Metabolic Health and Weight Management: The Tia Approach

There’s no question weight and metabolism are complex, often emotionally-charged subjects.

At Tia, we approach them the same way we do all care: with compassionate, individualized support that takes into account your whole health.

Because metabolic health doesn’t happen in a vacuum, our members meet with primary care providers who look at the bigger picture—from family history to hormones—and put it in context to create a holistic path forward. Let’s dig into why metabolic issues might arise, how we see them as part of a bigger picture, and what sets our approach apart.

Human metabolism wasn’t made for the world today. We were made to hold on to fat. When we’re stressed, we crave sugar because it gave our ancestors the energy to run from predators—but this biology is maladaptive for the chronic stresses of modern life.

While metabolic challenges are present throughout life, we develop more visceral fat during menopause; this is the fat that defines metabolic syndrome, leading to increased insulin resistance and cardiovascular risks. On top of it all, the United States’ food system pushes a diet high in processed foods and other products that undermine health.

When women come to Tia seeking weight management solutions, we know it’s not because they did anything “wrong,” but because of what’s happened in their lives (and in our world). It’s natural to need more support when your metabolism changes during menopause and other life transitions.

It’s normal for chronic stress and a history of trauma to increase insulin resistance and weight gain.

This has been Tia’s mission since the beginning: to fill in the care gaps women experience in a system that wasn’t made for them. And our approach to weight management has this care philosophy at its core—providing you with a personalized, shame-free, collaborative, and supportive solution that is made for you.

Tia also exists to manage chronic disease if it arises. It’s crucial that we support patients who have metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and other related chronic cardiometabolic conditions regardless of their BMI.

These conditions interact with and impact each other, and shouldn’t be separated into the silos of endocrine, cardiac and/or gynecologic care. Helping patients heal requires caring for those interactions within the context of the whole person and their life.

We recognize that weight management is incredibly complex. Regardless of whether our members are navigating it as part of a disease state, they deserve holistic, non-judgmental care.

At Tia, we reject the idea that obesity is caused by poor self-image or self-control, and acknowledge that people’s relationships with their weight and food are emotionally charged and complicated.

Like all our journeys to whole health, Tia’s approach to weight management is comprehensive, and takes into account each individual’s perspective on what a healthier life means to them. Because there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, we utilize a range of tools, from lifestyle adjustments to prescriptions, supplements, and beyond.

It’s important to note that while weight management medications can be beneficial for certain patients, long-term data on them is still lacking. At Tia, they’re just one part of a multifaceted Care Plan that includes other components like nutrition, mental health support, acupuncture, and close support and follow-up from your Tia Care Team.

If you’d like Tia’s expertise on your weight management journey, the best way to get started is to schedule an intake appointment. This is a judgment-free virtual visit where a Tia clinician will listen and learn about your weight management journey.

We’ll work with you to understand your goals and unique situation, then develop, refine and support you in a Care Plan that works best for you. Metabolic health is complicated, but with Tia, finding the support you need doesn’t have to be.