- Your first visit is a thorough 45–60 minute clinical evaluation, not a quick prescription
- PEAK verifies your insurance coverage before your appointment so there are no surprises
- You may receive your first injection at the first visit if clinically appropriate
- You leave with your treatment plan including medication schedule, nutrition goals, and follow-up appointment
Walking into a weight loss clinic for the first time can feel intimidating. You might be wondering what to expect, whether the clinician will judge your history, or if you will leave with more questions than answers. At PEAK, we have designed the first appointment to be the opposite of all that — thorough, transparent, and genuinely supportive.
This guide walks you through every step of your first visit so you know exactly what is going to happen before you arrive. No surprises. No pressure. Just a clear process that puts you in control.
Before your visit
Insurance verification
One of the things that sets PEAK apart is that we verify your insurance coverage before your appointment — not after. When you schedule your visit, our team contacts your insurance provider to confirm your benefits for GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound. This means you will know your coverage status before you walk in the door.
Insurance coverage for weight loss medications can be complex. Some plans cover Wegovy but not Zepbound. Some require prior authorization. Some have specific BMI or comorbidity requirements. We navigate all of this for you ahead of time so your first visit can focus on your health, not paperwork.
Ready to get started? Complete our online intake forms to begin the scheduling and insurance verification process.
Whether your plan covers GLP-1 medications (Wegovy, Zepbound, or both)
Whether prior authorization is required and what documentation is needed
Your copay or out-of-pocket cost estimate
Any plan-specific requirements (BMI thresholds, comorbidity documentation)
What to bring
To make your first appointment as productive as possible, bring the following:
- Photo ID. A valid driver’s license or government-issued ID.
- Insurance card. Both front and back, or a digital copy in your insurance app.
- Current medication list. Include dosages and prescribing doctors. If you take supplements, include those too.
- Recent lab results (if available). If you have had bloodwork done in the past 6 months, bring copies. This is not required — we can order labs — but it can save time.
If you do not have recent labs, that is perfectly fine. We will order what we need during your visit or schedule them shortly after.
Arriving at PEAK
Our clinic is located in Chesapeake, Virginia, with easy access from all parts of Hampton Roads. When you arrive, you will find convenient parking directly adjacent to our building. No parking garages, no long walks — just a straightforward arrival.
Once inside, our front desk team will greet you and walk you through a brief check-in process. If you completed your intake forms online ahead of time, check-in takes just a few minutes. If not, plan to arrive about 15 minutes early to complete your health history and consent forms in the office.
When you schedule your appointment, we send a link to complete your intake forms online. Doing this ahead of time means less time in the waiting room and more time with your clinician.
Your clinical evaluation
Your first appointment is a 45 to 60 minute clinical evaluation. This is not a quick in-and-out prescription visit. It is a thorough evaluation designed to build a complete picture of your health, your history, and your goals.
Here is what your clinician will cover:
- Thorough medical history review. We look at your complete health picture — not just your weight. Thyroid conditions, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular health, sleep apnea, PCOS, and other conditions all factor into your treatment plan.
- Weight history. We want to understand your relationship with weight over time. Previous diets, weight loss attempts, what worked, and what did not. This is not about judgment — it is about context.
- Current medications. Your clinician will review everything you take, including prescriptions, OTC medications, and supplements, to check for interactions and identify medications that may be contributing to weight gain.
- Blood pressure and vitals. Standard baseline measurements that inform your treatment plan.
- Lab work. If you brought recent labs, your clinician will review them. If not, we will order a full panel that typically includes metabolic markers, thyroid function, lipids, and HbA1c.
- Goal discussion. What does success look like for you? We want to understand not just a number on the scale, but what you want to feel like, what health outcomes matter to you, and what timeline feels realistic.
We spend 45 to 60 minutes because your health deserves more than a 10-minute visit. The first appointment sets the foundation for everything that follows.
Medication discussion
After your clinical evaluation, your clinician will discuss medication options with you. At PEAK, we primarily work with two FDA-approved injectable weight loss medications: Wegovy (semaglutide), a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and Zepbound (tirzepatide), a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. Both are highly effective, but they work differently, and the right choice depends on your individual medical profile.
Your clinician will explain:
- How each medication works. Wegovy targets GLP-1 receptors, while Zepbound targets both GLP-1 and GIP receptors. Your clinician will explain what this means in practical terms for appetite, blood sugar regulation, and weight loss.
- Which medication fits your profile. Factors include your insurance coverage, medical history, diabetes status, cardiovascular health, and personal preferences.
- The titration schedule. Both medications start at a low dose and increase gradually over weeks. Your clinician will walk you through the exact timeline so you know what to expect at each step.
