Skip to main content
make an appointment

Make an appointment online

Obesity therapy

So that you can feel well again

Do you want to lose weight?

Obesity is a medical condition, not a character flaw. We, as your medical team, will support you in any way we can. Together we will reach your goal!

Our concept is based on
meaningful diagnostics
, therapeutic support
, and digital tools that make everyday life easier.

Diagnostics & Therapy Principles

Understand how they work

Obesity is a systemic disease, and it is important to us
to fully understand you as a person before starting therapy.

Understand how they work

Obesity is a systemic disease, and it is important to us
to fully understand you as a person before starting therapy.
Therefore, we would like to answer the following questions together with you:

  • How did you become overweight?
  • What does this mean for your private and professional life and your well-being?
  • Are there already any health consequences?
  • What is the composition of your diet, and how much do you eat?
  • What patterns characterize your eating habits?

Our assessment

It's about much more than just the number on the scale. To sustainably tackle a complex problem like obesity, we look at it from many different perspectives. 

Our assessment

It's about much more than just the number on the scale. To sustainably tackle a complex problem like obesity, we look at it from many different perspectives.

In addition to the pure metabolic parameters, we are primarily concerned with your overall well-being. We try to gather as much information as possible using questionnaires and thus monitor the success of our treatment.

Metabolic health

A few numbers help us better understand how your body works. Body weight alone is not enough.

Metabolic health

A few numbers help us better understand how your body works. Body weight alone is not enough.

What's important is:

  • Assessing your body composition: how much is fat, how much is muscle?
  • A better understanding of your metabolism: can your body even access your fat reserves?
  • We understand how quickly your body can develop secondary illnesses due to excess weight: To determine this, we conduct laboratory tests and examine blood sugar, liver function, and vitamin levels. We measure blood pressure, check for respiratory problems, and assess wear and tear on the musculoskeletal system.

    Metabolic measurements and body composition

    You've probably heard of blood pressure and lab tests.
    Metabolic measurements and body composition might be new terms. That's why...

    Metabolic measurements and body composition

    You've probably heard of blood pressure and lab tests.

    Metabolic measurements and body composition might be new terms. That's why...

    ... how do you measure body composition?

    • with body impedance analysis (BIA): precise determination of body fat and muscle mass before, during and after body modification.
    • How does it work? Like on a large scale.
    • Duration: 15 min.
    • Cost: Covered by health insurance, approx. 60 CHF.

    ...and how can we analyze your metabolism?

    • What we want to know: Can your body currently access fat reserves, or does it primarily derive its energy from your diet (fat or carbohydrate metabolism)? How many calories does your body need to maintain your weight (basal metabolic rate), and how many can you consume to lose weight?
    • How does it work: By measuring gases in the exhaled air through a mask
    • Duration: 30 minutes total, test itself 5 minutes.
    • Cost: Not covered by health insurance - 180 CHF.

    Sequence

    Grid 1

    Grid 2

    Treatment & Medication

    Medications

    GLP-1 agonists are widely discussed and effective medications for obesity. They mimic a naturally occurring hormone, suppressing appetite in the brain and the passage of food through the stomach. This results in an earlier feeling of satiety.

    Medications

    GLP-1 agonists are widely discussed and effective medications for obesity. They mimic a naturally occurring hormone, suppressing appetite in the brain and the passage of food through the stomach. This results in an earlier feeling of satiety.

    Side effects are primarily nausea during the first 2-4 weeks, as well as very rare cases of pancreatitis (< 1 case per 1,000 patients per year). The loss of muscle mass rather than fat mass must be counteracted through exercise and regular check-ups.

    80% of patients respond to this therapy.

    Start well prepared!

    For therapy with a GLP-1 agonist, we require 3 months of preparation with various therapies, regardless of cost coverage.

    Start well prepared!

    For treatment with a GLP-1 agonist, we require three months of preparation with various therapies, regardless of whether the costs are covered privately or by insurance.
    The reason for this is that the medication alters your food cravings. We want to determine the underlying causes of your obesity beforehand, in order to address these patterns effectively and sustainably.

    Because: the medication is only covered by health insurance for a maximum of 3 years. After that, you must be able to maintain your weight yourself – otherwise you will gain weight again.

    Requirements for reimbursement by the health insurance company

    The health insurance company only covers these medications under certain conditions:

    Requirements for reimbursement by the health insurance company


    The health insurance company only covers these medications under certain conditions:

    • BMI ≥ 35 kg/m² (or ≥ 28 kg/m² with comorbidities)
    • in the case of documented lifestyle changes (diet, exercise)
    • Prescription by an endocrinologist (several months waiting time)
    • Regular progress monitoring: 5% weight loss after 3 months is a prerequisite for continued cost coverage.

