What We Treat › Medical Weight Loss
Physician-Directed Care · Scottsdale AZ

Losing Weight Shouldn't
Be This Hard.

If you've tried everything and still can't lose weight, the problem isn't willpower — it's biology. Metabolic dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, and insulin resistance create a physiological barrier that diet and exercise alone can't overcome. Physician-directed medical weight loss addresses the actual root causes.

Book a Consultation Today Find My Treatment
15–20%Average body weight reduction with physician-directed GLP-1 programs
9 yrsPhysician-directed care in Scottsdale
RxPhysician-prescribed — medically supervised
Does this describe your situation?
  • Eating well and exercising but not losing weight
  • Weight concentrated around the abdomen
  • Constant cravings that undermine every effort
  • Previous diets worked but weight always returns
  • Metabolic labs out of range (blood sugar, triglycerides)
  • Low energy making exercise feel impossible
  • Weight gain accelerating with age
Insulin Resistance Hormonal Imbalance Metabolic Dysfunction GLP-1 Deficiency
Recognizing the Pattern

When Weight Loss Stops Working

There's a difference between weight that responds to lifestyle changes and weight that doesn't — no matter how hard you try. These patterns point to metabolic dysfunction that requires medical intervention.

🍩
Uncontrollable cravingsIntense, persistent cravings — especially for carbohydrates and sugar — that override every intention to eat well. This is GLP-1 deficiency and insulin dysregulation, not lack of discipline.
📊
Plateaued weight lossConsistent effort with no response — the scale doesn't move for weeks or months despite real dietary restriction and exercise. Your metabolism has adapted, or insulin resistance is blocking fat mobilization.
🫃
Central adiposityWeight concentrated around the abdomen — visceral fat — is the most metabolically dangerous pattern and the most resistant to diet alone. It signals high cortisol, insulin resistance, and hormonal disruption.
🔄
Yo-yo weight cyclingDiets work temporarily, but weight returns — often more than before. This pattern reflects metabolic adaptation and hormonal signaling that favors fat regain after caloric restriction.
😴
Fatigue that prevents exerciseLow energy, poor sleep, and physical exhaustion that make the recommended exercise feel genuinely impossible — not just unpleasant. Low testosterone, thyroid issues, or metabolic dysfunction can all cause this.
📈
Worsening metabolic labsRising fasting blood sugar, elevated triglycerides, declining HDL, or expanding waist circumference — the measurable signs of metabolic syndrome progressing without intervention.
🧠
Food noiseThe constant mental preoccupation with food — thinking about eating, planning meals, feeling driven to eat even when full. GLP-1 receptor agonists dramatically reduce "food noise" for most patients.
💪
Muscle loss with fat retentionLosing muscle mass while fat persists — especially with age. This accelerates metabolic slowdown and is driven by low testosterone, inadequate protein, and hormonal decline.
The Physiology

Why Your Body Won't Let Go of Weight

Weight resistance isn't a character flaw. It's a biochemical state — and specific, identifiable causes keep most patients stuck despite genuine effort.

01
GLP-1 Deficiency & Impaired Satiety Signaling
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is the gut hormone that signals fullness to your brain, slows gastric emptying, suppresses appetite between meals, and reduces the "reward signal" from eating. In people with obesity, GLP-1 secretion is often blunted — meaning the brain never receives adequate fullness signals. GLP-1 receptor agonists restore this signaling pharmacologically, dramatically reducing appetite and food preoccupation without requiring willpower to override a broken system.
02
Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance means your cells don't respond efficiently to insulin signals — so your pancreas produces more and more insulin to achieve the same blood sugar control. High circulating insulin directly blocks fat mobilization (lipolysis) and promotes fat storage, particularly in the abdomen. You cannot effectively burn fat in a high-insulin state regardless of caloric deficit. Addressing insulin resistance is fundamental to weight loss that actually works.
03
Hormonal Imbalance
Low testosterone in men directly causes fat accumulation (especially visceral), muscle loss, and metabolic slowdown. Low thyroid function slows metabolic rate across every organ system. Elevated cortisol from chronic stress drives central adiposity and triggers cravings for high-calorie foods. These hormonal factors operate independently of diet quality — you can eat perfectly and exercise consistently while hormonal imbalances prevent meaningful fat loss.
04
Metabolic Adaptation
Caloric restriction triggers adaptive thermogenesis — your body reduces metabolic rate, increases hunger hormones (ghrelin), and decreases satiety hormones (leptin) to defend against weight loss. This adaptation is more severe after repeated diet attempts and can persist for years after a diet ends. GLP-1 programs avoid triggering this adaptation by maintaining satiety without aggressive caloric restriction.
05
Nutrient Deficiencies Slowing Metabolism
B12 and B-vitamin deficiencies slow every energy pathway in the body, reducing metabolic rate and making the fatigue that prevents exercise worse. Magnesium deficiency impairs insulin sensitivity. Iron deficiency reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity that fuels fat-burning exercise. Many patients on GLP-1 programs develop nutrient deficiencies from reduced food intake — metabolic IV support prevents this and keeps energy up during weight loss.
06
Gut Microbiome & Inflammatory Burden
Chronic low-grade inflammation — driven by visceral fat, processed food, and gut dysbiosis — creates a pro-weight-gain metabolic environment. Inflammatory cytokines impair insulin signaling, disrupt leptin sensitivity, and promote fat storage. Reducing inflammatory burden is a supporting component of comprehensive weight management, particularly in patients with metabolic syndrome.
The Science

