Medical Disclaimer: This page provides general health information about FDA-approved GLP-1 medications and investigational therapies. It is not medical advice. All medications referenced require evaluation by a licensed provider. Retatrutide is an investigational drug in Phase 3 clinical trials and is not FDA-approved. Individual results on any weight loss program vary based on adherence, starting weight, metabolic factors, and other variables.
Weight Loss & Metabolic Health · Park Ridge, IL
GLP-1 WEIGHT LOSS IN PARK RIDGE
Medically supervised weight loss with FDA-approved GLP-1 medications. In-person care, DEXA body composition tracking, and transparent pricing at a real clinic in Park Ridge.
Medically reviewed by Missy Zammichieli, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC · Updated March 25, 2026
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WHAT'S AVAILABLE NOW
If you're searching for GLP-1 weight loss in Park Ridge or anywhere in the Chicago suburbs, two FDA-approved medications are available today. You don't need to wait for the next generation of drugs to start losing weight under medical supervision. The current options are effective, well-studied, and available right now at Moonshot Medical.
Semaglutide
Brand Names: Ozempic · Wegovy
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist — it mimics a natural hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar. The weight loss version (Wegovy) was FDA-approved for chronic weight management in June 2021. It works primarily by reducing appetite and slowing gastric emptying, which means you feel full faster and stay full longer.
In the landmark STEP 1 trial, participants lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks. For a 220-pound person, that translates to roughly 33 pounds. Semaglutide is administered as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection, and the dose is gradually increased over 16-20 weeks to minimize gastrointestinal side effects.
Semaglutide is the most widely prescribed GLP-1 for weight loss and has the longest real-world track record in this class. It is available at Moonshot Medical in Park Ridge as part of our complete weight loss program.
Tirzepatide
Brand Names: Mounjaro · Zepbound
Tirzepatide is a dual-agonist — it activates both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors simultaneously. The weight loss version (Zepbound) was FDA-approved in November 2023. By targeting two receptors instead of one, tirzepatide produces more weight loss on average than semaglutide alone.
In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, participants on the highest dose lost an average of 22.5% of their body weight over 72 weeks. That's roughly 50 pounds for a 220-pound person. Like semaglutide, it's a once-weekly injection with a gradual dose escalation schedule.
Tirzepatide represents the current state of the art in GLP-1 pharmacology. It is particularly effective for patients who want maximum weight loss or who have plateaued on semaglutide. We offer tirzepatide at our Park Ridge location and help patients determine which medication is the better fit for their situation.
Transparent Pricing
Our complete weight loss program is $405 per month. That includes the medication, blood work, DEXA body composition scans, provider visits, nutrition guidance, and ongoing monitoring. No hidden fees, no enrollment costs, no long-term contracts. If you already have medication through your insurance or another source, medical oversight alone is $150 per month. We believe in straightforward pricing because weight loss is hard enough without surprises on your bill.
WHAT'S COMING: RETATRUTIDE
The next major advance in this drug class is retatrutide, a triple-agonist developed by Eli Lilly. While semaglutide targets one receptor (GLP-1) and tirzepatide targets two (GLP-1 + GIP), retatrutide targets three: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. The addition of the glucagon receptor is significant because it increases energy expenditure and promotes hepatic fat oxidation — your liver actively burns its own fat stores.
In Phase 2 trials, participants on the highest dose of retatrutide lost an average of 24.2% of their body weight over 48 weeks. That's the highest average weight loss ever recorded in a GLP-1 class trial. These results are promising, but they come from a relatively small Phase 2 study of 338 participants. Phase 3 data from the TRIUMPH trial program, which enrolls thousands of patients, will determine whether these numbers hold up.
Retatrutide is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials. It has not been approved by the FDA and cannot be legally prescribed, dispensed, or compounded. Based on typical development timelines, the earliest possible approval would be late 2026 or 2027. No date is guaranteed.
We track the development of retatrutide closely. When it receives FDA approval, we will evaluate it for inclusion in our weight loss program at Moonshot Medical. In the meantime, there is no reason to wait. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are available now, they work, and every month of excess weight carries metabolic risk.
| Semaglutide | Tirzepatide | Retatrutide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receptors | GLP-1 | GLP-1 + GIP | GLP-1 + GIP + Glucagon |
| Avg Weight Loss | ~15% (68 wk) | ~22.5% (72 wk) | ~24.2% (48 wk)* |
| FDA Status | Approved | Approved | Phase 3 Trials |
| Available at Moonshot | Yes | Yes | Not yet |
*Phase 2 data (highest dose, 338 participants). Cross-trial comparisons are unreliable — different populations, protocols, and endpoints. No head-to-head trial exists.
