Medical weight management is a distinct field from bariatric surgery and from general primary care. The three Nashville programs profiled below combine physician oversight, FDA-approved anti-obesity pharmacotherapy (including GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide), and structured nutrition and lifestyle support. Each entry reflects information published on the practice’s own site, verified on 2026-05-11.
Quick Comparison #
| Practice | Operating Since | Headquarters | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt Weight Loss Center | Center for Medical Weight Loss opened 2012 | Nashville, TN (One Hundred Oaks) | Academic medical weight management with multidisciplinary team |
| Complete Health Partners Weight Loss & Metabolic Health | Practice in West Nashville since 2018 (Dr. Babcock board-certified in obesity medicine since December 2013) | Nashville, TN (Charlotte Pike) | Physician-led obesity medicine, metabolic health, lifestyle coaching |
| Nashville Weight Loss Solutions | Approximately 15 years of bariatric and medical weight management practice | Nashville, TN (Murphy Avenue) | Non-surgical pharmacotherapy program alongside bariatric surgery |
1. Vanderbilt Weight Loss Center #
- Address: 719 Thompson Lane, Suite 22200, Nashville, TN 37204 (One Hundred Oaks)
- Phone: (615) 322-6000
- Co-director, Clinical Obesity Medicine: Gitanjali Srivastava, MD, FACP, FAAP, Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics
- Operating Since: Vanderbilt Center for Medical Weight Loss opened at One Hundred Oaks in October 2012
- Team scale per published staff list: 7 physicians (including Anna B. Bradley, MD; Barbara G. Carranza Leon, MD; Erica M. Garner, MD; Shivani Jani, MD; Tony L. Ross, MD; Gitanjali Srivastava, MD) plus 13 advanced practice providers and a licensed clinical social worker
- Service area: Nashville plus additional Tennessee locations in Belle Meade, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, and Spring Hill
- Specialties: Medical (non-surgical) weight management, anti-obesity pharmacotherapy, structured nutrition planning, exercise physiology consultation, behavioral and psychological support, coordination with the Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight Loss when surgery is indicated
- Website: Vanderbilt Weight Loss Center
Academic obesity medicine leadership #
Dr. Srivastava serves as Professor of Medicine in the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and co-directs the Vanderbilt Weight Loss Center. She is founding director of the Nutrition and Metabolic Disease Fellowship at Vanderbilt and vice-chair of the Obesity Medicine Fellowship Council. Her ABOM Diplomate status is paired with primary board certifications in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, which supports both adult and adolescent care under one roof.
Multidisciplinary team model #
The published roster lists physicians, advanced practice providers, dietitians, exercise physiologists, psychologists, and a licensed clinical social worker. That mix matches the team composition the Obesity Medicine Association cites as standard for full-spectrum obesity care, where pharmacotherapy decisions sit alongside structured nutrition, physical activity counseling, and behavioral support rather than in isolation.
Pharmacotherapy plus surgical pathway coordination #
The medical program runs in concert with the Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight Loss. Patients whose clinical picture indicates bariatric surgery can move between programs inside the same medical center, and patients on a medication-and-lifestyle plan stay in the medical track. The Center for Surgical Weight Loss has been an established program at Vanderbilt for years and is part of the same Weight Loss Center service line.
Multiple Middle Tennessee locations #
In addition to the Nashville One Hundred Oaks site, the Weight Loss Center publishes locations in Belle Meade (4243 Harding Pike), Clarksville (800 Weatherly Drive, Suite 201), Murfreesboro (1272 Garrison Drive, Suite 309), and Spring Hill (1003 Reserve Boulevard, Suite 320). The geographic spread serves patients who live outside Davidson County without requiring travel to the academic medical center for every visit.