Why Medical Programs Outperform Diets

The clinical evidence for physician-directed GLP-1 programs is among the strongest in the history of obesity medicine. Major clinical trials demonstrate 15–22% mean body weight reduction over 68 weeks — results that have never been achieved by any dietary intervention in a clinical trial setting. These are not marginal improvements; they are transformative outcomes for patients who have often tried every other approach.

The mechanism is not simply appetite suppression. GLP-1 receptor agonists work at multiple levels simultaneously: reducing food intake, slowing gastric emptying, improving insulin sensitivity, reducing cardiovascular inflammatory markers, and — critically — eliminating the relentless mental preoccupation with food that makes dietary discipline so exhausting. Patients consistently describe it as "the noise stops."

At Viva, physician-directed weight loss means a real medical consultation with Dr. Cordova, appropriate bloodwork to identify and address contributing factors (hormones, metabolic markers, nutrient status), and ongoing monitoring. We also offer metabolic IV support to maintain energy and nutrition during active weight loss — preventing the fatigue and deficiency that cause so many patients to abandon programs before they complete them.

Weight loss without physician oversight is guesswork. With it, you have a structured protocol, measurable targets, and a licensed physician adjusting your treatment as your body responds.

By the Numbers

15–22%
Mean body weight reduction in major GLP-1 clinical trials — results no diet intervention has matched
42%
Of US adults have obesity — with over two-thirds experiencing insulin resistance as a contributing factor
~70%
Of patients who lose weight regain it without ongoing medical support — physician oversight changes this outcome
Rx
GLP-1 medications require a physician prescription — Viva provides the full medical consultation and management
Your Treatment Options

What We Use for Real, Lasting Weight Loss

All programs are physician-directed by Dr. Cordova. Pricing discussed at consultation.

Most Effective — Medical Program
GLP-1 Medical Weight Loss Program
Consultation Required

Physician-prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonist program — the most evidence-backed medical weight loss intervention available. Includes initial consultation, appropriate bloodwork, physician prescription, and ongoing monitoring. No drug names listed — Dr. Cordova will recommend the specific medication appropriate for your profile at consultation.

  • Physician consultation & bloodwork
  • Prescription medication — properly dosed & titrated
  • Ongoing physician monitoring & adjustment
  • 15–22% average body weight reduction in clinical trials
View Weight Loss Program →
Supporting Protocol
Metabolic IV Support
From $150

IV nutritional support designed specifically for patients on weight loss programs — replacing B vitamins, amino acids, and electrolytes that reduced food intake can deplete. Prevents the fatigue and deficiency that cause program dropout and supports metabolic rate during caloric restriction.

  • B12 & B-Complex for metabolic energy
  • Amino acids for muscle preservation
  • Electrolytes for cellular function
  • Combats weight-loss fatigue and brain fog
View IV Menu →
Hormone Optimization
TRT Program (Men)
From $199/mo

For men whose weight resistance is driven by low testosterone — the most commonly missed metabolic factor in male weight gain. Physician-directed TRT restores hormonal balance that enables fat metabolism and muscle preservation simultaneously.

  • Full hormone panel bloodwork included
  • Addresses hormonal root cause of male weight gain
  • Wellness ($199) · Optimize ($349) · Elite ($599)
  • Synergistic with GLP-1 programs
Learn About TRT →
Metabolic Boost
B12 & Lipo Injections
From $25

B12 and lipotropic injections support fat metabolism, energy production, and liver function during weight loss. A popular add-on for patients on weight loss programs who want metabolic support between IV sessions.

