Sanara Medicine in Lodi on GLP-1s as Gallup Finds 11% of US Adults Using Them

The share of U.S. adults who currently take GLP-1 medications for weight loss has risen to 11% in 2026, up from 3% in 2024, according to Gallup's National Health and Well-Being Index. Another 15% report having used the medicine for weight loss at some point. The results are based on a web survey of 5,065 U.S. adults conducted May 28-June 5, 2026, and Gallup updated its estimates on Sept. 8, 2026.

At Sanara Medicine in Lodi, Dr. Ruby Gill, MD, treats weight management as a metabolic health question. The practice's first metabolic visit includes an extensive lab panel covering fasting insulin, glucose, HbA1c, a thyroid panel, a lipid profile, inflammatory markers and hormone levels.

Based on those labs, body composition data and health history, the physician designs a targeted protocol. It may include GLP-1 medications, hormone optimization, nutritional adjustments or a combination. Dr. Gill prescribes GLP-1 medications based on metabolic labs and clinical presentation, not patient request, and only when clinically appropriate.

Muscle is a central part of the plan. The practice notes that without physician oversight, patients risk losing muscle mass alongside fat, so it monitors body composition at every touchpoint and offers Emsculpt NEO alongside GLP-1 treatment to help preserve muscle. Regular follow-ups track metabolic markers, body composition and energy, and protocols adjust as the body responds.

Dr. Gill is board certified in Family Medicine and Integrative Medicine and holds the Menopause Society Certified Practitioner credential. She brings 15 years of clinical experience, with the last decade focused on hormone health, which shapes how the practice looks at weight: declining estrogen during perimenopause shifts fat distribution and increases insulin resistance, and testosterone deficiency in men reduces metabolic rate.

Sanara Medicine sees patients at its practice on Fairmont Avenue in Lodi and offers telehealth consultations throughout California.

“More people are starting a GLP-1 than ever, and the medication can help. But it works best when we know why the body is holding on to weight in the first place. We start with labs, protect muscle along the way, and build a plan that still makes sense after the prescription,” said Dr. Ruby Gill, MD, Founder & Medical Director, Sanara Medicine.

Metabolic Health Checklist

1. Ask for fasting insulin, HbA1c and thyroid labs before starting a weight-loss medication.
2. Ask how your muscle mass will be measured and protected during weight loss.
3. Ask whether hormones, such as declining estrogen or low testosterone, may be affecting your metabolism.
4. Plan regular follow-ups so the protocol can change as your body responds.
5. Ask what the plan looks like if you stop the medication.

About Sanara Medicine

Sanara Medicine is a physician-led integrative medicine practice at 999 S. Fairmont Ave, Suite 235, in Lodi, California, serving Lodi and San Joaquin County. It is led by founder and medical director Dr. Ruby Gill, MD, who is board certified in Family Medicine and Integrative Medicine and holds the Menopause Society Certified Practitioner credential. Its services include perimenopause and menopause care, hormone optimization, metabolic health and weight management, regenerative medicine, integrative dermatology and men's health, with telehealth consultations throughout California. More information is available at sanaramedicine.com.