Metabolic medicine

Many factors contribute to obesity, but the disease can be treated successfully. Specialists at Penn Metabolic Medicine use evidence-based therapies to design a personalized care plan based on your needs and lifestyle. We have extensive experience in obesity and other metabolic diseases, like type 2 diabetes, and we give you access to the latest treatments that can help you achieve your weight management goals. You’ll also receive education and follow-up care throughout your weight management journey.

Whether you have trouble maintaining a healthy weight, you’ve regained weight after bariatric surgery, or you want to lose weight to help improve other medical conditions, our experts can help. We make you an active member of your health care team and bring you therapies that fit your life.

As a nationally recognized academic medical center, we have specialists with a variety of expertise who are part of your treatment team. Our metabolic specialists include endocrinologists, obesity medicine physicians, registered dietitians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and bariatric surgeons. They collaborate with your primary care physician and other providers so that you receive seamless care.

Part of your care plan may include metabolic testing, which provides information about how your body uses energy and guides your treatment plan. We’re also at the forefront of obesity research, working to advance the understanding and treatment of metabolic disorders. This means your care is informed by the latest scientific insights, and you may have access to innovative treatments through clinical trials.

Treatments for effective metabolic management

We offer many options that help you reach your weight management goals, including:

• Education about weight management
• Nutrition counseling with personalized meal plans
• Achievable fitness goals
• Behavioral health services
• Medications, like GLP-1 agonists, which are adjusted as needed throughout your weight loss journey

Our experts also evaluate you for other diseases related to obesity, like high blood pressure and sleep apnea. If needed, you’ll be referred to specialists within Penn Medicine who coordinate your treatment with your metabolic medicine team.

If surgery is part of your treatment plan, our surgeons are leaders in the field of bariatric surgery and weight management. They perform hundreds of weight loss procedures a year, including minimally invasive gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgeries, along with incision-free procedures. We’re certified by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program for meeting the highest safety and quality standards.

No matter what your goals are, our advanced metabolic care provides you with a sustainable, healthy approach to weight loss.