Frequently Asked Questions

NuvaHealth connects you with licensed doctors who specialise in medical weight management. You complete a short health assessment, have a video consultation with a doctor, and receive a personalised treatment plan — all from home.

Every doctor on NuvaHealth is an independent Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) verified through the National Medical Commission. They have specialist training in metabolic health, endocrinology, or internal medicine.

Your doctor will evaluate your health profile and may prescribe FDA-approved, evidence-based medications for weight management. The specific medication depends on your medical history, current health, and treatment goals. All prescribing decisions are made solely by your treating physician.

Yes. We take data protection seriously. All data is hosted on servers in India, encrypted with 256-bit encryption, and handled in compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. We never share your health information without your explicit consent.

Absolutely. NuvaHealth doctors can work alongside your existing healthcare team. We encourage you to share your NuvaHealth treatment plan with your primary care physician for coordinated care.

After your consultation, your doctor will share a personalised treatment plan. If medication is prescribed, it will be delivered to your door. You’ll have regular follow-up consultations to track progress and adjust your plan as needed.

Yes. Since consultations are conducted via video call and medications are delivered by courier, NuvaHealth is available across India. You just need a stable internet connection for your consultation.

PCOS is driven by insulin resistance — your cells absorb glucose poorly, so your body produces more insulin, which promotes fat storage (especially around the abdomen) and suppresses fat breakdown. Standard calorie-cutting diets work less well because the underlying hormonal environment resists weight loss. A doctor can address the metabolic root cause, not just calories.

Yes. Medical weight management for PCOS is evidence-based and largely driven by clinical assessment, lab review, nutrition planning, and prescription therapy where appropriate — all of which work well by video consultation. Your NMC-verified doctor can review your reports, prescribe digitally, and track your progress remotely.

Not mandatory for the first consultation. Your doctor may request common PCOS-relevant tests (fasting insulin, HbA1c, lipid profile, thyroid, vitamin D) after the initial review if they aren't already recent. Any pathology can be done locally in your city.

Realistic medical weight management for PCOS typically targets 0.5–1% of body weight per week initially. For a woman weighing 75 kg, that's 5–8 kg in the first 3 months, with cycle regularisation often seen by month two. Your doctor will set individualised targets based on your baseline.

Yes — but only once your TSH is well-controlled on medication. With optimal thyroid levels and a structured medical weight management plan, patients with hypothyroidism can lose weight at close to normal rates. The key is a doctor-led plan that accounts for your altered metabolism.

Levothyroxine corrects an underactive thyroid and may lead to 2–4 kg weight loss in the first few months as fluid retention resolves and metabolism normalises. But beyond this initial drop, further weight loss requires a proper medical weight management plan — levothyroxine alone does not cause ongoing weight loss.

Most doctors recheck TSH every 6–8 weeks during active weight loss, because significant weight changes can affect thyroid medication requirements. Your NuvaHealth doctor will guide you on timing and coordinate any dose adjustments.

Absolutely. Thyroid management is largely based on symptom review and lab reports — both of which work perfectly by video consultation. Any pathology (TSH, T3, T4) can be done locally, and your doctor can adjust medication digitally.

Yes, and this is one of the best-documented facts in diabetes research. Losing 5–7% of body weight returns blood sugar to normal in the majority of prediabetic adults and cuts progression to type 2 diabetes by more than half. Earlier action produces better outcomes.

Indian guidelines (and global ADA standards) define prediabetes as HbA1c 5.7–6.4% or fasting glucose 100–125 mg/dL. Above 6.5% HbA1c or 126 mg/dL fasting glucose crosses into diabetes. Your doctor can interpret your numbers in context.

That depends on your HbA1c, weight, family history, and other risk factors. Many Indians with prediabetes can reverse it with medical weight management alone; others benefit from a prescription alongside it. Your doctor will recommend based on your full profile.

HbA1c reflects 3-month average blood sugar, so meaningful changes take 8–12 weeks. Most patients on a structured medical weight loss plan see HbA1c drop 0.3–0.8% in the first three months, with further improvement as weight loss continues.

