Semaglutide is started at a low dose and increased gradually. Follow-up visits are where side effects get managed rather than endured.

A maintenance plan from the start. In the STEP 1 extension, people who stopped semaglutide regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year. Your plan addresses what happens after the goal weight.

In person or by telehealth. Care is available at the Scarsdale clinic and by telehealth for eligible patients in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida and California.

Every plan starts with an evaluation, not a prescription. The steps are the same whether you come into the clinic or start by telehealth.

1. Online intake and consultation. Start with the short intake, then meet a provider in Scarsdale or by video. The consultation is $249, or $349 if you add blood work.
2. Labs and body composition. Blood is drawn on site at the Scarsdale clinic, where a SECA body composition scan can also measure fat and lean mass. Telehealth patients can use a requisition at a local Quest or LabCorp location.
3. A plan, if you are a candidate. If a GLP-1 medication is appropriate, your provider chooses the medication and a starting dose and sets nutrition and activity targets alongside it.
4. Gradual increases and follow-up. Doses start low and rise over weeks, which is when nausea is most likely. Regular check-ins are how side effects get managed, and how a maintenance plan gets built before you reach your goal.

Protocol Health prescribes semaglutide at its clinic at 700 White Plains Rd #30 in Scarsdale after a medical evaluation. Patients come from across Westchester County, including Scarsdale, White Plains, Eastchester, New Rochelle and Yonkers, and eligible patients in NY, NJ, CT, FL and CA can be seen by telehealth.

Yes. Protocol Health providers prescribe semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, when a medical evaluation shows it is appropriate. The clinic is at 700 White Plains Rd #30, Scarsdale, NY 10583, and eligible patients can also be treated by telehealth.

No. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved, is not the same as the brand-name products, and was not studied in the brand trials. Your provider will discuss whether a brand-name product or a compounded formulation fits your situation.

In the STEP 1 trial (NEJM, 2021), adults on semaglutide lost an average of 14.9% of body weight at 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% on placebo. That is an average from a trial of the brand-name drug; individual results vary widely and not everyone is a candidate.

Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation are the most common, usually while the dose is being increased. Rarer but serious risks include pancreatitis and gallbladder problems, which is one reason follow-up visits matter.

Most people regain a significant share of the weight. In the STEP 1 extension, participants regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year of stopping. A maintenance plan is part of care at Protocol Health from the start.

It depends on your plan and your diagnosis; many plans cover these medications for type 2 diabetes but not for weight management. Protocol Health is a direct-care practice and accepts HSA and FSA cards for eligible services.