I vividly remember the novelty of the first child I saw with a genetic disorder: an 8-year-old boy weighing over 200 pounds. However, in just the last several months I have seen a normal 5-year-old that weighs 130 pounds and I have diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes in 3 severely obese teenagers.

The youngest was only 13.

Obesity is a disease of affluence; it is a disease brought about by the amazing success of our society. In the United States, over 60 percent of adults are overweight. Obesity-related illnesses cause an estimated 300,000 preventable deaths in the United States every year. Moreover, obesity imposes isolation far beyond the physical pain and emotional strain it causes.

My goal is to help people to weight loss success. There’s nothing better for me professionally than the joy I receive in seeing the smiles of my patients as they work hard and achieve their goals.