🧬 Wednesday Medication Mic Drop: Why some weight-loss meds work better than others (and it’s not willpower) Not all weight-loss medications are created equal—and it’s not because people “try harder” on one versus another. Here’s the simplified landscape 👇 📉 Lowest average weight loss (≈3–7%) Orlistat 🧪 Works in the gut by blocking fat absorption ⚠️ Doesn’t affect hunger hormones or metabolism 🧠 Calorie loss without brain signaling = limited results and no patterned behavior change 💩 The unwanted side effect! no words needed here 📉📉 Moderate weight loss (≈5–10%) Phentermine 🧪 Sympathomimetic appetite suppression ⚠️ Raises heart rate, BP, stress signaling 🧠 Appetite suppression without metabolic repair isn’t sustainable 📉📉📉 Moderate–High (≈8–12%) Naltrexone/Bupropion (Contrave) 🧪 Dopamine + reward pathway modulation ⚠️ Works best for emotional/reward-driven eating 🧠 Behavior pathways matter—but biology still runs the show 📉📉📉📉 High (≈10–15%) Liraglutide (daily GLP-1) 🧪 GLP-1 receptor activation → insulin sensitivity + satiety ⚠️ Shorter half-life = more GI side effects for some 🧠 Hormone signaling beats appetite suppression 📉📉📉📉📉 Very high (≈15–22%+) Semaglutide / Tirzepatide (weekly GLP-1 / GIP-GLP-1) 🧪 Multi-pathway metabolic signaling: - Insulin sensitivity - Inflammation reduction - Kidney sodium handling - Vagal tone improvement 🧠 Ah-ha: These meds change gut brain communication, changes the way food signals the reward system and the metabolic environment, not just food intake 🔬 Why higher-ranked meds work better The more effective medications: - Signal to the brain - Improve insulin dynamics - Reduce inflammatory load - Support nervous system regulation Weight loss happens because the body finally feels safe enough to release energy. Which is why severe calorie restriction alone eventually stops working. ⚠️ Important truth most people miss If dosing is rushed or nutrition is ignored, even the most effective meds cause:

📊 EMR Reality Check — Review This Before Class Starts One of the biggest time-wasters I see in new DPC / functional / IV clinics is choosing an EMR based on vibes, sales demos, or what another provider uses… instead of what your business model actually requires. So before we kick off the course, I’ve uploaded a master EMR comparison chart inside the course resources. This is not a recommendation list just a decision framework. What the chart compares (at a glance): - DPC membership support vs insurance/RCM This is so important for monthly billing - Patient portal, scheduling, telehealth, eRx - Labs & ordering (including functional labs) - Inventory tracking & IV workflows - Pre-built templates - AI features (what’s real vs marketing) 👀Review the chart and start noticing: - What kind of clinic you’re actually building - Where certain systems clearly do not support your revenue streams - Why many advanced clinics use a stack, not a single tool We’ll break this down together in class and I’ll show you: - Which EMRs fit which clinic models - Common mistakes that lock people into the wrong system for years - How to avoid rebuilding your tech stack 6–12 months in This review will save you money, time, and a lot of frustration later. 📌 The goal right now is familiarity, not decisions. Clarity comes fast once you see the whole picture. — Courtney