Metabolic & Lifestyle
Medicine Center

Here to help you with your goals

Obesity is a Chronic Disease

Obesity is a complex, chronic, treatable disease. Research has shown weight loss can reverse or reduce the risk of over 200 obesity-related diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver and 13 types of cancer. Currently only 2% of patients who qualify for anti-obesity medications are being treated, and only 1% of patients who qualify for metabolic and bariatric surgery undergo the procedure. At our Metabolic & Lifestyle Medicine Center (MLMC), we strive to improve care for patients with metabolic disorders including obesity and metabolic disorder-associated conditions.
We are currently accepting new patients with no wait list!

Forms for New Patients

MLMC Program Agreement

MLMC Overview Consent

MLMC Patient Intake Form

About the Program

At IGIC, we are partnered with the Lowell General Hospital and Lawrence General Hospital Centers for Weight Management and offer comprehensive, coordinated care to support patients seeking weight reduction. Our multidisciplinary treatment approach consists of lifestyle interventions, pharmaceutical therapy, as well as endoscopic and surgical procedures to help achieve a healthier, happier life.

Lifestyle Medicine Pathway
Our clinical team partners with weight loss clients to modify behaviors and make sustainable changes to optimize health and wellness. Our providers also utilizes evidence-based health coaching techniques to help individuals to realize their inner strengths and build upon their personal value system. We provide an integrated multidisciplinary approach to weight loss that includes nutritional counseling with registered dietitians as well as psychologist led cognitive behavioral therapy. Weight management is only one of the important goals for these programs, with healthier eating, daily activity, stress management, and quality sleep remaining at the forefront of these interventions. Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) are offered on a bi-monthly basis to offer community support for effective change. We also have a private Facebook group to bring together our IGIC Lifestyle Medicine & Weight Management community where patients can cheer each other on: click here to request to join.

For those interested in optimizing lifestyle medicine as a pathway to weight loss as well as overall health, IGIC also facilitates Pivio (formerly CHIP) programming. To contact us about Pivio, please send us a message here.

Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Currently, NAFLD affects 1 in 3 US adults. NAFLD is the fastest growing chronic liver disease in the US and is driven by increased diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes and obesity. This increases one’s risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. NAFLD will soon by the number one reason for liver transplant. The ability to recognize and treat fatty liver early is important in preventing chronic disease. We know that 10% reduction in body weight can help reverse fatty liver disease.

We are partnering with a proprietary and virtual wellness program called Novoliver, which is built on the four pillars of FUEL, BODY, MIND and SLEEP to help patient reverse fatty liver. Additionally, our goal is for patients to achieve a state of complete physical and mental well being.

Nutritional Services
IGIC recommends a whole-food plant-predominant Mediterranean-style diet plan. Weight loss clients meet individually with our registered dietitians for customized meal plans and nutritional advice. Patients can order directly from our Meal Replacement Program.

Obesity Medications Pathway
The Obesity Medications Pathway combines lifestyle changes with the use of medications for appropriate candidates to lower body disease and decrease the risk of associated chronic diseases. Program participants will meet individually with an obesity medicine specialist (a physician or nurse practitioner who has specific training in the treatment of obesity) to determine which treatment option is best for them. Medication decisions will be made on an individual basis, after a thorough review of prescribed medications, past medical history, current health conditions, and physical exam findings. Weight loss medications work differently for every person and may reduce your appetite, increase fullness and/or improve your metabolism.The obesity medicine team will monitor participant progress carefully, making adjustments as necessary, for optimal results. Please note, not all patients will qualify for weight loss medication.

Endoscopic Therapy
In addition to lifestyle intervention and weight loss medication, IGIC offers minimally invasive, cutting edge endoscopic procedures, such as the Intragastric Balloon, a removal non-surgical method to kick start weight loss, and Apollo OverStitch, a procedure for patients who have regained weight after gastric bypass.

Surgical Pathway
The Weight Loss Surgery Program at Lowell General Hospital and Lawrence General Hospital offers a full spectrum of safe and effective surgical procedures for obesity, weight disorders and metabolic disease. Our surgical team performs a high volume of weight loss surgeries and achieve excellent outcomes. Each is a board-certified surgeon who specializes in treating patients with complex medical disorders related to obesity as well as weight disorders and metabolic disease. Surgical options include gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, roux-en-Y gastric bypass and surgical revision.

To schedule your consultation, call us at 978-459-6737 to make an appointment or email our Metabolic & Lifestyle team here.

Praise for Pivio

“My personal experience with PIVIO has been life changing. This program opened my eyes to all the bad and destructive foods I considered “Healthy”. I learned that while many of my poor eating habits contribute to excessive weight gain and were leading me down a path that included dangerous comorbidities, I am able to stop + reverse most of those conditions. Eating a plant/based clean food diet is not as difficult as I thought. If I can do it, Anyone can! I lost 30 pounds in 10 weeks!”

Suzanne C.
“Love the group and program experience. I enjoy following a 'mostly' plant based diet and love the weight loss success I've had and feel more healthy and energized by the program. Food as medicine is much better than medicine and I hope to shed my medicine soon.”

Peter M.
“I cannot say enough great things about this program. It’s inspired me in ways no other program did. I'm happier, healthier,sleeping well and motivated in ways I've never dreamed. The videos, literature,and recipes are resources I can use indefinitely. I'm forever grateful for Gina, Dr. Rao, PIVIO & the community of friends… I feel blessed”

Carol P.