UC San Diego Health Weight Management

UC San Diego Health Weight Management in San Diego, California, provides medically supervised weight loss programs led by Deepa Sannidhi, MD, a board-certified physician specializing in obesity and lifestyle medicine. The clinic integrates evidence-based pharmacotherapy with comprehensive lifestyle interventions designed for patients who have struggled with traditional diet and exercise approaches alone. Dr. Sannidhi's training in obesity medicine informs a clinical model that addresses the metabolic, hormonal, and behavioral factors contributing to weight gain and difficulty with sustained weight loss.

The program offers FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist medications including liraglutide and semaglutide, both of which work by mimicking incretin hormones that regulate appetite and glucose metabolism. Liraglutide is administered as a daily subcutaneous injection and has demonstrated efficacy in reducing body weight by approximately 5-10% when combined with lifestyle modification. Semaglutide, available as a weekly injection, has shown greater weight reduction outcomes in clinical trials, with patients losing an average of 12-15% of baseline body weight over 68 weeks. These medications are prescribed following comprehensive metabolic assessment and are monitored throughout treatment to optimize dosing and manage potential side effects such as nausea or gastrointestinal discomfort.

Dr. Sannidhi's approach emphasizes lifestyle medicine principles alongside pharmacologic intervention, addressing nutrition quality, physical activity patterns, sleep hygiene, and stress management as foundational components of sustainable weight management. Patients undergo initial evaluation that includes body composition analysis, metabolic panel review, assessment of comorbid conditions such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension, and discussion of weight loss history. Treatment plans are individualized based on medical history, current medications, weight loss goals, and patient preferences regarding medication versus non-pharmacologic approaches.

In-person consultations at the San Diego location allow for hands-on instruction in medication administration, real-time assessment of treatment response, and adjustment of therapeutic strategies based on patient progress. Follow-up visits typically occur monthly during the initial treatment phase to monitor weight trends, review adherence to lifestyle modifications, assess medication tolerance, and provide ongoing education about nutrition and behavior change strategies. The clinic coordinates care with patients' primary care providers and endocrinologists when managing complex cases involving metabolic syndrome or diabetes requiring insulin adjustment.

UC San Diego Health Weight Management serves patients throughout San Diego County who are seeking medical intervention for obesity, defined as BMI of 30 or greater, or BMI of 27 or greater with weight-related comorbidities. The program is appropriate for adults who have not achieved adequate weight loss through lifestyle changes alone and who are candidates for pharmacotherapy based on medical screening. Patients benefit from the resources of an academic medical center, including access to registered dietitians, behavioral health specialists, and surgical weight loss consultations for those who may require bariatric surgery evaluation.