Pediatric & Young Adult Endocrinology
Metabolic & Obesity Medicine
Weight is biology, not willpower. Care begins with understanding what the body is doing and why, and with treating the family with respect.
When families notice
- Weight gain that does not match what you are seeing at home
- Prediabetes, type 2 diabetes or an elevated hemoglobin A1c
- Dark, velvety skin at the neck or underarms
- Elevated cholesterol, triglycerides or liver enzymes
- Weight changes after a medication or a change in health
What it usually means
Obesity is a medical condition with hormonal, genetic and environmental components. Prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome are related but distinct, and each is followed differently.
Care is never centered on blame, and it does not assume that a number on a scale is the whole story.
What I look at
- Growth and weight history, plotted over time
- Family history of diabetes and metabolic conditions
- Laboratory results, including glucose, insulin, lipids and liver enzymes
- Medications that affect weight
- Sleep, activity, food access and what has already been tried
How I approach it
We look for what is driving the pattern in this specific person, and we set goals that are about health, not appearance.
When medication is appropriate, we discuss what it does, what it does not do, and how it is monitored. When it is not, we say so.
When to see me
If weight or metabolic results are a concern, or if the conversation so far has felt like advice rather than an evaluation, a consultation can change that.
At a glance
- In person in New York City
- Telehealth
- English & Español
- No referral needed
Dr. Luisa F. González Ballesteros, MD
Conditions families ask about next
Still not sure this is the right question
If the explanation you were given does not fit what you are seeing, a consultation can help you understand the pattern.