Kevin Gendreau, M.D.

Have you ever felt like your body is working against you? I’ve been there. At 306 lbs, I battled type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. Traditional advice like “eat less, move more” failed me—but understanding the hormonal and biological drivers of weight gain changed everything. I lost 120+ lbs, reversed my chronic conditions, and have since helped thousands of my patients reclaim their health. Now, I’ve put it all into my Metabolic Health Handbook—a 253-page guide to tools like therapeutic carbohydrate restriction, intermittent fasting, risks and benefits of medications, and over 200 recipes to improve your metabolic health. Available now on Amazon for $19.95. LINK IN BIO! ❤️💪🏼 #metabolichealth #weightloss

I could not be more honored and grateful for this massive feature in Men's Health Magazine!!! 💪🏼 menshealth.com/health/a701409…

💡NEW PAPER💡 Food addiction and binge eating symptoms can be improved without drugs or surgery using real food, real support, and virtual care. Our new peer-reviewed study was just published: 🔗frontiersin.org/journals/psych… 💙 Like, repost, bookmark, or share this link to help spread awareness about the power of metabolic health and lifestyle changes. 🧵/ Here is what we found and why it matters. 👇

Did you know that some of the most commonly prescribed medications can actually cause weight gain? These drugs (listed below) can make it significantly harder to lose weight—even when you're doing everything right with diet and exercise. I just finished the Blackburn obesity medicine course at Harvard Medical School where we spent time reviewing how medications impact metabolic health. It was a powerful reminder of how often this piece gets overlooked! 🧠 Psychiatric Medications: Sertraline, Paroxetine, Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Zyprexa, Clozapine, Risperidone, Seroquel, Abilify, Lithium, Depakote 💉 Diabetes Medications: Insulin, Glipizide, Glyburide, Pioglitazone, Rosiglitazone 💊 Cardiovascular Medications: Metoprolol, Propranolol, Atenolol, Prazosin 🦠 Steroids and Hormones: Prednisone, Dexamethasone, Depo-Provera 🧬 Neurologic, Histaminergic, and HIV: Diphenhydramine, Hydroxyzine, Gabapentin, Lyrica, Indinavir, Nelfinavir, and Ritonavir 💊 CURRENT FDA-Approved Medications for Weight Loss: - Semaglutide (Wegovy) → 15–17% average body weight loss in 72 weeks - Tirzepatide (Zepbound) → 22.5% body weight loss in 72 weeks - Phentermine/Topiramate (Qsymia) → 10.5% body weight loss in 56 weeks - Bupropion/Naltrexone (Contrave) → 8% body weight loss in 56 weeks 🔬 FUTURE Promising Medications for Weight Loss (2026-2027): - Retatrutide (GLP-1 + GIP + Glucagon) → 24.2% body weight loss in 48 weeks - CagriSema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide) → 22.7% body weight loss in 68 weeks - Orforglipron (a daily GLP-1 pill, not an injection!) → 14.7% in 36 weeks 📉 Why this matters: Obesity isn’t just about eating less and moving more. It’s a complex condition driven by hormones, biology, and genetics—and sometimes, medications play a major role. If you’re gaining weight or feel like nothing is working no matter how hard you try, it could be related to the medications you’re taking. REMEMBER: don’t make any changes on your own. Always talk to your doctor first. Ask if any of your current prescriptions might be contributing to weight gain, as there may be equally effective alternatives that support—not sabotage—your weight and metabolic health. Never stop or adjust medications without medical guidance. The right care plan can make all the difference. Let’s stop blaming willpower and start looking at the science. #weightloss #fatloss #metabolichealth #insulin #insulinresistance #glp1medication #glp1agonists #injectables #health #wellness #tirzepatide #retatrutide #semaglutide #ozempic #wegovy #mounjaro #zepbound #orforglipron #scienceoverstigma #futureofmedicine #obesitymedicine

