South Jersey Magazine - Marlton / Medford

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SJM_Dr . Fortino Profile_0325FINAL.qxp_profile 3 / 21 / 25 3 : 20 PM Page 1 s p o n s o r e d p r o f i l e sjm EMPOWERING PATIENTS Dr . Robert Fortino — the region’s GLP - 1 weight loss expert — combines cutting - edge medication with a personalized approach to promote healthier lifestyles . fter more than two decades building GLP - 1 weight loss medications , helping “ Patients tell me they just don’t want a reputation as the region’s premier patients achieve transformative weight to be hungry all the time . Hunger in the weight - loss specialist , Dr . Robert loss results . U.S . is A mostly psychological — we are an Fortino is thrilled to be at the forefront of overfed and undernourished nation ad - a medical breakthrough that is changing A Leader in Medically Supervised Weight Loss dicted to processed food sugar ” he says . lives . Dr . Fortino’s practice is renowned for its With the introduction of GLP - 1 weight FDA - approved , medically supervised The Power of GLP - 1 Weight Loss Medications loss medications like Semaglutide ( Ozem - weight loss programs , which provide safe , Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are break - pic , Wegovy ) and Tirzepatide ( Mounjaro , effective , and long - term solutions for pa - through treatments that help patients lose Zepbound ) , Dr . Fortino — also known as tients struggling with obesity and related weight , lower cholesterol , reduce blood the “ Philly Diet Doc ” — has helped thou - health conditions . His expertise extends sugar levels and decrease inflammation . sands of patients take back control of beyond traditional weight loss methods , They work by curbing appetite and re - their health , shed excess weight , lower focusing on the latest advancements in ducing “ food noise ” , allowing patients to their risk of chronic diseases and restore metabolic health to combat diabetes , high achieve significant and sustainable weight their confidence . blood pressure and cardiovascular risks . loss . “ This is a game - changer , ” he says . What sets Dr . Fortino apart is his “ old - Both medications are administered “ These medications allow patients to school bedside manner , ” ensuring that through a once - weekly , painless subcu - finally break free from the cycle of hunger each patient receives individualized care taneous injection , with dosages customized and weight gain . Seeing my patients regain tailored to their specific needs . He believes for each patient . Dr . Fortino carefully eval - energy , improve their health and feel good in treating the whole person , not just the uates every aspect of a patient’s health , about themselves again is incredibly re - symptoms , offering comprehensive sup - lifestyle , and medical history to determine warding . ” port in nutrition , lifestyle changes and the most effective treatment plan . For those seeking expert medical guid - medical interventions . ance , cutting - edge treatments and a per - Comprehensive Health & Wellness Approach sonalized approach to weight loss , Dr . The Inspiration Behind His Work Dr . Fortino is a strong advocate for a nu - Robert Fortino is the go - to physician in Dr . Fortino is board - certified in internal trient - dense , low - carb , high - protein , and New Jersey and Philadelphia . With over medicine and spent his early career pro - healthy fat diet , rather than calorie counting 25 years of experience , Dr . Fortino has viding care for underserved populations . or fad diets . He believes that sustainable become the region’s leading specialist on Over time , he became deeply invested in weight loss and overall health come from addressing the root eating real , whole foods that nourish the causes of chronic dis - body and support metabolic function . eases through weight “ I teach my patients to focus on fueling management . their bodies with the right foods rather “ I got into the than obsessing over calorie numbers . ” weight - loss arena be - Patients trust Dr . Fortino not only for cause it’s a different his medical expertise , but also for his per - way of approaching sonalized care and dedication to their long - chronic issues like di - term success . He takes the time to educate , abetes , high blood support and guide each individual on their pressure . That’s the journey to better health , ensuring they feel way you treat any dis - empowered every step of the way . ease : at its roots , ” says “ Our motto is : ‘ Strong , Not Skinny , ’ Dr . Fortino . because health isn’t about being thin — He emphasizes it’s about being strong , energetic and ! that obesity is not feeling your best , ” says Dr . Fortino simply about num - bers on a scale but Robert Fortino , D.O . about metabolic dys - Turnersville & Philadelphia , Pa . function and overall ( 856 ) 318 - 4100 | DrFortino.com health . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 21 issue 12 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 23