- Realistic results. In clinical trials, patients taking Wegovy lost an average of approximately 15% of body weight over 68 weeks, while patients taking Zepbound lost an average of approximately 22.5% over 72 weeks. Individual results vary, and your clinician will frame expectations based on your starting point and health profile.
- Potential side effects. Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and injection site reactions are the most common. Serious but rare risks include pancreatitis and gallbladder problems. Your clinician will explain how common they are, when they typically occur, and how we manage them proactively.
If you start medication
Depending on your insurance authorization and clinical readiness, some patients receive their first injection at the first visit. This is not guaranteed — it depends on several factors including lab results, prior authorization approval, and your clinician’s assessment. But when everything aligns, we do not make you wait.
If you do start medication at your first visit, here is what happens:
- Injection training. Your clinician or nurse will walk you through the injection process step by step. GLP-1 medications use a prefilled pen that is designed to be simple. We will show you where to inject (typically the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm), how to use the pen, and how to store your medication properly.
- Your first injection. Many patients prefer to have their clinician administer the first injection so they can observe the technique before doing it at home. This is completely optional — some patients prefer to do it themselves right away.
- Side effect management preview. Before you leave, your clinician will walk you through what to expect in the first week. Common early experiences include mild nausea, reduced appetite, and possible fatigue. You will know exactly what is normal, what is not, and when to call us.
If you start medication at your first visit, our team checks in with you during the first week. We do not send you home and wait until your next appointment to hear from you. Proactive monitoring is built into every stage of your treatment.
Meeting the dietitian
Weight loss medication works best when it is paired with nutrition support. At your first visit, you will be introduced to our registered dietitian who is an integral part of your PEAK care team.
This initial assessment covers:
- Your current eating patterns. No judgment. No food shaming. Just a clear picture of where you are starting from so we can build a plan that fits your life.
- Protein goals. Adequate protein intake is essential during GLP-1 treatment to preserve lean muscle mass as you lose weight. Your dietitian will set a personalized daily protein target based on your body composition and activity level.
- Hydration targets. GLP-1 medications can increase the risk of dehydration, especially during the early weeks. You will leave with a clear hydration plan, typically 64–80 ounces of fluids per day.
- Practical meal strategies. Your dietitian will provide actionable guidance on meal timing, portion sizes, and food choices that work well with GLP-1 medications — including how to manage reduced appetite without losing essential nutrition.
This is not a one-time conversation. Dietitian visits are required monthly for the first three months of treatment, and nutrition support continues throughout your program with regular check-ins as your needs change.
Your treatment plan
You will not leave your first appointment wondering what comes next. Every patient walks out with a clear, written treatment plan that includes:
- Medication schedule. Your starting dose, titration timeline, and when each dose increase will happen.
- Follow-up appointment. Typically scheduled 4 weeks after your first visit to assess your response, review any side effects, and prepare for your first dose increase.
- Nutrition goals. Protein targets, hydration goals, and meal strategies tailored to your starting point.
- What to expect in the first few weeks. A realistic preview of how your appetite, energy, and body will respond to the medication, including what is normal and what warrants a call to our team.
- Contact information. Direct lines to reach your care team between appointments. At PEAK, you are never guessing whether something is worth calling about — you are encouraged to reach out.
You leave your first appointment with a plan, not just a prescription. That is the difference between treatment and true clinical care.
Common questions patients ask
How long does the first appointment take?
Plan for 45 to 60 minutes with your clinician, plus time for check-in and your dietitian introduction. Most patients are at the clinic for about 75 to 90 minutes total for their first visit. This thoroughness is intentional — your first appointment builds the foundation for your entire treatment.
Will I definitely get medication at the first visit?
Not always. It depends on your insurance authorization status, lab results, and your clinician’s assessment. Some patients start medication the same day. Others may need to wait for prior authorization approval or lab results. Either way, you will know exactly what the timeline is before you leave.
What if I have tried other weight loss programs before and they did not work?
Most of our patients have. Prior attempts are not failures — they are data points. GLP-1 medications work through a fundamentally different mechanism than diet and exercise alone. Your clinician will explain how this approach is different and why prior experience does not predict your outcome with medical weight management.
Can I bring someone with me?
Absolutely. Many patients bring a partner, family member, or friend to their first appointment. Having support can be helpful, especially for remembering details about your treatment plan.
What if I am nervous?
That is completely normal. Nearly every new patient tells us they were nervous before their first visit. Our team understands this, and we have designed the entire experience to be welcoming, judgment-free, and transparent. You will feel at ease within the first few minutes.
We are happy to answer anything before your visit. Call our office or reach out through our website. There is no such thing as a question too small when it comes to your health.
Important safety information: Wegovy and Zepbound carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors (medullary thyroid carcinoma) based on animal studies. They are contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Tirzepatide and semaglutide have also been associated with pancreatitis and gallbladder-related events. Discuss your full medical history with your clinician before starting treatment.
