The authors received no financial support from pharmaceutical companies for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article
van den Akker, C
Physiology, Growth Factor
Tier 3: Obesity / Weight Loss Optional, Covered in 13 States as of January 2026 Weight loss drugs occupy a unique statutory category
The weight loss factor: If you lost a significant amount of weight (say, 50+ pounds), your body needs time to adjust to its new normal
Evidence-Based Non-Drug Options That Work With Medi-Cal limiting weight-loss GLP-1 coverage, lifestyle medicine becomes the foundation: Plant-forward nutrition to improve insulin sensitivity Resistance training to protect lean mass and metabolism Sleep & stress care to reduce cortisol and glucose variability These strategies are core to our metabolic services: Prediabetes Reversal (12 weeks) Sleep Apnea & Weight care (HSAT + CPAP when indicated) MASLD (fatty liver) care All are designed to improve A1C, BP, lipids, and weight without relying solely on medications