An estimated 45 million Americans go on a diet each year, and Americans spend $33 billion each year on weight loss products. Yet nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Obesity is a chronic disease that requires lifelong treatment and medical care.

The BMC Medical Weight Management team provides a multidisciplinary approach to managing obesity with evidence-based compassionate care. Using a shared decision-making approach with the patient, we provide a personalized plan for weight loss and improvements in metabolic health such as hypertension, diabetes, and increased cholesterol. We meet you where you are in your weight-loss journey with kindness, respect, and the most current and effective therapies.

[Learn More about What We Do](/transforming-lives-your-guide-boston-medical-center-obesity-medicine-clinic "Transforming Lives: Your Guide to Boston Medical Center Obesity Medicine Clinic | Boston Medical Center")

## Our Team

### Doctors

[Ivania M. Rizo, MD](/about-us/directory/doctor/ivania-m-rizo-md "Ivania M. Rizo, MD | Boston Medical Center"), Director of Obesity Medicine

[Samar Y. Hafida, MBCCh](/node/170169 "Samar Y. Hafida, MBCCh | Boston Medical Center")

[Eric Nolen-Doerr, MD](/about-us/directory/doctor/eric-nolen-doerr-md "Eric Nolen-Doerr, MD | Boston Medical Center")

[Kavita Sharma, MD](/about-us/directory/doctor/kavita-sharma-md "Kavita Sharma, MD | Boston Medical Center")

[Denise H. Wong, MD](/about-us/directory/doctor/denise-h-wong-md "Denise H. Wong, MD | Boston Medical Center")

### Nurse Practitioners

Catherine Lobo Galo

Ivy Opoku-Mensah

Kristen Spain

[Joelle Sulistio, FNP](/about-us/directory/doctor/joelle-sulistio-msn-fnp "Joelle Sulistio, FNP | Boston Medical Center")

Tina Yiu

### Registered Dieticians

Stephanie Chen

Joanne Keaveney

Jessica Peters

Sarah Veber

## Medication Management

Pharmacotherapy is an important intervention in all chronic diseases including obesity. Our program combines nutrition and lifestyle counseling with FDA-approved weight loss medications in consultation with our team. Weight loss medications can work differently for everyone, and may help decrease your appetite and increase fullness. Our obesity medicine specialists carefully review your health history and work together with you to prescribe the most suitable medication or combination of medications. We evaluate your progress with regular appointments and make adjustments to your plan as needed to achieve the best outcome.

## Nutrition Counseling

Our dedicated registered dietitians provide personalized support through one-on-one and group interactions.

### Healthy Habits Classes

Look at our [Teaching Kitchen calendar](/nourishing-our-community/teaching-kitchen/calendar "The Teaching Kitchen: Calendar | Boston Medical Center") for a list of [Healthy Habits](/nourishing-our-community/teaching-kitchen/program-information/healthy-habits "Healthy Habits | Boston Medical Center") classes you can attend.