UNC Medical Weight Program
Obesity is a serious disease which can cause or worsen approximately 200 other medical conditions. Apart from the impact on health, individuals suffering from obesity have a significantly worsened quality of life due to the physical limitations imposed by their weight on a day to day basis.
We at the UNC Medical Weight Program understand the medical, physical and social burden that obesity places on an individual and have created a supportive environment to provide modern treatments based on scientific study and understanding of obesity. Our comprehensive medical obesity treatment services are designed to improve patient health and quality of life by concentrating on long term sustained weight loss outcomes. We specialize in treating medically complex patients with serious medical illnesses, who benefit from management of their obesity.
Our Programs
Contrary to common belief, obesity is a very complex disease with numerous causes that go well beyond eating more and exercising less. Due to the complex etiology, multiple strategies are necessary for effective treatment and long term management. Furthermore the responses of individuals to treatments are variable. We therefore offer a range of treatments in a step wise strategy to encompass responses from different individuals with unique medical goals.
The services offered include:
A comprehensive evaluation with a dietitian and medical provider to identify possible causes for the obesity, undiagnosed medical illnesses due to obesity, barriers to treatment. Based on the comprehensive evaluation, the medical provider determines the best treatment options, which are then discussed with patients in detail to formulate the final treatment and follow up plan.
Examples of the treatment options are:
- Dietary modifications by working individually or in groups with a dietitian.
- Additional lifestyle interventions directed by the medical provider or referral to specialized providers as necessary.
- Medication adjustments to reduce exposure to weight gain causing medications.
- Addition of medications to help bring about fat loss safely.
- Referral for effective endoscopic procedures to help with obesity treatment.
In addition to the standard long term weight management programs to promote weight loss and maintenance, we offer a short term Optifast program utilizing balanced very low calorie meal replacements to achieve substantial fat loss in preparation for medical or surgical procedures.
We work closely with the bariatric surgery team to have their services available for patients as needed.
Provider Team
 Sriram Machineni, MDDirector, UNC Medical Weight Program Dr. Machineni is Assistant Professor of Medicine at UNC and has been a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine since its inception in 2012. He completed a clinical and research fellowship in Obesity Medicine from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. After completion of his fellowship, he served as an Instructor at Harvard Medical School and faculty member at the MGH Weight Center in Boston. His research interests are geared towards understanding the way the human body regulates its weight. He is presently involved in research studying personalized medicine strategies for obesity. |
 Jillian Hyttenhove, RDDietitian Jillian Hyttenhove completed her dietetic internship and master’s degree at East Carolina University. She has been working in the field of obesity and weight management since she joined the Nash UNC Health Care surgical weight loss team in 2012.Ms. Hyttenhove has expertise in providing support for individuals undergoing bariatric surgery and started the Nash hospital’s first outpatient nutrition program for diabetes, cancer and weight management. She is among the first dietitians in North Carolina to be certified in obesity and weight management by Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and promotes a comprehensive integrated approach to lifestyle intervention for obesity. |
UNC Medical Weight Program in the News
- “Experts Say These are the Exact Dangers of Belly Fat” – PopSugar
- “Experts Weigh in on How to Lose Weight — and Keep it Off” – PopSugar
- “This is How Long it will Take for Intermittent Fasting to Work” – PopSugar
- “Lose Weight Fast — and Keep It Off — With These Simple Tips From Experts” – PopSugar
- “Part-time diet: Passing fad or for real?” – Healio
- “Rethinking Obesity Care” – UNC Department of Medicine
What to do if you would like to be seen in the UNC Medical Weight program
Welcome! You have taken the first step in familiarizing yourself with our program.
- You will need to contact your primary care physician to get a referral to the program.
- After we receive the referral from your medical provider, we will call you and set up your first appointment with the dietitian followed by the medical provider. The total duration of these visits may be up to an hour and a half.
Prior to the appointment, we will mail you a questionnaire which we would like you to fill out and bring with you at your appointment.
If you have questions, please call the UNC Hospitals Diabetes & Endocrinology Clinic at Meadowmont at 984-974-2950.