https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/service-line/weight-loss-center
2. Complete Health Partners Weight Loss & Metabolic Health #
- Address: 6746 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209 (Nashville West)
- Phone: (629) 203-7858 (Nashville West); (615) 991-2855 (Hendersonville sister location)
- Founder and physician lead: Thomas “Ty” Babcock, MD, board-certified in Obesity Medicine (certification completed December 2013) and board-certified in Emergency Medicine
- Operating Since: Dr. Babcock joined with Drs. Ed Hadley and Marc Mickiewicz to launch the West Nashville practice in 2018; Dr. Babcock has held obesity medicine board certification since December 2013
- Credentials: Board-certified obesity medicine specialist oversight per the published Weight Loss & Metabolic Health program page; multi-payer insurance acceptance listed below
- Service area: Greater Nashville from the Charlotte Pike location plus a Hendersonville sister site at 166 East Main Street
- Specialties: Physician-supervised medical weight loss, metabolic medicine, anti-obesity medication management, nutritional planning, supplement guidance, exercise science education, sleep and stress counseling, ongoing lab monitoring, one-on-one habit-formation coaching
- Insurance accepted (published list): Aetna, Ambetter, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Medicare, Multiplan, Oscar, Tricare, UnitedHealthcare, UMR; self-pay options available
- Website: Complete Health Partners
Obesity medicine board-certified physician oversight #
The Weight Loss & Metabolic Health page states that care is provided or overseen by a board-certified obesity medicine specialist. Dr. Babcock completed obesity medicine board certification in December 2013, which places him among physicians who pursued the credential during the period immediately following the American Medical Association’s 2013 formal recognition of obesity as a disease.
Metabolic medicine framing rather than weight-only framing #
The published program description treats body weight as one outcome inside a broader metabolic picture that includes blood sugar, blood pressure, lipids, and sleep. Lab-based monitoring sits alongside medication and nutrition rather than after the fact, and the program lists continuous health monitoring with lab work as a core element rather than an add-on.
Habit-formation coaching alongside medication #
The published service list pairs medication and supplement planning with one-on-one habit-formation coaching, exercise science education, and sleep and stress counseling. That combination matches the four-pillar model (nutrition, physical activity, behavior, medication) endorsed in Obesity Medicine Association educational materials.
Multi-payer insurance acceptance #
The clinic publishes an accepted-insurance list covering most major commercial carriers plus Medicare and Tricare. Coverage for specific GLP-1 medications still depends on each plan’s pharmacy benefit and prior-authorization rules, but the front-end visit coverage from a broad payer panel reduces the cash-only barrier that some weight management programs carry.
3. Nashville Weight Loss Solutions #
- Address: 2200 Murphy Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203
- Phone: (615) 342-5820
- Physician lead: Hugh L. Houston III, MD, board-certified bariatric surgeon; fellowship trained in Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery at Vanderbilt University; 15-plus years in Middle Tennessee bariatric and medical weight management
- Operating Since: Dr. Houston has practiced bariatric and weight management in the Middle Tennessee market for approximately 15 years per published bio
- Credentials: Board-certified bariatric surgeon; the affiliated TriStar Centennial Center for Weight Management holds Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Center of Excellence accreditation
- Service area: Greater Nashville and Middle Tennessee from the Murphy Avenue location
- Specialties: Non-surgical medical weight loss program with FDA-approved anti-obesity medications (Phentermine, Qsymia, Contrave, Wegovy, Zepbound, semaglutide), STAR Coaching nutrition program (nutrition planning, education, meal plans, accountability), plus full surgical bariatric services for patients who meet indication criteria
- Website: Nashville Weight Loss Solutions
Surgical and non-surgical pathway under one roof #
The practice publishes both surgical and medical (non-surgical) weight loss tracks. Patients who do not meet surgical indication criteria, or who prefer a medication-and-lifestyle plan, enter the non-surgical pathway. Patients whose clinical picture indicates surgery can move to the bariatric track without changing providers. That continuity matters because some patients begin on medication and later become surgical candidates, while others use medication post-surgically.
Published medication list #
The non-surgical program names a defined formulary of FDA-approved anti-obesity medications: Phentermine, Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate ER), Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion ER), Wegovy (semaglutide), Zepbound (tirzepatide), and semaglutide. Publishing the formulary up front, rather than describing medications only in general terms, lets prospective patients match a planned medication to insurance formulary and out-of-pocket expectations before the first visit.
STAR Coaching nutrition program #
The clinic operates a structured nutrition support track branded STAR Coaching, which covers nutrition planning, patient education, meal plans, and accountability check-ins. Combining medication with a defined nutrition curriculum addresses the pattern that medication discontinuation often leads to weight regain unless eating patterns have shifted during the medication phase.
