Physician-led weight care from your online family doctor
Weight is rarely just about willpower. Sleep, stress, medications, hormones, family history, and a busy schedule all play a part. I'm George Zabakolas, MD, a family physician, board-certified in Family Medicine (ABFM). I see adults by video for weight and metabolic care in the five states where I'm licensed: Washington, California, Ohio, Indiana, and Alabama.
Same doctor every visit. You won't be handed off to a rotating team or a chatbot. I take the time to understand your history and your goals, and we build a plan that fits your life. A consult can determine whether medication is appropriate for you; it's never a given, and it's never the whole plan.
No insurance needed.
• Start care online. Use the Start care button to request your visit securely through our patient portal. Share your health history, current medications, and your goals. Replies typically come within 12 to 24 hours on business days.
• Meet me by video. We'll have an unrushed, real-time visit (video, or audio when appropriate). We talk through your weight history, eating and activity patterns, sleep, stress, other health conditions, and what you've already tried.
• Get a personalized plan. Together we set a plan built around you: nutrition, movement, sleep, and habits, and, if it's clinically appropriate, medication. You'll leave knowing the next steps and when we'll check in.
• Labs as appropriate. If your history calls for it, I'll order labs at a lab near you, such as A1c, a lipid panel, kidney and liver function, or thyroid tests. Recent results from your own doctor may also work. We review them together.
• Regular follow-ups. We meet again on a schedule that fits your plan to see how you're feeling, check side effects if you take a medicine, and adjust. It's the same doctor at every follow-up.
• Adults (18 and older).
• Physically located in Washington, California, Ohio, Indiana, or Alabama at the time of each visit.
• People who want a physician to look at the whole picture, including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, sleep, and joint health, not just a number on the scale.
• People already taking a weight-management medication who want ongoing follow-up with one physician who knows their history.
• People who aren't sure where to start and want an honest conversation about their options, with or without medication.
Your safety comes first, so I'll be honest about what telehealth can and can't do.
• Medication is considered only when it's medically appropriate. That depends on your health history, your current medicines, your labs, and accepted medical criteria. Some people are better served by a plan without medication, and that's a good plan too.
• Some medicines aren't safe for everyone. That includes people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy, and people with certain personal or family histories, such as some thyroid cancers or pancreatitis. I review this carefully before recommending anything.
• If you have a history of an eating disorder, please tell me. Your care may look different, and I may recommend added support.
• No controlled substances. I don't prescribe controlled medications through this service, including controlled weight-loss medicines.
• Some situations need in-person care. If you need a physical exam, or your symptoms or readings are out of range, I may recommend an in-person visit before we go further.
• If you're in Alabama: state rules call for an in-person visit or referral when telehealth visits for the same ongoing condition go beyond four in 12 months. I'll help you plan for that.
• Emergencies. Telehealth is not for emergencies. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe belly pain, or very high or low blood sugar with confusion, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988.
• Board-certified in Family Medicine (ABFM). I'm a family physician trained to care for the whole person, including the conditions that often travel with weight.
• Licensed in WA, CA, OH, IN, AL. Care is available when you are physically located in one of these states at the time of your visit.
• Same doctor every visit. The same physician at every visit and follow-up, someone who knows your history and keeps the plan consistent.
• Unrushed and private. Real-time visits with room for your questions, on a HIPAA-oriented, encrypted platform.
You start care online, then meet me by real-time video. We go over your history, habits, and goals, order labs if they're appropriate, and build a personalized plan. After that, we keep in touch with regular follow-up visits, and it's the same doctor every time.
Not automatically. A consult can determine whether medication is appropriate for you, based on your health history, current medicines, labs, and accepted medical criteria. If medication isn't the right fit, we'll build a plan without it, and if it is, it's one part of a broader plan, not the whole plan.
Possibly. I will want to know which medication and dose you are on, how long you have taken it, any side effects, and your recent labs and health history. Every refill gets a fresh clinical look, and some people need a dose change or a pause rather than a straight refill. We decide together.
Often, yes, but it depends on you. Labs such as A1c, a lipid panel, kidney and liver function, or thyroid tests help us choose a safe plan and track your health over time. If labs are due, I can order them at a lab near you. Recent results from your own doctor may also work.
It depends on your plan. People starting or adjusting a medicine are usually seen more often; others check in less frequently. We set the schedule together at each visit, and you can send a secure message between visits.
No. Every body is different, and no honest doctor can promise a specific result or timeline. What I can promise is a careful, personalized plan, regular follow-up, and a physician who knows your history.
Telehealth weight care isn't right for anyone under 18, anyone who needs emergency care, or anyone who needs a hands-on exam first. Some medicines aren't safe during pregnancy or with certain health histories. If online care isn't the right fit for you, I'll tell you honestly and point you toward in-person care.
Yes. Same doctor every visit. I am George Zabakolas, MD, and I am the physician you will see at every visit and follow-up, so you never have to retell your story to someone new.
Start online when you're ready. Same doctor every visit, and a clear plan every time. Website content is general information, not medical advice. Clinical decisions, including whether any medication is right for you, are based on your history, the visit, and current clinical judgment. Individual results vary.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.