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SJM 0325 Health — Weight Loss_Dept 3 / 21 / 25 2 : 28 PM Page 1 How are your patients ’ weight loss plans S J M | H E A L T H customized ? “ We look at the person's behavior , we have them fill out a questionnaire , and we go H over that food questionnaire and ask them : What do you need ? And most people say , ‘ I just need the cravings to go away . ’ From The Substance of their perspective , it's what people call the ‘ food noise , ’ they just don't want to be Weight - Loss Medicine hungry all the time . … This is where a drug — like semaglutide or tirzepatide , NOW THAT WEIGHT - LOSS MEDICATIONS ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE Ozempic , Wegovy — comes into play , TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC , THERE ARE INCREASING CONVERSA - because they actually do help your brain TIONS ABOUT THEIR MULTIFACTORIAL IMPACT . by Carly Murray adjust to that noise . The centers of your iving in America while trying to lose weight can feel like an unwinnable brain that are responsible for dopamine battle . Fast - food and junk - food companies ’ advertising is subliminally and production , for habitual and hedonic L effectively ingrained in our heads from early childhood , while simultaneously , behavior — it really does help attenuate that beauty and entertainment companies — with the help of photo editing — present an noise down to a functional level . ” unrealistic standard of physicality . — Robert Fortino , D.O . , Dr . Robert Fortino Injectable weight loss medications began trending in Hollywood within the past few years , the results were stunning — but initially still unattainable to the average , working Are they safe ? Is there any real differ - class individual . Now that these medications have been further expanded , their poten - ence between the generic and name tial has challenged major food companies , because they have proven to successfully brands ? suppress appetites during use . However , many were designed as a medical necessity , so “ The newer GLP medications seem to they may not be for everyone . not only be safe , but beneficial with long - South Jersey Magazine spoke with local medical professionals for their analyses of term use . There have been studies weight - loss medications , the varied options and their development . demonstrating reduction in strokes , heart attacks , and fatty liver disease . The oldest How have weight loss medications evolved from their related GLP medications are now 20 initial discovery ? years old and have been found to be safe “ Weight loss medications have progressed from early over time . Studies are ongoing with some stimulants like amphetamines ( 1930s ) to appetite sup - of the newer agents . pressants ( phentermine , fen - phen ) and fat blockers ( orli - “ Strictly speaking , these newer GLP stat , 1999 ) . Safety concerns led to the rise of hormonal medications , such as Wegovy , Ozempic , treatments , notably GLP - 1 receptor agonists like liraglu - and Zepbound , are not yet generic . Com - tide ( Saxenda ) and semaglutide ( Wegovy / Ozempic ) , pounding pharmacies use the generic which regulate appetite and digestion . More recently , names for these medications because tirzepatide ( Mounjaro / Zepbound , 2022 ) , a dual GLP - they cannot use the brand names . I 1 / GIP agonist , has demonstrated even greater efficacy . always tell patients to stick with the Future treatments focus on multi - hormone , gut micro - brand names . The ingredients in a com - biome and gene - based therapies for personalized weight management . pounded medication are not known , and “ This evolution has led to safer , more effective and sustainable weight loss solutions . can be variable . Safety is also a concern Early stimulants , though effective , carried risks like addiction and cardiovascular com - with compounded medications . ” plications . The shift to hormonal therapies has allowed for targeted , long - lasting weight — Dr . Louis Balsama , bariatric surgeon loss with fewer systemic side effects . These newer treatments address the underlying and obesity medicine physician , Virtua ! biology of obesity , improving metabolic health , diabetes risk and cardiovascular out - Health comes . Future advancements in multi - hormone and gene - based therapies promise even greater personalization , making weight management more accessible and med - SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ically sound . ” — Travis J . Laverne , MHS , PA - C , Medical Director / Director of Clinical Services , The Garden Medical Spa RESOURCES Garden Medical Spa Robert Fortino , Are there any common misconceptions that you hear often ? Voorhees , Washington D.O . “ I think there was at first a really negative spin to these medications , that they're new and Township , Northfield , Turnersville they have all of these side effects . I think , for the most part , the side effects are not as Mullica Hill & Collingswood ( 856 ) 318 - 4100 great as the risk of chronic disease with obesity . Overall , the side effects are usually bear - ( 856 ) 446 - 3454 DrFortino.com able and fairly mild in comparison to staying overweight for the rest of your life . TheGardenMedSpaNJ.com “ Years ago , we had some medications that helped a little bit , and there were a lot of Virtua Health side effects for some of the medications that weren't really worth their use , but the new Metropolitan Plastic Serving South Jersey invention of the GLP - 1s , have really revolutionized the whole industry . These medica - Surgery & Medspa ( 888 ) VIRTUA - 3 tions are just game changers . … These medications that we're now prescribing have Marlton Virtua.org really made a huge difference in people's lives who are overweight . ” — Dr . Julia Spears , ( 856 ) 345 - 2240 MetropolitanPlastics.com M.D . , Metropolitan Plastic Surgery & Medspa SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 21 issue 12 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 24 |

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