About 4 in 10 American adults live with obesity.
Dr. Kyle Varner is board certified in Obesity Medicine and Internal Medicine, and he has lived with obesity himself. He cares for adults with obesity the way it deserves to be treated, as a chronic medical condition: a full evaluation first, an evidence-based plan, and the same physician at every follow-up.
Prefer to talk first? Call (509) 426-5425
Source: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics. NCHS Data Brief No. 508: 40.3% of U.S. adults had obesity, August 2021 to August 2023.
Why weight is hard to manage
Weight that keeps coming back usually has a reason
The American Medical Association has recognized obesity as a disease since 2013. Even so, many checkups still end with the same advice as the year before.
01
The body pushes back
After weight loss, hunger tends to rise and metabolism tends to slow. That response is physiology, and it can be treated medically.
02
Related conditions travel together
Blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol often rise along with weight, so they are best addressed in the same plan.
03
Many factors go unchecked
Sleep, thyroid function, stress and common medications all affect weight. A complete evaluation looks at each one.
The care
A medical plan, built around each patient
Every plan starts from the patient’s own history and labs, then gets adjusted as life changes.
A thorough medical workup
History, exam and labs, with a close look at conditions and medications that make weight harder to manage.
Nutrition and activity that fit real life
Practical changes worked out together. No crash diets, and no lectures.
Prescription medication, when appropriate
For some patients, FDA-approved medication becomes part of the plan, after an honest talk about benefits, side effects and cost.
Follow-up that continues
Regular check-ins, and referral to bariatric surgery or another specialist when that is the better route.
The first visit
What a good obesity medicine evaluation looks for
An unhurried new patient visit with Dr. Varner, in person or by video. Labs usually go through LabCorp. The visit covers:
- Medications that can contribute to weight gain, including some antidepressants, steroids, and certain diabetes and blood pressure drugs
- Thyroid and other hormonal conditions
- Prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
- Sleep apnea and chronically poor sleep
- Blood pressure, cholesterol and fatty liver
- Joint pain or anything else that limits activity
Meet the physician
Kyle Varner, MD
Board certified in Obesity Medicine, and someone who has lived with obesity himself.
Dr. Varner founded Aristos Internal Medicine and is its only physician, so patients see the same doctor at every visit. He trained in internal medicine at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, holds dual board certification in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine, and speaks fluent Spanish.
In person or virtual
Two ways to be seen
In person in Spokane
42 E. Rowan Ave, Suite B, Spokane, WA 99207
Unhurried office visits with Dr. Varner, Monday to Friday. Every appointment is with him, from the first evaluation to each follow-up.
Video visits across Washington
Available anywhere in Washington State. Patients need to be physically located in Washington at the time of each video visit.
Any controlled medication requires an in-person evaluation first and is never started or continued through telehealth-only care.
We partner with most major insurance
Coverage varies by plan, especially for weight management medication.
Not sure about a specific plan? Text or call the office and the team will confirm it: Text (509) 426-5425 · Call (509) 426-5425
FAQs
Common questions
Will I be prescribed a weight loss medication?
Maybe. Medication is considered only after the evaluation, based on health history, labs, other medications and personal preferences. It is never automatic, and it is one tool among several.
How much weight will I lose?
Nobody can honestly promise a number. Results vary a great deal from person to person. The focus is on changes that improve health and can be kept up over time.
Can all of my visits be virtual?
Many can, as long as the patient is physically located in Washington at the time of each visit. Some situations, including any controlled medication, require an in-person visit first.
Do you take my insurance?
Aristos Internal Medicine participates with most major plans through Privia Medical Group. To check a specific plan, text or call the office at (509) 426-5425 and the team will confirm it.
Can related conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure be treated here too?
Yes. Dr. Varner is an internist, so prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and other related conditions can be managed in the same practice, by the same doctor.
How do I reach the office between visits?
Use the patient portal for medical questions and follow-up, and call for anything that needs a conversation. Text messaging is for scheduling and logistics only, never for medical questions.
Ready for a medical approach to weight?
Start with a full evaluation and a doctor who follows up. Book online in about a minute, or call (509) 426-5425.
Aristos Internal Medicine · 42 E. Rowan Ave, Suite B, Spokane, WA 99207 · (509) 426-5425
Dr. Kyle Varner, MD, is licensed to provide care in Washington. Aristos Internal Medicine is a member of Privia Medical Group.
Individual results vary. Treatment, including any prescription medication, is offered only when a physician determines it is medically appropriate after an evaluation. Information on this page is general and is not a substitute for personal medical advice.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. This website is not for emergency communication.
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