WHY A LOCAL CLINIC MATTERS
Telehealth weight loss clinics have proliferated over the past two years. Many of them will prescribe GLP-1 medications after a brief video call and ship them to your door. That model is convenient, but it has real limitations — limitations that matter when you're taking a medication that changes how your body processes food and stores energy.
At Moonshot Medical in Park Ridge, we see our patients in person. We draw blood in our office. We perform DEXA body composition scans on-site using a Hologic Horizon scanner — the same clinical-grade equipment used in research hospitals. We teach you how to self-inject during your first visit. We monitor your labs, adjust your dosing, and track your lean mass throughout treatment.
A telehealth clinic cannot scan your body composition. They cannot verify with objective data whether you're losing fat, muscle, or both. They cannot draw your blood or perform a physical exam. For many patients, telehealth is a prescription and a prayer. We think you deserve more than that, especially when the medications are this effective and the stakes — your metabolic health, your lean body mass, your long-term outcomes — are this high.
In-Person DEXA Scans
We scan every GLP-1 patient with our Hologic Horizon DXA scanner. You see exactly how much fat you're losing, how much muscle you're retaining, and where the changes are happening. No scale gives you this data.
On-Site Blood Work
Baseline and follow-up labs drawn in our office. No separate lab visits, no coordination headaches. We run a comprehensive metabolic panel and check markers that matter for weight loss — thyroid, insulin, lipids, inflammatory markers, and more.
Face-to-Face Provider Visits
You meet with your provider in person. Injection training, dose adjustments, side effect management, and treatment planning happen in a real exam room — not through a chatbot or a 5-minute video call with a rotating roster of providers.
Our address: Moonshot Medical and Performance is located at 542 Busse Hwy, Park Ridge, IL 60068, just minutes from O'Hare and easily accessible from Des Plaines, Niles, Edison Park, and the surrounding northwest Chicago suburbs. (224) 435-4280
OUR APPROACH TO GLP-1 WEIGHT LOSS
Moonshot Medical is not a prescription mill. We don't run an ad, ship you a pen, and disappear. Our weight loss program is built around the principle that medication is one tool in a larger system — and that system is what produces lasting results.
The reason most people regain weight after stopping GLP-1 medications is that they never changed anything else. They lost weight on the drug but didn't build the habits, knowledge, or metabolic foundation to maintain it. Our program is designed to change that.
Comprehensive Blood Work
We start with a full metabolic panel — not just a lipid panel and a CBC. We check thyroid function, fasting insulin, inflammatory markers, vitamin D, B12, and other markers that influence weight loss and energy. This baseline tells us whether medication alone will be effective or whether there are upstream issues to address first.
DEXA Baseline Scan
Before you take your first dose, we scan your body composition with our Hologic Horizon DXA scanner. We know your exact fat mass, lean mass, bone density, and visceral fat. This becomes the benchmark against which we measure every change. The scale tells you one number. DEXA tells you the whole story.
Medication Selection & Initiation
Based on your labs, body composition, medical history, and goals, we recommend either semaglutide or tirzepatide. We start at the lowest effective dose and titrate up gradually. You get hands-on injection training in our office so you're confident from day one.
Nutrition & Training Guidance
GLP-1 medications suppress appetite, which means many patients under-eat protein during treatment. That accelerates muscle loss. We provide targeted nutrition guidance focused on protein intake, meal timing, and resistance training recommendations to preserve lean body mass while you lose fat. This is the piece most clinics skip entirely.
Ongoing Monitoring & Adjustments
Regular follow-up visits, repeat blood work, and follow-up DEXA scans. We track your lean mass over time — not just your weight. If you're losing too much muscle, we adjust. If side effects are limiting adherence, we adjust. If your progress stalls, we investigate why rather than just increasing the dose. This is what real medical supervision looks like.
COMMUNITIES WE SERVE
Moonshot Medical is located in Park Ridge, Illinois, at the intersection of Busse Highway and Summit Avenue. We're centrally positioned in the northwest Chicago suburbs with easy access from I-90, I-294, and the CTA Blue Line (Cumberland and Rosemont stations). Most of our patients drive 10 to 20 minutes to reach us.
We serve patients from across the northwest suburbs and Chicago's northwest side neighborhoods. Our GLP-1 weight loss patients come from throughout the region, including:
Immediate Neighbors
- Park Ridge, IL
- Des Plaines, IL
- Niles, IL
- Rosemont, IL
Chicago Neighborhoods
- Edison Park
- Norwood Park
- O'Hare
- Portage Park
North & Northwest Suburbs
- Morton Grove, IL
- Glenview, IL
- Skokie, IL
- Mount Prospect, IL
- Arlington Heights, IL
Whether you're in Park Ridge proper or commuting from Glenview, Skokie, or Arlington Heights, you'll find that the drive to our clinic is shorter than the wait time at most telehealth prescription mills. And unlike those services, you leave each visit with real data — not just a tracking number for a medication shipment.
