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Weight Changes services offered in Portland, OR
Unexplained weight gain - or difficulty losing weight despite doing all the right things - is
rarely just about calories. Naturopathic physicians Rebecca Sand ND and Elizabeth
Emrick ND at Open Wellness PDX investigate the metabolic, hormonal, and
inflammatory drivers behind weight changes that conventional approaches often miss. If
you have been told your labs are normal but the weight is not budging, there may be
more going on beneath the surface. Call the Portland office, request a telehealth visit, or
book online to get started.
Weight Changes Q&A
Why is weight change so hard to address?
Weight is regulated by a complex web of hormones, metabolism, gut health, inflammation, and nervous system signaling. When any of these are out of balance, the body can resist change regardless of diet and exercise effort. Common patterns seen at Open Wellness PDX include weight gain during perimenopause or after hormonal changes, inability to lose weight despite caloric restriction, rapid unexplained weight loss, weight gain correlated with increased stress or poor sleep, fatigue and fluid retention alongside weight changes, and history of thyroid issues, PCOS, insulin resistance, or cortisol dysfunction.
What drives unexplained weight changes?
Weight dysregulation is almost always a symptom of something else. Root causes commonly include insulin resistance, thyroid dysfunction, elevated or dysregulated cortisol, sex hormone imbalances, gut microbiome disruption, chronic inflammation, and nutrient depletions. Advanced lab testing - including fasting insulin, expanded lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, hormone panels via DUTCH testing, nutrient levels, and thyroid assessment - helps identify which levers actually need addressing in each individual.
How does naturopathic medicine address weight changes?
Dr. Sand and Dr. Emrick build individualized plans that go beyond calorie counting. Treatment may include targeted nutrition therapy, evidence-based botanicals and nutrients, amino acids such as glycine and taurine, nutrient optimization, movement prescription, stress and sleep support, hormone balancing, gut health treatment, and pharmaceutical options including GLP-1 receptor agonists when clinically appropriate. The goal is to restore metabolic health from the inside out - so that weight normalization follows naturally rather than requiring constant restriction.
To get started, call 503-770-0670, request a telehealth visit, or book online.