Dr. Elena McAtee and Certified Health Coach Kate Cleveland will tackle navigating life on weight loss drugs with a support group at the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos. Courtesy photo
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Los Alamos
Health means a lot of things to a lot of people, but sometimes when searching for the answers, the noise is too loud to hear them. The local duo of Dr. Elena McAtee and Certified Health Coach Kate Cleveland will tackle navigating life on weight loss drugs with a support group.
The meetings are 11 a.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos. Light refreshments will be provided.
The pair have been friends and neighbors for years, collaborating professionally on a variety of projects along the way. As more of their clients/patients started showing interest in these weight loss medications the questions began to increase.
“The combination of a physician and a health coach is perfect for this type of thing,” Cleveland said. “We can support people and answer questions from multiple perspectives.”
“Change is hard, and with so many types of conversations happening these days around both the positive and challenging aspects of using these medications, it can be really isolating,” Cleveland said. “We both really want to help people navigate the challenges of side effects and understand what their medication is doing in their body.”
Their goal is to help people understand what a weight loss journey looks like that might require long-term decisions. Those topics can be both very personal and confusing. They hope people will not feel alone in addressing these types of decisions.
This group is meant for people in all stages, from curious or considering medications, to just starting or those taking weight loss medication for awhile. There is no requirement to share, even if you just have some simple questions, confidentiality is necessary.
A Family practice physician, Dr. McAtee of Sol DPC will not be prescribing these medications for group members. The conversation to begin taking these types of medications should always start with your primary care physician. The group is not intended to be a medical consultation or a replacement for medical care, but to have a safe place for conversation before, during or after you are on the path.
“The personal journey of weight loss is both physically and mentally taxing,” Dr. McAtee said. “By the time most people have arrived at the decision to start Wegovy or Zepbound (or any medication for weight loss for that matter), they have been through countless attempts and failures to lose weight. This challenge of losing weight can be defining for some and it can really take a toll on a person’s mental health.”
While McAtee said she agrees that starting a weight loss drug can be liberating, she said she also believes that it can finally give them a sense of control over cravings, portion sizes and their daily function. She said that she feels this support group can help members deal with challenges, side effects and nutritional issues, guided by professionals to help navigate these medications.
The environment is intended to be light and fun, with plans to incorporate lots of guidance, science and humor to help as many people as possible. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch. The fee for the class is $50 per session.
There is no pre-registration required to attend. Newcomers are welcome at any meeting and guests can sign in and pay (cash, check or Venmo accepted) upon arrival. Preliminary questions may be answered on this website.
The Unitarian Church is at 1738 N. Sage Loop in Los Alamos.