Most doctors recommend waiting 6 weeks after normal delivery and 8–12 weeks after C-section before any structured weight management begins, and only after your postnatal check-up. Your NuvaHealth doctor will assess your recovery and advise on the right time for your individual case.

Yes — gradual weight loss of up to 0.5 kg per week is considered safe during breastfeeding and does not affect milk supply for most women. Your doctor will calibrate calories, protein, and any prescriptions so your baby's nutrition is never compromised.

Pregnancy causes abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti), hormonal shifts, and redistribution of visceral fat. Sleep deprivation and cortisol further promote belly fat storage. Medical weight management addresses these specific drivers rather than assuming standard post-diet approaches will work.

That's exactly why online consultation works well for new mothers — no clinic visits, no childcare arrangements, no waiting rooms. Book a time that suits your baby's routine, consult from home, and get prescriptions delivered.

The best online weight loss doctor is a licensed doctor who assesses BMI, waist circumference, medical history, reports, medicines, lifestyle and metabolic risk before giving a plan. Avoid anyone who promises guaranteed weight loss or sells prescription medicines without a proper consultation.

A licensed doctor can prescribe when it is clinically appropriate after a valid consultation, medical history review and safety assessment. Prescription treatment is not suitable for everyone, and online care should include side-effect counselling and follow-up.

Prepare your height, weight, waist measurement, current medicines, previous weight-loss attempts and recent blood reports if available. Helpful reports include HbA1c or fasting glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, liver markers and thyroid tests.

It can be safe when delivered by licensed doctors with proper assessment, privacy protection, clear prescribing rules and follow-up. It is not safe when a website sells medicines directly without a real doctor consultation.

Major red flags include guaranteed results, no doctor credentials, no side-effect discussion, prescription drugs without consultation, imported or compounded injections from unknown sellers, and one-size-fits-all diet charts.

Insulin resistance can contribute to weight gain by increasing insulin levels, hunger, cravings and fat storage around the abdomen. It also makes blood sugar and appetite harder to regulate, especially with high-carbohydrate, low-protein diets.

South Asians tend to have more visceral belly fat and lower muscle mass at the same BMI compared with many Western populations. This raises insulin resistance, fatty liver and diabetes risk at lower body weights.

It can often be improved substantially. Waist reduction, 5-10% weight loss, higher protein intake, strength training, walking after meals, better sleep and treating PCOS or fatty liver can all improve insulin sensitivity. Some patients also need prescription treatment.

Doctors commonly review HbA1c, fasting glucose, lipid profile, liver markers and waist circumference. Fasting insulin or HOMA-IR may be useful in selected cases, but not everyone needs them.

No. Insulin resistance is the underlying metabolic problem where the body needs more insulin to control blood sugar. Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes can develop later if the pancreas can no longer compensate.

Weight loss can often move blood sugar back toward the normal range, especially when it reduces waist circumference and insulin resistance. A 5-10% body-weight loss is a powerful first target, but results depend on baseline HbA1c, family history, age, sleep, activity and medical conditions.

Many doctors start with a 5-10% body-weight target. For a person weighing 90 kg, that means 4.5 to 9 kg. This amount can meaningfully improve glucose, triglycerides, liver fat and waist circumference.

A commonly used HbA1c range for prediabetes is 5.7% to 6.4%. Your doctor should interpret it with fasting glucose, symptoms, waist, BMI, medicines and family history rather than relying on one number alone.

Helpful Indian meals usually include more protein and fibre: dal, curd, paneer, eggs, fish, chicken, tofu, sprouts, chana, vegetables, salads and controlled portions of rice or roti. The goal is not to ban Indian food but to balance the plate.

See a doctor if HbA1c is in the prediabetes range, waist is above 90 cm for men or 80 cm for women, BMI is 23 or higher with family history, or you have PCOS, fatty liver, high triglycerides or previous gestational diabetes.