Practicing Prevention Through Obesity Medicine

For Alina Elperin, MD, DABOM, medicine has always been about more than diagnosing and treating disease. As an internal medicine physician and Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine since 2016, her passion lies within prevention.

“I’m an internist at heart, and preventative medicine is my passion,” she said. “What can I do to prevent disease from happening? Not just to diagnose and treat it, but to avoid problems in the future?”

That curiosity has driven most of her career and is what ultimately drew her to pursue obesity medicine as a subspecialty.

A Lifelong Passion for Medicine

Dr. Elperin always knew she wanted to become a physician.

“I was one of those people who was called to this profession. I don’t have physicians in my family, but I always knew I wanted to be a physician.”

She followed that path from undergrad and straight into medical school and residency. Throughout each step of her journey, one thing remained the same: her passion for helping people and going to work every day knowing that she’s able to make a difference in someone’s life.

Discovering the Ultimate Prevention

As an internist, Dr. Elperin spent her time caring for patients with chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, and sleep apnea. Over time, she noticed that many of these conditions she was treating were closely linked to weight gain. She realized that treating obesity in her patients could be one of the most powerful ways to prevent future health complications.

“As they get older, many people start gaining weight. I quickly realized that if we could help control obesity, it would be the ultimate prevention.”

Dr. Elperin’s connection to obesity medicine is also personal, as her oldest daughter has struggled with weight most of her life. “I didn’t feel well-equipped to treat those diseases, and I have a child that is struggling. That combination of things made me look to OMA."

She was determined to receive better training for both her patients and her daughter. Dr. Elperin began her journey within the OMA, attending conferences and finding community in the variety of attendees.

“This collaboration is enormously important in our field where we need to put all the pieces together to help people succeed in losing weight."

She immersed herself in all that OMA had to offer, becoming a member of the Communications & Media Committee where she can make a difference on a bigger scale. Dr. Elperin shares she loves being able to use her passion to teach others.

Making Time for Better Care

After being in the field for over 15 years, Dr. Elperin recently shifted from an employee-based medical practice to a concierge-model private practice.

The decision was driven in part by her experience caring for patients with obesity.

She knew that effective obesity care required time to understand a patient’s medical history, lifestyle, goals, barriers, family history, and past experiences with weight management.

“I did not have the luxury of time in an employee-based model,” she explained.

In her current practice model, she can limit the number of patients she sees.

“As a result, there is enough of me to go around for my patients,” she said. “I’m able to provide the accessible care that my patients deserve.”

She tells patients that obesity care does not always have to happen in the exam room. Sometimes a phone call or even an email is what helps patients stay supported when they need it most.

Breaking Down Barriers to Care

Despite progress in the field, Dr. Elperin sees significant barriers that still prevent patients from receiving the care they need, including access, misinformation, and weight bias.

While the number of obesity medicine specialists is growing, it can still be difficult for patients to find clinicians who are knowledgeable about the disease.

Another challenge is the influx of information that patients can find online. Social media, websites, and other online sources can make it difficult for patients to know what to trust or where to turn for evidence-based care.

She also sees patients who struggle with the effects of weight bias and stigma, which prevents them from asking for help or makes them afraid to treat obesity as a disease.

“Sometimes it takes time to get through to a patient, to say, “There is no shame. This is a disease like any other. Let’s come up with a personal approach to help you manage this disease.’”

Helping Patients Let Go of Shame

If there is one thing that Dr. Elperin wishes more people knew about obesity and obesity care, it is that it is not a disease of willpower.

Bias against people living with obesity remains very prevalent within society, and she believes it prevents many patients from receiving the care that they need. She hopes that the recent increase in effective treatment options will help people recognize that.

For her, obesity medicine is about helping patients receive the care they deserve, without shame or judgment.

Why Prevention Matters

In addition to helping her daughter, Dr. Elperin shares that her biggest motivation within obesity medicine is helping patients feel the benefits of treatment in a tangible way.

“When we talk about preventative health, fixing someone’s blood pressure or improving their cholesterol, people don’t really feel much better,” she said. “We know we’re preventing complications down the line. But when we help people lose weight, people feel so much better.”

She sees patients gain energy, mobility, confidence, and hope.

For her, that immediate improvement is one of the most powerful aspects of obesity care.

“People really feel the benefit of this treatment.”

Whether she is caring for patients in her practice, supporting her family, collaborating with colleagues, or educating others through OMA, Dr. Elperin continues to return to the same core belief: prevention matters.

Obesity medicine gives her the tools to help patients not only address current health concerns but also reduce the risk of future complications.

As OMA celebrates Member Appreciation Month, Dr. Elperin’s story highlights the power of prevention, education, and compassionate care. Through her work, she is helping patients feel better while helping them build healthier futures.