An Emphasis on Whole-Body Health is Proving Positive Results
By: Jeremy Angione | Photos by: Ashlee Glen
Weight loss is a prevalent and constantly evolving conversation in the health and wellness communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 74 percent of Americans are overweight, with 40 percent considered to be obese.
Despite the abundance of new diets and fitness options, those numbers persist, if not increase.
To help stem the issue of obesity in a more healthy and positive way, Dr. Venkata Maddukuri opened Forest Wellness MD in October 2024. Dr. Maddukuri is a double board-certified physician with more than a decade in her field.
“I’ve dedicated my practice to helping patients achieve transformation goals. My passion lies in understanding connections between obesity, metabolic health, and overall well-being,” Maddukuri said.
Though she formerly worked at Centra, Dr. Maddukuri says that the Covid-19 pandemic was a motivating factor in fully dedicating herself to her own practice to broaden the scope of her specialty.
Forest Wellness offers a wide range of services including personalized diets, meal replacements, hormone replacements, vitamin therapies, and women’s sexual health.
“Our mission is to empower people in a supportive and compassionate environment, so that patients’ lives can be happier, healthier, more successful and vibrant,” Dr. Maddukuri said.
The issues caused by obesity include heart issues, strokes, 13 different types of cancers common in obese people, and can
even reduce one’s life expectancy anywhere from five to 20 years.
“Proper weight loss methods are more important now than ever. Many people still think obesity is more of a cosmetic issue, but it’s actually a serious disease,” Dr. Maddukuri added.
She went on to cite the World Health Organization’s (WHO) classification of obesity as a disease back in 1948.
According to Dr. Maddukuri, many people believe that obesity is simply a willpower issue that is easily fixed by eating less and exercising more. However, she reasserts that, in fact, obesity is a “complex medical condition influenced by genetics, hormones, metabolism, and lifestyle.”
Because of the stigma around obesity and losing weight, Dr. Maddukuri says that many of her patients feel misunderstood, ashamed, and blame themselves for their failure to lose weight. Because of the emotional toll of obesity and weight loss,
Dr. Maddukuri maintains open and constant communication to create a plan that both fits and challenges their current lifestyle.
Dr. Maddakuri says that Forest Wellness strives to maintain a sense of normalcy for patients throughout their weight loss journey.
“We actually make a very customized plan. Forest Wellness takes into account what patients like to eat.
We try to include things they enjoy,” Dr. Maddukuri added.
With only a few months open, Forest Wellness is already showing results. Dr. Maddukuri says that on average, patients are losing 10 to 15 pounds in just a month’s time.
“We are seeing a lot of success—that’s what I feel very proud of. We are very fortunate that many people are loving us,” Maddukuri said.
She adds that by comparison, at similar clinics patients tend to lose 20 pounds in three to four months.
When a patient enlists the aid of Forest Wellness MD, they spend a considerable amount of time discussing their issues and lifestyles with Dr. Maddukuri.
“We are not just making our patients rely on medications,” she explained. “We talk to our patients. Our patients are more heard. I spend more than an hour with each patient. They are not just numbers, they are people with real issues.”
After a consultation, patients submit bloodwork, medical history, family history, and a hormonal panel. According to Dr. Maddukuri, gut and brain hormones are major factors in someone’s weight gain and ability to lose weight.
“Without proper hormone optimization, people will not lose weight. As soon as we optimize people’s hormones, it will be a night and day change. People feel as if they can accomplish more things.” Dr. Maddukuri said.
She compares the body to a car. Certain models run very efficiently on a gallon of gas, while others can only go half as far with the same amount of gas.
“Your body engine is not efficient in using the fuel.
We try to change the rhythm of the body to start burning the fat that’s already in it,” Dr. Maddukuri said.
Many of the medications and treatments at Forest Wellness seek to address the hormonal inefficiency in a patient’s body.
However, she cautions that medications are only 50 percent of the equation, with the other portion being a lifestyle change.
Dr. Maddukuri has lived in the area for about four years and is a mother to two young children. She began pursuing her field as a career because of a personal stake she had in fighting the causes and effects of obesity.
“I decided to pursue this speciality because I know how it feels,” she said. “I know the struggles with weight, health issues, and hormonal imbalances. It is a lot, and that’s why I am very passionate about helping people and educating.”
For a visit, Forest Wellness MD can be found at 18250 Forest Rd Suite 1, Forest, VA 24551.