    Without these prerequisites, the therapy can be self-funded. Current costs: approximately 150-200 CHF/month.

    Implementation of therapy in practice

    Therapy process at MüllerPraxis

    We will support you for approximately three years, initially more intensively, later at longer intervals.
    Our goal is for you to achieve sustainable weight loss by overcoming the underlying mechanisms.

    Therapy process at MüllerPraxis

    We will support you for approximately three years, initially more intensively, later at longer intervals.
    Our goal is for you to achieve sustainable weight loss by overcoming the underlying mechanisms.

    The process begins with a comprehensive assessment, consisting of at least two appointments. Afterwards, we will jointly develop your therapy plan.

    Because: Modern obesity therapy consists of more than just nutritional counseling. We want you to receive diverse input so you can learn to manage your own eating and exercise habits.

    The assessment

    Here's how to get started with your obesity therapy in a structured way: In two appointments with your family doctor, we'll clarify your goals and health status, take blood samples, measure your body composition, and assess your situation using questionnaires. At the follow-up appointment, we'll determine your basal metabolic rate via breath analysis, discuss all the results, train you on the uVida app, and plan the next steps.

    The assessment

    Your first appointment with your family doctor:

    • We're talking about your desire to lose weight.
    • We will arrange for a blood test and a BIA measurement on the same day.
    • You will receive a series of questionnaires.
    • and schedule a second appointment

    The second appointment with your family doctor: 

    • We are conducting a measurement of the basal metabolic rate in the exhaled air.
    • We will discuss the questionnaires together and look at your initial values ​​on the matrix.
    • You will receive training for the uVida app.
    • They arrange further appointments

    The therapy in the first 3 months

    The first 3 months are intensive - it takes about one appointment per week to prepare you optimally.

    The therapy in the first 3 months

    The first 3 months are intensive - it takes about one appointment per week to prepare you optimally.

    • Movement coaching with Hong Zheng - at our premises
    • Nutritional psychology with Samira Zulliger - very close by
    • Regular evaluation of your food diary - in our building
    • Psychological support
    • an appointment with an endocrinologist if you wish to have GLP-1 agonists administered at the expense of your health insurance provider.

    Therapy costs

    The costs of diagnosis and therapy are covered by the health insurance.

    Exceptions include mindfulness courses, as well as, depending on the provider, psychotherapy and nutritional psychology. You will receive a letter from us that you can submit with the invoice to your supplementary insurance, which sometimes results in partial reimbursement.

    The aforementioned conditions apply to the medication as stipulated by the health insurance company.

    Practical Information

    Medication management
    At MüllerPraxis we value personal and continuous care – including when it comes to medication. Therefore, whenever possible, we deliver your medications directly to our practice or arrange for convenient home delivery.

    As family doctors, this is one of our core competencies: We manage and maintain an overview of the complexity of your medication. 

    • We will discuss the best treatment options with you. 
    • We weigh up side effects and possible interactions with other medications.
    • We will bring your medication to your home if the journey to the pharmacy is difficult for you.
    Why we generally avoid long-term prescriptions:
    Repeat prescriptions without regular medical consultations carry the risk of uncontrolled and potentially inappropriate medication. Direct dispensing ensures that your treatment is always up-to-date, safe, and tailored to your individual needs.
    Your journey through the practice | Making an appointment, registering at the practice

    We want everyone to be able to go to the doctor in the way they prefer. 

    • Registration can be done by phone, via this website (see link on the right) or via the Arzt-direkt app.

    • On site you can check in at the counter as usual, or at our self-check-in with your health insurance card or QR code.

    • We offer you a laptop workspace, water and tea while you wait.

    • We can offer consultations for brief matters on the same day. 
    • We exchange documents with you securely via the Arzt-Direkt app, or of course by post. Where possible, we do things digitally. 

    • There is an evening consultation hour for working people on Mondays.

    • The patient app Doctor Direct
      • Book appointments online – no waiting times
      • Easy exchange of documents
      • Medication orders
      • Video consultations for follow-up discussions of lab results 
    Continuing education and teaching
    We are committed to providing primary care. As teaching physicians at the University of Zurich, we are actively involved in student teaching and, as a registered training center, we train resident physicians – ensuring that you will continue to find a family doctor in the future. Therefore, you will occasionally see students and residents in our practice – always with us present and in the background.
    Doctor Direct App

    Book doctor's appointments directly via app

    To the app