Medical weight loss for adults in North Carolina
A doctor's plan for weight loss, from home.
Refiner MD offers online visits with licensed providers. If it is safe and right for you, your provider can prescribe a GLP-1 medicine such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, and stays with you as you go.
Online visits for North Carolina residents 18 and older.
Why it is so hard
It is not about willpower.
When you lose weight, your body pushes back. Hunger rises and you burn a little less energy, so the weight tends to come back. That is biology, not a lack of effort.
GLP-1 medicines act like hormones your gut releases after a meal. They help you feel full sooner and stay full longer, so eating less feels possible. In large studies, people who took them along with a food and activity plan lost much more weight than people on the plan alone.
How it works
Three steps to start.
Call us
Tell us a little about yourself. We check that you live in North Carolina, answer your questions and set up your first online visit. Online sign-up is coming soon.
Meet your provider online
A licensed provider goes over your health history, weight, current medicines and goals by video. You may need lab work before starting a medicine.
Start your plan
If a medicine is right for you, your provider sends the prescription to a pharmacy and gives you a food and activity plan. Regular check-ins adjust your dose and handle side effects.
Your care
What your care includes.
A full medical review
Your provider looks at your whole health picture, including other conditions and medicines, before recommending anything.
GLP-1 medicines when they fit
Weekly shots such as semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Zepbound), started at a low dose and raised slowly to keep side effects down.
Food and activity guidance
A plan you can follow, built around how you actually eat and live. The medicine works best alongside it.
Follow-up that continues
Regular check-ins to track progress, adjust your dose and plan for the long run.
The evidence
What the research shows.
Average body weight lost on semaglutide 2.4 mg over 68 weeks in the STEP 1 trial, compared with about 2% on placebo.
Average weight lost on the highest dose of tirzepatide over 72 weeks in the SURMOUNT-1 trial, compared with about 3% on placebo.
Share of the lost weight that came back within a year for STEP 1 participants who stopped the medicine. That is why long-term planning matters.
These are averages from large clinical trials that also included diet and activity counseling. Your results will be different. See the sources.
Is it safe for me?
These medicines are not for everyone. They are not used during pregnancy, or in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2. The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation, mostly in the early weeks and after a dose increase.
Your provider reviews your history to decide what is safe for you, and watches for problems at every check-in.
Questions
Common questions.
Do I have to live in North Carolina?
Yes. Our providers are licensed in North Carolina, so you need to be in North Carolina for your visits. We cannot see patients in other states right now.
Are the visits really online?
Yes. Visits happen by video on your phone or computer. If you need lab work, your provider will tell you where to go for it.
Which medicines do you prescribe?
When a medicine is right for you, the options include GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound). Your provider explains the choices and why one may suit you better than another.
How much does it cost? Do you take insurance?
We are finalizing our pricing and payment options. Call us at (833) 994-1844 and we will explain what is available today.
How long will I take the medicine?
Many people stay on it for the long term, because weight often comes back after stopping. You and your provider decide together and review the plan at each check-in.
Ready to talk about your weight?
Call us at (833) 994-1844. We will answer your questions and tell you whether our program fits you.