What is a medical weight loss program?
Medical weight loss is a plan that has been awarded by a doctor and it is a combination of a diet plan, exercise and in some cases, prescription of medications to be prescribed, which assists in helping you lose weight the safe and effective way.
How is it different from popular diets?
As opposed to a one-to-fit all and fad diets, our program is developed to meet your specific needs, medically, and scientifically, and would facilitate safety and long term success.
What's the ICD-10 code for weight loss medications?
ICD-10 Z79.84 is the code to use when taking weight control drugs long term.
Is this program covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by plan. Our staff will assist you in asking your benefits and clarifying any costs or co-payment required.
Do I need a referral?
Not always. Your insurance company determines referrals. You can use the phone and inquire of your policy and we will do the job.
How long does the program last?
Some patients start making irreversible progress in 3-6 months. We provide continuous coaching to make you resolve your long-term results.
Who qualifies for this program?
Adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above-or body mass index of 27 and above in addition to (high blood pressure or diabetes) circumstances are usually qualified.
Can I get weight loss surgery here?
GastroDoxs is not a surgical clinic but in case surgical treatment is needed, we will make the best bariatric surgeons in Houston available to help you.
How often will I follow up?
In general, the follow-up visit is arranged after every 4-6 weeks. We can meet more often in case you begin taking a new medication or require closer supervision.
Can I switch from a diet program to this one?
Yes. We will look at the past attempts you had made on the diet, re-evaluate the positives and negatives of those approaches and create a personal medical weight management program that will enable you to succeed.
Medically Reviewed by
Dr. Bharat Pothuri, MD, FACG
| Updated 03-17-2026