Medical Weight Loss in San Antonio & Boerne — Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Programs
Physician-supervised programs that go beyond willpower — built around your metabolism, your labs, and your goals.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jamie Lynn Jaqua, MD
Why Medical Weight Loss Works When Dieting Doesn't
If you've struggled to lose weight on your own, it's not a willpower problem. Obesity and metabolic dysfunction are clinical conditions influenced by hormones, insulin response, and genetics — not just calories in and calories out.
Being overweight long-term raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, joint deterioration, and sleep apnea. Losing even 10–15% of body weight significantly reduces those risks.
At Vitality, we treat the root cause — not just the condition.
How GLP-1 Medications Suppress Appetite and Burn Fat
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone your gut naturally releases after eating. It signals to your brain that you're full, slows the rate at which food leaves your stomach, stabilizes blood sugar, and — critically — reduces what researchers call "food noise," the constant preoccupation with food that makes conventional dieting so difficult.
Semaglutide (brand names Ozempic® for diabetes, Wegovy® for weight management) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist — it mimics this hormone with a longer half-life, allowing a single weekly injection to sustain these effects. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro® for diabetes, Zepbound® for weight management) targets both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, a dual mechanism that produced superior average weight loss in the SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial.
In the STEP 1 clinical trial, participants using semaglutide (2.4 mg weekly) lost an average of 14.9% of body weight over 68 weeks (Wilding et al., NEJM 2021). In the SURMOUNT-5 trial (2025), tirzepatide outperformed semaglutide head-to-head — 20.2% versus 13.7% average body weight reduction at 72 weeks. Individual results vary significantly based on diet, activity, adherence, and metabolic starting point.
At Vitality, Dr. Jaqua reviews your metabolic labs and health history before recommending semaglutide or tirzepatide — and adjusts your dosing protocol based on how you actually respond, not a preset schedule.
Who Qualifies for GLP-1 Weight Loss Therapy
GLP-1 medications are FDA-approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher with at least one weight-related health condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or obstructive sleep apnea.
Candidacy also depends on your medical history. GLP-1 therapy is contraindicated if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), or a history of pancreatitis. Pregnancy and certain gastrointestinal conditions may also be exclusions.
At Vitality, every patient completes a comprehensive metabolic lab panel before any prescription is written. Labs include fasting glucose, HbA1c, lipid panel, thyroid function, and a metabolic panel. This is how we confirm candidacy and establish your baseline — so adjustments are data-driven, not guesswork.
If hormonal testing reveals clinically low testosterone, Dr. Jaqua may recommend evaluating testosterone replacement therapy alongside your weight loss program — low testosterone contributes to fat gain and metabolic dysfunction in men.
Your Personalized Weight Loss Options
Your program begins with a free consultation where Dr. Jaqua reviews your symptoms, goals, and health history. Labs are drawn on-site with results the following day. Once your prescription is confirmed, you'll begin on a low starting dose and titrate upward over 4–8 weeks — this approach minimizes side effects like nausea while your body adapts.
Follow-up check-ins are built into every program. Dr. Jaqua monitors your response, adjusts your dose, and adds lipotropic injections or B12 support as appropriate. Patients in both San Antonio and Boerne are seen in-clinic at our Boerne location — easily accessible via I-10 and serving Stone Oak, Helotes, Fair Oaks Ranch, and the greater Hill Country.
Semaglutide & Tirzepatide
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are FDA-approved injectable medications taken once weekly. They work by mimicking GLP-1, a hormone naturally released when you eat — signaling fullness, slowing digestion, stabilizing blood sugar, and reducing cravings.
Average weekly weight loss
Body weight lost in clinical trials
Cardiovascular risk reduction
These medications are highly effective but must be used under physician supervision. At Vitality, every GLP-1 program includes monitoring, dose adjustments, and regular check-ins.
Pricing is reviewed during your free consultation — no hidden costs.
Lipotropic Injections & B12
Lipotropic injections combine key nutrients that help the body release and metabolize stored fat more efficiently. Because they're injected directly into muscle, absorption is near 100% — bypassing the digestive system entirely.
Methionine
Breaks down fat in the liver, lowers cholesterol, reduces fat buildup in the circulatory system, supports skin elasticity, hair, and nails.
Choline
Essential for fat metabolism and transport, supports liver function, cholesterol regulation, and nervous system health.
Vitamin B12
Boosts energy and metabolic rate, helps burn stored fat, supports red blood cell production, improves sleep and mood.
L-Carnitine
Transports fatty acids into cells to be burned for energy. Reduces fat mass, preserves muscle during exercise, near-complete absorption when injected.
Lipotropic injections are typically given once a week and are combined with B12 for maximum effect. Results require consistency — they work best as part of a comprehensive weight loss program.
Semaglutide vs. Tirzepatide: Which Is Right for You?
Both medications are physician-prescribed injectables taken once weekly. The right choice depends on your medical history, weight loss goals, and how your body responds to initial therapy. Dr. Jaqua will discuss the options at your consultation. For a detailed comparison including clinical trial data, see our semaglutide vs. tirzepatide comparison article.
| Factor | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | GLP-1 receptor agonist | Dual GLP-1 + GIP receptor agonist |
| Avg. weight loss (trial) | 14.9% over 68 weeks (STEP 1) | 20.2% over 72 weeks (SURMOUNT-5) |
| Injection frequency | Once weekly | Once weekly |
| FDA approval (weight) | Wegovy® (approved 2021) | Zepbound® (approved 2023) |
| Compounded available | Yes — via 503A physician prescription | Yes — via 503A physician prescription |
Weight Loss Questions & Answers
Common questions about our medical weight loss program.
GLP-1 & Weight Loss — In-Depth Resources
Physician-reviewed articles on semaglutide, tirzepatide, and medical weight loss.
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References
- Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. “Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.” N Engl J Med. 2021;384(11):989–1002. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
- Rubino D, Abrahamsson N, Davies M, et al. “Effect of Continued Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Placebo on Weight Loss Maintenance.” JAMA. 2021;325(14):1414–1425. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.3224
- Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, et al. “Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity.” N Engl J Med. 2022;387(3):205–216. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
- Aronne LJ, et al. “Tirzepatide vs. Semaglutide for Obesity — SURMOUNT-5 Trial.” N Engl J Med. 2025. (Head-to-head: tirzepatide 20.2% vs. semaglutide 13.7% average body weight reduction at 72 weeks.)
Your Weight Doesn't Define You — But Your Health Matters
Sustainable weight loss isn't just about willpower — it also requires addressing your underlying physiology with physician-guided care. Serving patients in San Antonio and Boerne, TX.
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