DEXA BODY COMPOSITION: WHY WE SCAN EVERY GLP-1 PATIENT
Here is the problem with using a bathroom scale to track weight loss: it tells you one number, and that number is almost useless. If you lose 20 pounds, the scale says you lost 20 pounds. But it doesn't tell you whether you lost 20 pounds of fat, 15 pounds of fat and 5 pounds of muscle, or 10 pounds of fat and 10 pounds of muscle. These are drastically different outcomes, and only one of them is actually good.
This matters especially for GLP-1 patients. These medications suppress appetite significantly, which means caloric intake drops. If protein intake isn't adequate and resistance training isn't part of the protocol, a meaningful percentage of weight loss can come from lean body mass. Published data from the STEP trials shows that roughly 30-40% of weight lost on semaglutide was lean mass in patients who didn't exercise. That's a problem.
DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) solves this. A DEXA scan gives you a precise, region-by-region breakdown of your fat mass, lean mass, and bone mineral density. It measures visceral adipose tissue — the deep abdominal fat that drives cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk. It shows you exactly where fat is being lost and whether muscle is being preserved.
At Moonshot Medical, we scan every GLP-1 patient at baseline and at regular intervals throughout treatment. We use a Hologic Horizon scanner — the same model used in clinical trials and academic research. If your lean mass is trending down too fast, we intervene with nutrition and training adjustments before it becomes a serious issue. This is the kind of precision monitoring that distinguishes a real medical weight loss program from a prescription service.
COMMON QUESTIONS
What GLP-1 drugs does Moonshot Medical offer?
We currently offer semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound). Both are FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight management. We prescribe them as part of a comprehensive program that includes blood work, DEXA body composition scanning, nutrition guidance, and ongoing medical oversight. Your provider will recommend the medication that best fits your clinical profile and goals.
How much does GLP-1 weight loss cost at Moonshot?
Our complete weight loss program is $405 per month. That includes the medication, blood work, DEXA scans, provider visits, and nutrition guidance. There are no hidden fees, enrollment charges, or long-term contracts. If you already have medication through your insurance or another source, medical oversight alone — including DEXA scans, labs, and provider visits — is $150 per month. We publish our pricing because we think you should know what something costs before you walk in the door.
Does Moonshot accept insurance?
We operate as a cash-pay clinic and do not bill insurance directly. This structure allows us to offer transparent pricing, avoid prior authorization delays, spend more time with each patient, and keep overhead low enough to offer competitive rates. Some patients choose to submit claims to their insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement, and we provide the documentation needed to do so.
When will retatrutide be available?
Retatrutide is in Phase 3 clinical trials (the TRIUMPH program) conducted by Eli Lilly. It has not been approved by the FDA. Based on typical pharmaceutical development timelines, the earliest possible approval would be late 2026 or 2027, but no date is guaranteed. We are tracking its development and will evaluate retatrutide for our program if and when it receives FDA approval. In the meantime, semaglutide and tirzepatide are available now and produce significant, well-documented weight loss.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can book directly through our website or by calling (224) 435-4280. Your first visit includes a comprehensive evaluation, baseline blood work, and a DEXA body composition scan. If you are a candidate for GLP-1 medication, we can typically start treatment at that first appointment. No referral from your primary care provider is required.
Can I do everything through telehealth?
We offer telehealth follow-ups for established patients, but the initial evaluation, blood draw, and DEXA scan must be done in person at our Park Ridge clinic. We believe in-person care produces better outcomes for weight loss patients. A DEXA scan, a real blood draw, and hands-on injection training cannot be replicated over video. After your initial visit and first DEXA scan, some follow-ups can be done remotely depending on where you are in your treatment plan.
References
- 1. Wilding JPH, et al. "Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity." N Engl J Med. 2021;384(11):989-1002. (STEP 1)
- 2. Jastreboff AM, et al. "Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity." N Engl J Med. 2022;387(3):205-216. (SURMOUNT-1)
- 3. Jastreboff AM, et al. "Triple-Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity — A Phase 2 Trial." N Engl J Med. 2023;389(6):514-526.
- 4. Coskun T, et al. "LY3437943, a novel triple glucagon, GIP, and GLP-1 receptor agonist for glycemic control and weight loss." Cell Metab. 2022;34(9):1234-1247.
- 5. Heymsfield SB, et al. "Mechanisms, Pathophysiology, and Management of Obesity." N Engl J Med. 2017;376(3):254-266.
- 6. Rosenstock J, et al. "Retatrutide, a GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist, for people with type 2 diabetes." Lancet. 2023;402(10401):529-544.
READY TO START?
Medically supervised GLP-1 weight loss with DEXA body composition tracking, blood work, and real provider access. $405/month, all-inclusive. No contracts.
542 Busse Hwy, Park Ridge, IL 60068 · (224) 435-4280
Book a Consultation