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’m sharing my IN and OUT list for 2025 with you, but I also want to emphasize exactly why ✨SMALL CHANGES MATTER✨ this year! Did you know that losing just 5-10% of your body weight can create massive health benefits? I’ve treated over 3,000 patients for weight loss—but have also lived this myself! Here’s what the science says: 1️⃣ Lower Blood Pressure: Every 10 lbs lost reduces systolic BP by 4-5 mmHg! 🩺 2️⃣ Better Blood Sugar: Losing 5-10% of your body weight can drop HbA1c by 0.5-1 points, helping manage (or reverse) diabetes or pre-diabetes.🩸 3️⃣ Improved Sleep Apnea: A 10% weight loss can reduce sleep apnea severity by up to 50%.🥱 4️⃣ Healthier Liver: A study published in “Gastroenterology” in 2015 reported that a 10% weight loss led to resolution of fatty liver in up to 90% of participants. 5️⃣ Cholesterol Wins: Dropping 5-10% can reduce triglycerides by 20-30% and boost HDL (“good” cholesterol). 6️⃣ Joint Relief: Every 1 lb lost = 4 lbs less pressure on your knees. Research published in “Arthritis & Rheumatology” revealed that a 10% body weight reduction resulted in a 50% improvement in knee pain for people with osteoarthritis.🦵🏼 7️⃣ Decreased Risk of Cancer: Losing 5-10% of body weight reduces inflammatory markers like CRP and insulin, both linked to cancer risk. A 20-lb loss in overweight individuals was associated with a 30% lower risk of breast and colon cancers. The “Women’s Health Initiative” showed that just a 5% weight loss decreased breast cancer risk by 12% over 10 years…😲 Let’s make 2025 the year of small victories with big impacts! Whether your goal is to lose 5 lbs or 50 lbs, remember: every step forward counts. 💪🏼 For more science-backed strategies, check out my new book, “Metabolic Health Handbook: A Doctor’s Guide to Overcoming the Hormonal and Biological Barriers to Fat Loss” at the link in my bio! What is on your IN and OUT list this year? Share below in the comments, where I’ll be answering weight loss questions all day!👇 #2025goals #newyearnewyou #metabolichealth #wellness #weightlossjourney #progressnotperfection #insulinresistance #insandouts

Save these important lab cut-offs for your next doctor’s visit! These metrics help us determine if you have insulin resistance or metabolic dysfunction: - Triglycerides: <150 mg/dL, but <100 mg/dL is ideal - Fasting Glucose: <100 mg/dL - HbA1c: <5.7%, but <5.4% is even better - Blood Pressure: <130/85 mmHg - HDL (Good Cholesterol): >40 mg/dL for Men, >50 mg/dL for Women (60-80+ mg/dL is ideal) - AST/ALT (Liver Function Tests): <40 IU/L each - Fasting Insulin: <10 mIU/L is great, but <6 mIU/L is ideal - Waist Circumference: <35” for Women, <40” for Men #metabolichealth #insulinresistance #weightloss #wellnessgoals #healthtips

2️⃣ Weight Loss Hacks: ⬇️ 1. Ditch processed carbohydrates & refined sugars. Cereal, bread, pasta, chips, ice cream, cookies, and crackers spike your blood sugar and worsen insulin resistance. Opt for protein, fats, and fiber instead. 2. Try to stop eating by a certain time every day (i.e. 7 PM). You may also want to try a 6 or 8-hour eating window since time-restricted eating has been shown to burn fat and improve insulin sensitivity. #intermittentfasting #metabolichealth #insulinresistance #pcos #diabetes #wellness #weightloss #weightlosstips #timerestrictedeating #metabolism #weightlosshacks

6 GREAT FAT & FIBER COMBOS FOR WEIGHT LOSS: - Avocado + Eggs - Brussels Sprouts + Parmesan - Sautéed Spinach in Olive Oil - Yogurt + Nuts + Berries - Celery + Peanut Butter - Salmon + Asparagus PS. My favorite yogurts are @Chobani Zero Sugar, @RatioFood, and @TwoGoodYogurt!

