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.

Yes. Ozempic is approved by CDSCO for type 2 diabetes and is legally sold in Indian pharmacies with a valid prescription. It is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss at a doctor's discretion. For the weight-loss indication specifically, the approved branded version is Wegovy, which launched in India in June 2025.

As of early 2026, Mounjaro costs roughly ₹3,500–₹4,400 per weekly vial depending on the dose, so monthly cost is approximately ₹14,000–₹17,600. Prices vary by pharmacy and dose strength.

No — and you should not try to. These are Schedule H prescription medications in India. Any source offering them without a prescription is illegitimate, and counterfeit GLP-1 pens are a documented safety problem globally. Always buy from a licensed pharmacy with a prescription from a qualified doctor.

Partially, yes. Clinical data shows patients regain roughly two-thirds of lost weight within a year of stopping semaglutide unless they maintain the underlying metabolic changes through diet, exercise, and in many cases continued medical support. Obesity is a chronic condition — these medications are often used long-term, similar to medicines for hypertension or diabetes.

For most patients who meet the clinical criteria (BMI 27+ with a comorbidity or BMI 30+), they are considered safe when supervised by a qualified doctor. Common side effects like nausea and constipation are usually manageable; serious risks like pancreatitis are rare but require monitoring. Safety depends heavily on proper patient selection, dose titration, and regular follow-up — which is why self-sourcing is dangerous.

For many women with PCOS, intermittent fasting can help reduce insulin resistance and support weight loss — both of which improve PCOS symptoms. However, women with a history of disordered eating, irregular menstrual cycles related to undernutrition, or those trying to conceive should consult a doctor first. A 14:10 or 16:8 window with adequate protein and no extreme calorie cuts is the safest starting point.

Milk chai with or without sugar breaks a fast because even a small amount of milk (~30 calories) triggers an insulin response. During the fasting window, stick to plain water, black tea, black coffee, or herbal tea. If giving up morning chai is a deal-breaker for you, shift your eating window to start earlier (e.g. 8 AM to 4 PM) so you can have chai inside the window.

Most people see 2–4 kg of weight loss in the first month of consistent 16:8 fasting, followed by 0.5–1 kg per week thereafter — very similar to standard calorie restriction. Results depend heavily on what you eat during the eating window. If you are still consuming 2,500+ calories of ultra-processed food in your 8-hour window, you will not lose weight.

Short-term IF (14–18 hour fasts) does not significantly slow metabolism — studies have shown minimal change. Prolonged severe calorie restriction can slow metabolism (see our article on Why Diets Fail), and OMAD patterns eaten for months can cause this. Stick to sustainable 16:8 or 14:10 windows with adequate protein, and metabolism stays roughly stable.

Yes, but a generic diet is often not enough. Because PCOS involves insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance, a medically supervised plan that addresses the underlying endocrine issues produces far better results than diet and exercise alone.

Even a 5–10% reduction in body weight can restore regular periods, improve fertility, reduce acne and excess hair, and significantly lower diabetes risk. You do not need to reach an 'ideal' weight to feel and function much better.

No. Many women can manage PCOS with nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes alone. Medication is a decision made by your treating physician based on your metabolic profile, symptoms, and goals — it is not universal.

Yes. PCOS care is largely built around history-taking, lab-work review, and long-term planning — all of which work well through video consultation. You can get tests done at any local lab and share results through the platform.