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Medical weight loss in Salinas and Carmel, led by a board-certified obesity medicine physician
Whole-person weight management: a physician-led evaluation, InBody 570 body composition analysis, GLP-1 and other medications when appropriate, wellness injections, and follow-up that treats weight as medicine rather than willpower. In person, or by telehealth anywhere in California.
Weight is medicine, not willpower
If you have tried hard and the scale hasn't moved, you are not the problem. Weight is regulated by hormones, sleep, stress, medications, genetics, and the body's own defense of its set point. Obesity medicine is the specialty that treats those mechanisms directly, and Dr. Monarrez is board-certified in it.
Care begins with a comprehensive evaluation rather than a prescription pad: your history, your labs, your body composition, and your goals. From there the plan is built around you, and adjusted as you go.
What's different here
- Obesity medicine training. Dr. Monarrez is board-certified in the specialty that treats weight as physiology, not a character flaw.
- Muscle is the goal, not just a lower number. Protein targets, strength work, and InBody 570 tracking so you lose fat and keep the muscle that keeps you strong.
- Diet and nutrition that fit your life. Customized plans that meet your health goals and your life's realities, not a printout.
- FDA-approved medications first. GLP-1 and other options when they're appropriate, explained honestly, including cost and alternatives.
- Boost shots when they help. B12, MIC, and NAD+ as part of a plan, never as the plan.
Measured, not guessed: InBody 570
Every plan starts with an InBody 570 body composition analysis at our Salinas office, a medical-grade scan that measures fat mass, skeletal muscle, visceral fat, and body water in about a minute, standing on the device fully clothed. It tells us what a bathroom scale can't: whether you are losing fat and keeping muscle, and where you are gaining strength. We repeat it at follow-ups so progress is measured rather than assumed. More about the InBody 570
GLP-1 medications and other options
Semaglutide and tirzepatide (the medications behind Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Mounjaro®, and Zepbound®) work by quieting appetite signals, slowing digestion, and improving how your body handles insulin. For the right patient they are the most effective non-surgical tools we have, and they work best inside a plan that protects muscle and builds habits that outlast the medication.
They aren't right for everyone, and they aren't the only option. Depending on your history we may discuss phentermine, other prescription medications, or a plan without medication. We start with FDA-approved medications and explain any alternatives, including cost and regulatory considerations, so you can choose with full information.
Wellness injections
Everything about injections and IV therapy at Mona Medical
Vitamin B12, MIC (lipotropic), and NAD+ injections are available as part of a plan for patients who want support with energy, metabolism, and recovery. They are not a substitute for medication, nutrition, or sleep, and we'll tell you plainly when they are worth it for you and when they aren't.
The whole-person part
Weight gain in your forties and fifties often has a hormonal story behind it, and poor sleep can undo the best plan. Because Dr. Monarrez also treats perimenopause, menopause, and low testosterone, those conversations happen in the same room, with the same physician, instead of across three referrals.
We don't promise a number on the scale. We promise a physician who knows the science, tells you the truth, and stays with you long enough for it to work.
Some treatments may involve compounded medications, complementary approaches, or medically appropriate off-label uses of FDA-approved therapies. When applicable, we explain the regulatory status of the treatment, the strength and limitations of the available evidence, and its potential benefits, risks, and alternatives. Recommendations are individualized following an appropriate medical evaluation. No treatment or result is guaranteed.
Weight loss questions, answered plainly
What patients ask before they book.
Do I have to be significantly overweight to qualify?
No. Candidacy for medication depends on your BMI together with your health history, and many people with a modest amount of weight to lose qualify, particularly if they have blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol concerns. If medication isn't appropriate, we'll say so and build a plan without it.
Can I do the program by telehealth?
Yes. The evaluation and follow-ups can be done by secure video anywhere in California. Labs are drawn at a Quest or LabCorp location near you, medications are sent to your pharmacy, and body composition analysis is done in the office whenever you are able to come in.
Will I lose muscle on a GLP-1?
You can, which is why we track body composition on the InBody 570 rather than just weight, and why protein and strength training are part of every plan. Losing fat while keeping muscle is the goal, and it's measurable.
What happens when I stop the medication?
Some regain is common when medication stops without a plan. We talk about that from the first visit, and we build the habits, muscle, and follow-up that make maintenance realistic whether you continue, taper, or stop.
Do you take insurance for weight loss?
Mona Medical is a cash-pay practice, so our visits are not billed to insurance. Your pharmacy may bill your insurance for medications, and HSA and FSA cards can be used for eligible medical visits.
Let's find out what your body needs
Personalized, whole-person care where compassion meets evidence-based strategies for sustained weight loss and a healthier life. Book an evaluation in Salinas, Carmel, or by video.