The Story Behind Michigan Weight Loss Institute
Michigan Weight Loss Institute was founded on a powerful idea: weight management is medicine. As a board-certified internal medicine physician, Dr. Rita Kathawa saw firsthand how chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pain, and fatty liver disease could be dramatically improved through effective weight management. She also recognized a gap: too many patients were told to “just lose weight” without ever being given the medical tools or support to do it.
That gap inspired Michigan Weight Loss Institute, a practice built to provide both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment of obesity and weight-related conditions under one roof.
Hour Detroit Feature
Honored and Grateful: Michigan Weight Loss Institute in Hour Detroit.
Results-Driven Care, Built Around You
Dr. Kathawa is a results-driven physician. If a treatment isn’t working, we don’t wait and see. We pivot and explore new options. Our care includes pharmacologic treatments such as FDA-approved medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide (GLP-1 receptor agonists), alongside non-pharmacologic approaches including our behavior modification program and diagnostic testing. Every patient receives a personalized, medically supervised weight loss plan designed to address the root cause of weight gain, not just the number on the scale.
Led by One of Michigan’s Top Obesity Medicine Specialists
Dr. Rita Kathawa is an award-winning, board-certified obesity medicine specialist named a Top Obesity Medicine Specialist in 2024 and featured in Hour Detroit for her contributions to weight management. Her internal medicine background gives her a unique perspective on how weight impacts every area of health.
Our team also includes Stephanie Shaheen, PA-C, who leads our behavior modification program addressing physical activity, energy expenditure, sleep hygiene, sleep apnea management, and stress management in alignment with WHO guidelines. Our licensed on-site pharmacist ensures the safety and efficacy of every medication we prescribe, and our clinical support staff keeps your care running smoothly.
We’re not just a weight loss clinic. We’re a medical team that specializes in the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment of obesity and weight-related conditions.
Comprehensive Care, All Under One Roof
Everything you need is in one place: diagnostic and metabolic testing, an on-site pharmacy, a behavior modification program, medical weight loss programs, bariatric surgery options, NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) care, wellness services, and aesthetic treatments including Morpheus8 for skin tightening and body contouring. No referrals, no piecing together care from multiple providers.
From your first consultation, we take a whole-person approach. Whether you’re just beginning to explore medical weight loss or need a new direction, you will be heard, supported, and empowered to see real results.
Your Next Step
Michigan Weight Loss Institute serves patients across Metro Detroit from two locations in Sterling Heights and Bingham Farms. Schedule a consultation and find out what’s possible when you have the right team behind you.
