In a culture eager for quick fixes, weight loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have surged in popularity. Originally developed to help manage type 2 diabetes, these GLP-1 receptor agonists are now widely prescribed off-label for weight loss.

But while these drugs may lead to short-term results, they don’t address the deeper metabolic imbalances that contribute to weight gain. In fact, they often suppress metabolic function rather than repair it.

At Vizuri Health Center in Williston, Vermont, we take a different approach. We help patients achieve lasting weight loss and vibrant health by focusing on natural metabolic repair — starting with the gut.

What GLP-1 Medications Do — and Don’t Do GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking a gut hormone that regulates appetite and insulin secretion. While this can reduce hunger and promote weight loss, it comes with risks and limitations:

Muscle Loss
As much as 40% of the weight lost with these drugs may come from muscle, not fat. Losing muscle slows metabolism and increases long-term health risks (Wharton et al., 2023).

Gut Disruption
These medications can alter gut motility and hormone signaling, potentially affecting stomach acid production and microbiome balance — both essential for digestive and metabolic health.

Rebound Weight Gain
Many people regain the weight once they stop the medication. Why? Because the root causes — like insulin resistance, inflammation, and gut dysfunction — haven’t been addressed.

What Functional Medicine Does Instead: Heal the Gut to Restore the Metabolism At Vizuri, we see metabolic dysfunction not as a calorie problem — but as a systems problem.

Weight gain, fatigue, cravings, and blood sugar swings are often symptoms of deeper issues rooted in the gut, hormones, mitochondria, and immune system. That’s why we begin with gut repair as the foundation for sustainable weight loss.

Our Solution: The Trust Your Gut™ Health Program This doctor-designed, three-phase program is designed to reverse insulin resistance, support mitochondrial function, and naturally restore your metabolism by healing the gut first.

Phase 1: Seal and Heal
We calm inflammation and restore the gut barrier using:

• L-glutamine and zinc carnosine
• Anti-inflammatory nutrients
• Gut-friendly foods and personalized supplementation

Phase 2: Clear
Next, we remove harmful bacteria, toxins, and fungal overgrowth while supporting detox and stress hormone balance. This phase supports cortisol and insulin regulation — key players in metabolic health.

Phase 3: Rebuild
With a clear and healed gut, we nourish and strengthen with:

• Targeted probiotics and prebiotics
• Stomach acid and enzyme support
• Mitochondrial nutrients (CoQ10, B vitamins, magnesium)
• Immune-balancing strategies to support long-term wellness

Each step is tailored to your biochemistry, guided by advanced testing and one-on-one support.

Why This Approach Works Most weight loss plans fail because they only treat symptoms. Our functional medicine model identifies and treats the root causes of metabolic imbalance — allowing your body to heal naturally and sustainably.

Benefits of healing metabolism through functional medicine:

• Reverse insulin resistance without drugs
• Restore gut health and digestion
• Preserve lean muscle and strength
• Balance hormones, sleep, and energy
• Achieve lasting weight loss without the rebound

Is This Program Right for You? Our Trust Your Gut™ program may be right if you:

• Are using or considering Ozempic or other GLP-1 medications
• Feel stuck in a cycle of yo-yo dieting or unexplained weight gain
• Struggle with blood sugar issues, PCOS, or thyroid imbalances
• Experience bloating, reflux, or sluggish digestion
• Feel fatigued, foggy, or burned out — despite a “clean” diet

You Don’t Have to Rely on Medication You can take control of your health — naturally. At Vizuri Health Center, we offer doctor-designed protocols to help you heal your metabolism, support gut health, and feel like yourself again.

Located in Williston, Vermont. Proudly serving Burlington and the surrounding area.
Call (802) 878-8330 or request your appointment online to get started.

Sources

• Wharton S, et al. “Considerations for Lean Mass Loss with GLP-1 Therapy.” Obesity. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23704
• Ma X, et al. “Excessive intake of sugar: An accomplice of inflammation.” Front Immunol. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.988481
• Turnbaugh PJ, et al. “An obesity-associated gut microbiome with increased capacity for energy harvest.” Nature. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05414