Jon Stojan
Photo credit: Czarina Enriquez
With the rise of weight loss programs that include Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Ozempic, and Mounjaro, some might be wondering how they can go about utilizing weight loss programs that include medications in their journeys. Czarina Enriquez of The A-List Clinic understands that people have questions, and she works to help them as best as she can.
A Focus on Preventative Care
Czarina Enriquez is quick to note that weight loss medications should be accessible to everyone. She knows that there shouldn’t be judgment or stigma on wanting to be healthy and prevent other comorbidities down the line. As a nurse practitioner who has been working in a number of settings for the past decade, she’s recognized the need for weight loss as a primary care service, especially to help those at high risk avoid the progression of diabetes and heart disease.
What Enriquez sees the most is misinformation regarding the way weight loss affects certain people.
“I always hear, ‘Can’t they just diet and exercise?’” she says, and adds that “I’m sure these people have, but there are so many other factors: stress, lack of sleep, other health conditions like PCOS or autoimmune disorders, genetics, and environmental factors.”
Enriquez says that obesity should be treated like a disease and that it is important for providers to be a part of any journey that involves weight loss medication, as there are side effects and dosing that must be monitored in specific ways. Patients, she is quick to add, should not be going through these medical journeys on their own.
Photo credit: Czarina Enriquez
Challenges to Starting The A-List Clinic
Finding a brick-and-mortar location in west Los Angeles wasn’t the only challenge that Enriquez faced when starting her clinic. Shortages of medication, as well as costs that are sometimes not covered by insurance, have been another. Through The A-List Clinic, Enriquez works with compounding pharmacies that use the same active ingredient in the brand name drugs but in much more affordable and available ways.
To help more people learn about these personalized and affordable weight loss options, Czarina Enriquez has partnered with the media agency Just Get Known. This collaboration will broaden The A-List Clinic’s reach, making it easier for individuals to access the information and care they need to start their weight loss journey.
Combating misinformation is another obstacle that Enriquez is dedicating to. She not only co-hosts The Weigh-In Podcast, where she tackles the issues and questions around weight loss and wellness, but she also writes blog posts and newsletters to inform people about the way weight loss is being treated, managed, and how patients see results from weight loss programs. According to Enriquez, some of her posts have gathered over 100,000 views, which she says has been both rewarding and humbling.
Enriquez adds that she has had many clients who have struggled with weight loss for years, during which they tried all the fad diets and exercises only to gain the weight back. However, she is clear in saying that, after being part of her weight loss program, her clients have been able to fit into their clothes from several years ago, and their overall health outcomes have been greatly improved as a result of their journeys.
Photo credit: Czarina Enriquez
Final Thoughts on Medication-Assisted Weight Loss
Enriquez understands that medications such as Semaglutide and other weight loss medications have been in the news a lot recently. However, she wants to assure patients that they have been tested and used safely for years, which is more common than people assume.
“They can help a lot of people,” she says but cautions that each weight loss should be personalized to each individual, as there are a variety of factors–such as stress, sleep, hormones, and the environment–that play a role in weight as well.
Those who are interested in pursuing weight loss treatment at The A-List Clinic can do so by booking a session online. The clinic is located at 12333 12 West Washington BLVD in Los Angeles, California.