  • B12 ($25) for energy & metabolism
  • Lipotropic MIC injection for fat metabolism support
  • 5-minute visit — no IV needed
  • Weekly maintenance protocol
View Injections →
Comprehensive Analysis
Optimization & Longevity Program
Custom

For patients who want a complete metabolic workup before starting any weight loss program. Comprehensive bloodwork including hormones, thyroid, metabolic markers, inflammatory indicators, and nutrient status — with physician-designed protocol based on your results.

  • Full metabolic & hormonal bloodwork panel
  • Thyroid, insulin resistance, inflammation markers
  • Physician-designed comprehensive protocol
  • Identifies every contributing factor
View Optimization →
Cellular Energy
NAD+ IV Therapy
From $200

NAD+ supports the mitochondrial function behind metabolic efficiency. For patients experiencing metabolic slowdown or cellular energy deficits — common with obesity and age — NAD+ IV sessions restore cellular energy production capacity that directly supports weight loss efforts.

  • Supports mitochondrial metabolic function
  • Reduces cellular energy deficit driving fatigue
  • 250mg ($200) to 1000mg ($700)
  • Complements GLP-1 programs
View NAD+ →
Your Experience

Starting Your Weight Loss Program

Step 1
Physician Consultation
Your program begins with a real medical consultation — not a questionnaire. Dr. Cordova reviews your medical history, previous weight loss attempts, current medications, and goals. This conversation determines which program and medications are appropriate for you.
Step 2
Bloodwork & Baseline
We coordinate appropriate lab work — metabolic panel, hormones, thyroid, inflammatory markers — to identify contributing factors and establish a baseline for tracking progress. This is what separates physician-directed care from commercial programs.
Step 3
Program Initiation
Your medication is prescribed and titrated appropriately — GLP-1 programs start at a low dose and increase gradually to minimize side effects and allow adaptation. Metabolic IV support sessions begin alongside medication to maintain energy and nutrition.
Step 4
Ongoing Monitoring & Adjustment
Monthly check-ins with Dr. Cordova track progress, adjust dosing, address side effects, and review labs as needed. Weight loss is treated as a medical program — not a subscription service with no physician oversight. Most patients see meaningful results within 4–8 weeks and continue losing for 6–12 months.
Dr. Jerome Cordova MD
Medical Director & Founder
Dr. Jerome Cordova, MD
Critical Care Physician · Biomedical Engineer · Founded Viva IV Therapy 2017 · Old Town Scottsdale

"I've watched patients struggle with weight for years — doing everything right by conventional advice and getting nowhere. In most of those cases, there's a specific physiological barrier: insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, a broken satiety signaling system. When we identify and address that barrier medically, the weight loss that was impossible before becomes achievable. That's not a magic pill — that's treating the actual disease."

Common Questions

Medical Weight Loss FAQ

GLP-1 programs are appropriate for patients with a BMI of 27+ with at least one weight-related health condition, or BMI of 30+ regardless of other conditions. They are also appropriate for patients with significant metabolic dysfunction or insulin resistance regardless of BMI, at physician discretion. A consultation with Dr. Cordova determines candidacy — there are contraindications we screen for, and the medication and dose are individualized.
Clinical trial data shows mean reductions of 15–22% of body weight with physician-directed GLP-1 programs over 12–18 months. Individual results vary based on starting weight, adherence, metabolic status, and whether contributing factors like hormonal imbalance are also addressed. At a physician-supervised program, you'll have realistic, data-based expectations set at your consultation.
This is the most important question in weight loss medicine. GLP-1 medications work while you take them. Without a plan for the period after discontinuation — which should include metabolic optimization, hormonal balance, and behavioral changes established during the program — weight regain is common. We design programs with a long-term maintenance strategy, not just an acute weight loss phase.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal — nausea, constipation, and reduced appetite (which is actually the intended effect). These are most pronounced at program initiation and typically diminish over the first 4–8 weeks with proper dose titration. Our physician-supervised titration protocol minimizes side effect burden significantly compared to programs that start at full dose immediately. Serious side effects are rare but discussed at your consultation.
Exercise is strongly recommended for preserving muscle mass during weight loss and improving long-term metabolic outcomes. GLP-1 medications reduce appetite and fat mass — but muscle preservation requires resistance training alongside adequate protein intake. Many patients find that their energy for exercise significantly improves as they lose weight on the program. Metabolic IV support helps maintain the energy needed to stay active.
Related Conditions

Also Explore

Low Testosterone / TRT Energy & Fatigue Anti-Aging & Longevity Women's Hormone Health All Conditions →

Ready to Finally Lose the Weight?

Book a consultation with Dr. Cordova — same-day appointments often available.

Book Consultation View Weight Loss Program
(480) 508-8482

Open Daily · 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM · 7320 E. 6th Ave, Old Town Scottsdale