TOP 5 TIPS for SUCCESS w/Intermittent Fasting: 1. Start slow and gradually increase your fasting window. Sometimes it’s best to start by making an easily achievable rule for yourself (i.e. “no eating after 7:30pm). 🕗 2. Stay well hydrated during the fasting period. Water, black coffee, tea, and broth are all okay to consume while fasting—as long as you stay below ~35 calories. 💦 3. Break your fast with broth or a balanced meal of proteins, healthy fats, and fiber. These foods groups reverse insulin resistance, boost your metabolism, and help with weight loss & maintenance. 🥑 4. Don’t ruin all your progress by consuming processed carbs and refined sugars during your eating window. Bread, pasta, cereal, chips, cookies, candy, crackers, soda, juice—these foods break your metabolism by causing blood sugar spikes and worsening insulin resistance. 🚫 5. Listen to your body and mind. Adjust your fasting schedule as needed. 16:8 or 18:6 is appropriate and easy for most people! 🧘 For more tips like this, I have an instant, downloadable fasting guide at my Etsy shop—link in bio! 📖 #intermittentfasting #weightlosstips #transformation #motivation #eatclean #wellness #nutrition #timerestrictedeating

@magzookeeper Thanks so much for the support!!! 🙏🏼❤️

@KevinGendreau I am so excited about this! My daughter just helped me order the bundle 😊

I am delighted to announce the digital release of all my patient educational materials, exclusively designed for weight loss and improving metabolic health. They are available TODAY via instant digital download in PDF format on Etsy! The full bundle includes 90+ low-carb recipes to create your own meal plan, an introduction to metabolic health with a resource guide, a diverse list of low carbohydrate snacks, a comprehensive grocery list, a beginner’s guide to intermittent fasting, and a weekly wellness tracker. Patients who come to see me in my weight loss clinic get this exact packet as part of our program—I'm so excited to share it with everyone nationwide and worldwide! Thanks so much for your support. 🙏🏼❤️💪🏼 #weightloss #metabolichealth #intermittentfasting #wellness #nutrition #patienteducation #doctor #resources #recipes #ketofriendly #mealplan #paleo etsy.com/shop/Metabolic…

@robertlufkinmd Thanks so much for sharing! 🙏🏼

It is possible to lose significant weight without pills/surgery. His secret: Limit eating window to 6-8 hrs. Avoid processed junk foods [sugar, refined carbs, bread, cereal, juice, soda, chips, etc] Congratulations to @KevinGendreau who dropped 125 lbs in 18 months.

@MangoSlayer__ Indian wedding in Boston!

I don’t believe in gatekeeping weight loss secrets! This is how I lost 125 lbs in 18 months: - Consumed <40-50g total carbohydrates per day. - Focused my diet on healthy fats, protein, and fiber. - Avoided processed carbohydrates and refined sugars (bread, pasta, chips, cookies, crackers, candy, cereal, juice, soda, etc.). - Followed a 6 or 8-hour eating window every day. - Primarily ate meats, seafood, eggs, berries, nuts, veggies, and yogurt. - No surgery or medications. #weightloss #lowcarb #metabolichealth #insulinresistance #beforeandafter #transformation #motivationmonday #intermittentfasting

@exped1500 About 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobic exercise, mostly jogging.

@TiffysSweetSpot Yes! 7 years and counting.

@KevinGendreau Are you still eating this way?

@jimsutton3 Many!

@KevinGendreau Great work! Probably fixed a bunch of latent metabolic issues as well.

@PlacaSeag I do! About 6-12oz per day in the morning. 😁

@KevinGendreau You look much healthier now, well done!! 👏🏻 do you drink coffee?

@LFree2021 I try to reach 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise per week, mostly jogging.

@KevinGendreau wow, amazing, what was the exercise routine?

@tommytuckermd Yes!

@KevinGendreau Did you cut out alcohol?