Medical Weight Management

Weight and digestive health are closely connected. We treat them together.

Excess weight contributes directly to several of the conditions we see every day. It raises pressure on the stomach and worsens reflux. It drives fat accumulation in the liver. It is associated with gallstones, with certain cancers of the digestive tract, and with the metabolic problems that accompany them. Treating weight is often part of treating the underlying condition rather than a separate project.

Why See a Gastroenterologist for This

If you are being treated here for reflux, fatty liver disease, or another digestive condition, we already know your history, your medications, and what your liver and gut are doing. That context matters when choosing a weight management approach, and it means the two things can be managed together rather than by separate clinicians who are not in contact.

What Treatment Involves

We start with an assessment of your medical history, current medications, prior attempts, and any digestive conditions in the picture. From there we build a plan that may include nutritional and activity changes, treatment of related conditions such as reflux or fatty liver, and medication where it is appropriate.

GLP-1 Medications

GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of medication that slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite, and they have changed what is achievable in weight management. Where they are appropriate, we prescribe and supervise them.

Two things are worth knowing before you start. First, they are not right for everyone — your medical history, other medications, and certain digestive conditions all affect whether they are a good choice, and gastroparesis in particular is a consideration given how these drugs work. Second, insurance coverage varies enormously between plans, and many plans cover them for diabetes but not for weight. We will go through both with you honestly rather than starting something that turns out to be unaffordable or unsuitable.

Because these medications affect the digestive system directly, side effects such as nausea, reflux, and constipation are common and manageable. Being treated by a gastroenterologist means the person adjusting your dose is the same person who understands those effects.