Medical Weight Loss · Zepbound · Mounjaro · Wegovy · Ozempic

Weight loss, the way an endocrinologist practices it.

Weight is governed by hormones and metabolism — the exact science of endocrinology. Dr. Farhad Hasan, MD, MPH pairs FDA-approved GLP-1 medications with individualized lifestyle care to deliver results approaching bariatric surgery — without powders, shakes, or gimmicks. In person in Wexford, and by telehealth across Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Book an Appointment → Call (412) 485-0311

Farhad Hasan, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Harvard MPH · Fulbright Scholar In-Person in Wexford · Telehealth Across PA + OH

Why most weight loss programs fail

Your body defends its weight. Diet and exercise matter — but the body resists weight loss through hormonal, neural, and gut mechanisms. Those systems carried our ancestors through famine; today they quietly undo diets, especially with age or after years of carrying extra weight.

Biology needs a biological answer. This is why willpower-based programs relapse — and why medications acting on those same hormonal pathways have transformed the field. Dr. Hasan treats the physiology underneath: appetite regulation, insulin resistance, thyroid and other hormonal contributors, and metabolism itself.

Measuring tape around the waist — central weight gain and metabolic syndrome evaluated by endocrinologist Dr. Farhad Hasan near Pittsburgh — Central weight gain is a hormonal and metabolic signal — and it is treatable.

The medications, chosen by a specialist

Four FDA-approved GLP-1 injectables lead the field — Zepbound and Mounjaro (tirzepatide), and Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide) — alongside oral options when injections aren't the right fit. In clinical trials, patients on tirzepatide lost up to about 60% of their excess weight within a year — approaching bariatric-surgery results without the operating room. The right medication depends on your history, coexisting conditions, coverage, and goals; matching it to your physiology is precisely an endocrinologist's work.

GLP-1 micro-dosing. For some patients, lower individualized doses are the smarter strategy — for tolerability, for maintenance after weight loss, or when standard titration isn't appropriate. Micro-dosing here is physician-supervised and adjusted to your response and labs — never a one-size protocol.

FDA-approved only. Dr. Hasan does not prescribe compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, where dose and purity aren't assured. If cost is the barrier, there are better paths — he helps you navigate coverage and manufacturer savings programs, which can bring costs down substantially, sometimes to zero.

Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound injection pens — GLP-1 medications prescribed by Dr. Farhad Hasan near Pittsburgh, PA — Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic — FDA-approved therapy, matched to your physiology.

How weight loss care works here

Initial consultation

A full 60-minute evaluation with Dr. Hasan — your health, history, prior attempts, and goals — in person or by video. Bloodwork assessing your hormones and metabolism is ordered at this visit.
Membership-based care

Ongoing weight loss care is provided through membership: monthly check-ins with Dr. Hasan for dose titration, side-effect management, and plan adjustments — the cadence this treatment actually requires.
Progress you can measure

Periodic InBody body-composition analysis confirms the weight you're losing is predominantly fat, with lean mass preserved. Discounted sessions with our registered dietitian are available as an optional service.

Membership details and rates are on the pricing page. Bloodwork and most medications are billed to your insurance as usual, and an itemized superbill is provided on request.

InBody body-composition analyzer tracking fat loss and muscle retention at Chia Endocrinology & Wellness in Wexford, PA — InBody analysis — because losing weight and losing health are not the same thing.

How the care compares

GLP-1 prescriptions are everywhere now — med-spas, online platforms, weight-loss franchises. Here's what changes when an endocrinologist leads the care.

	Chia Endocrinology & Wellness	Med-spas & online GLP-1 platforms
Who evaluates you	A board-certified endocrinologist, every visit	A questionnaire or rotating prescriber
Before prescribing	Thyroid, hormonal, and metabolic causes evaluated	Weight and a credit card
What's prescribed	FDA-approved medications only	Often compounded, unverified versions
Monitoring	Monthly check-ins, labs, InBody scans	Auto-refills
Muscle preservation	Measured and protected deliberately	Rarely measured
If problems arise	Your physician manages them directly	"Contact support"

Questions before you begin?

Start with a complimentary 15-minute call with Dr. Hasan, or book your full evaluation directly.

Book an Appointment → Free 15-Minute Call

The physician

Farhad Hasan, MD, MPH — board certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism and in Internal Medicine, with a Harvard MPH earned as a Fulbright Scholar and fellowship training at the University of Virginia. Weight, hormones, and metabolism are one system, and he treats them as one. Care is in person in Wexford or by telehealth across Pennsylvania and Ohio. Verify board certification.

Annie Rauch, MS, RD

Registered Dietitian

Annie holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Ball State University. She translates evidence-based nutrition science into practical, sustainable guidance — meeting patients where they are, building healthier relationships with food, and supporting chronic conditions through medical nutrition therapy. Sessions with Annie are optional and discounted for members.

Common questions about medical weight loss

Why should an endocrinologist manage weight loss?

Because weight is not a willpower problem — it is hormonal and metabolic, which is precisely the science of endocrinology. Dr. Hasan first evaluates for contributing conditions such as thyroid disease and insulin resistance, then matches medication to your physiology and monitors safety, body composition, and long-term results.

Which weight loss medication is right for me?

It depends on your health history, coexisting conditions, insurance coverage, and goals. Dr. Hasan prescribes FDA-approved options — Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic, and oral medications — and selects the fit after a complete evaluation, not by protocol.

Will I lose muscle along with fat?

Some lean-mass loss can accompany any significant weight loss — and preventing it is a priority of specialist care. Dr. Hasan tracks your body composition with periodic InBody analysis, adjusts dosing to your response, and pairs medication with protein and resistance-exercise guidance, with registered-dietitian support available — so the weight you lose is predominantly fat.

What is GLP-1 micro-dosing?

Lower, individualized GLP-1 doses — used for tolerability, for maintenance after weight loss, or when standard titration isn't the right fit. It's a physician-supervised strategy adjusted to your response and labs, never a one-size protocol.

Do you prescribe compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide?

No. Dr. Hasan prescribes FDA-approved medications, where dose, purity, and safety data are established. When cost is a barrier, he helps you pursue insurance coverage, manufacturer savings programs, and appropriate alternatives instead.

Will I need medication forever?

Obesity behaves as a chronic condition, and stopping treatment abruptly often leads to regain — so the honest answer is that maintenance must be planned, not assumed. For some patients that means continued therapy; for others, reduced or micro-dosing, or a carefully monitored taper. The right answer is individual — and it's made together, guided by your results.

Can medical weight loss be done by telehealth?

Yes. Consultations, prescriptions, lab review, and follow-up are all available by secure video for patients anywhere in Pennsylvania and Ohio, with bloodwork drawn near your home. In-person visits in Wexford include InBody scans.

How is ongoing care structured?

Every patient starts with a full initial consultation. Ongoing care is provided through membership — monthly check-ins with Dr. Hasan, periodic InBody body-composition analysis, and discounted dietitian sessions as an optional service. See pricing.

Do you take insurance?

Chia Endocrinology & Wellness is a direct-care practice and does not bill insurance for visits. Bloodwork and most medications are typically billed to your insurance as usual, and an itemized superbill is provided on request. See pricing.

Book an Appointment → Call (412) 485-0311