New Year, Real Results: Medical Weight Loss Options That Actually Work

If you’ve closed out 2025 — and begun the New Year — plagued by extra pounds, you’re not alone. Obesity statistics in the United States are nothing short of alarming. 

When we consider factors in addition to BMI (body mass index, a person’s weight in relation to their height), a shocking 70% of Americans fall under this category, according to a study of more than 300,000 people. 

At Sakura Aesthetics, Dr. Brian Ching and Samantha Ching, PA-C, are committed to assisting you by providing nutritional guidance for weight loss, lifestyle recommendations, innovative treatments, and cheering you on as you move toward your goals. We consider ourselves true partners in your care, no matter what services you’re seeking.

My weight is threatening my health — how did I get here? 

Whether you feel like your unwanted weight has crept up on you or you’ve been locked in a long gain-lose-regain pattern, gaining weight involves more than just taking in too many calories. 

Many patients are concerned with how their weight is impacting their health and putting them at risk for serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. 

Weight gain is prompted by:

• Eating lots of highly processed foods
• Leading a sedentary lifestyle
• Eating out frequently or relying on fast food too much
• Drinking soda or sugary juices
• Emotional eating

We know too that genetics play a role in weight gain because this tendency runs in families, but the family environment — like what foods are emphasized, whether they cook at home, and if exercise is emphasized — is also impactful. 

Living with certain health conditions or taking particular medications, like steroids, can also cause weight gain.

Can I lose weight in a healthy, safe, and lasting way?

Long-term weight loss sounds impossible if you’ve been on a ton of diets that promised rapid weight loss but didn’t deliver.

At Sakura Aesthetics, we’ve structured our medical weight loss program around evidence-based treatments that have proven successful. Here, we:

• Help you with the behavioral and physiological aspects of successful weight loss
• Have in-depth conversations with you about your health history and weight loss efforts
• Understand and monitor your overall health closely as you walk your weight loss path
• Help you take accountability  
• Help you build consistency so healthy eating and exercise become a lifestyle

When we design your customized treatment plan, we may recommend that you redesign your diet, increase your physical activity, and take prescription weight loss medications. 

In terms of diet, it’s best to focus on eating plenty of fresh produce, lean proteins like fish and legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats like avocados and olive oil. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that we get at least 150 minutes of exercise per week (about 30 minutes a day, five days per week) — and remember, you don’t have to do things you hate or hold yourself to an impossible standard. Briskly walking your dog, a good gardening session, and even cleaning your house can count. 

Though some people eat less when stressed, approximately 70% of people eat more when stressed. You can tame stress by exercising and getting outside, resting well, pursuing favorite hobbies, hanging with friends, and adopting a mindfulness practice, like meditation.

We mentioned that medications can also be powerful aids to weight loss. Sakura Aesthetics offers two particularly successful ones: tirzepatide and the tri-topic injection. 

Tirzepatide is an injectable medication that helps even out your blood sugar, calms your appetite, and benefits your metabolism. It’s effective because it acts as your natural appetite-regulating hormones do, helps you become satisfied with smaller servings, and curbs cravings.

The tri-topic injection contains specific nutrients and amino acids to burn fat, raise your energy level, and support the creation of lean muscle.

Something essential to remember about these breakthrough medications: In order for them to work properly, you need to combine taking them with maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

After you reach your goal weight, we help you stay on track

The next lifelong required skill to master is maintaining your weight loss once you've reached your goal weight — and this is easier said than done. Not only is it easy to slip back into old habits, it’s also difficult to transition successfully from a stricter, goal-oriented routine to a true, lasting lifestyle. 

We ensure your long-term success by creating a maintenance eating and movement plan and providing the reassurance that an ongoing relationship brings. In essence, we’ll always be here for you!

If you’re ready to lose weight for better health, to enhance your self-esteem, and make 2026 your best year ever, contact our Honolulu office at 808-204-2969 or use our convenient online booking tool. For your convenience, we also book appointments on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.