Bariatric fellowship and Center of Excellence affiliation #
Dr. Houston completed a two-year fellowship in Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery at Vanderbilt University and is recognized for early adoption of duodenal switch laparoscopic technique and gastric balloon procedures in the Tennessee market. The affiliated TriStar Centennial Center for Weight Management holds MBSAQIP Center of Excellence accreditation, which the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery jointly administer.
https://www.nashvilleweightloss.com/
Reference Notes #
The American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) administers the obesity medicine certifying examination available to physicians (MD or DO) who hold an active primary board certification recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic Association and who complete the eligibility pathway combining clinical experience and continuing medical education in obesity medicine. ABOM Diplomate status is renewed on a defined cycle and the directory of current Diplomates is published at abom.org. The Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) is the professional society for clinicians who treat obesity and publishes the Obesity Algorithm and related clinical guidance documents. OMA membership is separate from ABOM Diplomate status; a clinician may hold one, both, or neither.
Anti-obesity pharmacotherapy in the United States currently includes GLP-1 receptor agonist injectables (semaglutide marketed as Wegovy for weight loss and as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes; liraglutide marketed as Saxenda for weight loss and as Victoza for diabetes) and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists (tirzepatide marketed as Zepbound for weight loss and as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes). Oral agents with FDA approval for chronic weight management include phentermine (short-term), phentermine/topiramate extended release (Qsymia), naltrexone/bupropion extended release (Contrave), and orlistat. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) publishes an obesity treatment algorithm, and the American Osteopathic Association recognizes obesity medicine within osteopathic continuing education tracks.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued public warnings about compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide products. Section 503A traditional compounding pharmacies and Section 503B outsourcing facilities operate under defined federal frameworks, and patients should verify the source pharmacy for any compounded GLP-1 product. The American Medical Association formally recognized obesity as a disease in 2013, which preceded the broader expansion of obesity medicine board certification and the FDA approvals of newer GLP-1 and dual-agonist agents for chronic weight management.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is a credential issued by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Tennessee licenses dietitians and nutritionists separately at the state level. A medical weight management practice that integrates RDN-led nutrition counseling alongside physician-directed pharmacotherapy delivers the nutrition pillar of the four-pillar (nutrition, physical activity, behavior, pharmacotherapy) model that OMA educational materials describe.
Selection Methodology #
Each listed program publishes a physical Nashville-area address, a working phone number, and a named physician with documented board certification relevant to weight management. Two of the three list a physician with obesity medicine board certification specifically (Vanderbilt’s Dr. Srivastava as an ABOM Diplomate; Complete Health Partners’ Dr. Babcock with obesity medicine board certification completed December 2013); the third (Nashville Weight Loss Solutions) is led by a fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon whose practice integrates an FDA-approved non-surgical anti-obesity medication program with structured nutrition coaching. Each program publishes a defined medication and lifestyle scope rather than a single-product cash-pay offer. Listings reflect only information published as of 2026-05-11; readers should verify current ABOM Diplomate status through the abom.org public directory and confirm current pricing, insurance acceptance, and medication availability directly with each program before initiating treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions #
What is an ABOM Diplomate and how does it differ from a primary specialty board certification? #
The American Board of Obesity Medicine certifies physicians (MD or DO) who already hold an active primary board certification (such as Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, or Endocrinology) and who complete additional clinical and continuing medical education requirements in obesity medicine. ABOM Diplomate status is therefore a layered credential held on top of a primary board, not in place of it. The current Diplomate directory is published at abom.org.
Are GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound FDA-approved for weight loss? #
Yes. Semaglutide is approved under the brand name Wegovy for chronic weight management in adults and adolescents who meet defined body mass index criteria, and tirzepatide is approved under the brand name Zepbound for chronic weight management in adults. The same molecules are also marketed under different brand names (Ozempic and Mounjaro respectively) for type 2 diabetes management. Insurance coverage for the weight-loss indication varies by plan and by employer formulary.
What is the difference between compounded semaglutide and brand-name Wegovy? #
Brand-name Wegovy is the FDA-approved finished product manufactured by Novo Nordisk. Compounded semaglutide is prepared at a Section 503A traditional compounding pharmacy or a Section 503B outsourcing facility, typically using a different salt form or a non-finished active ingredient. The FDA has issued public warnings about safety risks associated with compounded GLP-1 products, and patients should ask any program for the source pharmacy and the form of semaglutide being dispensed.
Does insurance generally cover medical weight management visits in Tennessee? #
Visit-level coverage from major commercial carriers, Medicare, and Tricare is widely available when the visit is billed under obesity-related diagnosis codes and provided by a credentialed clinician. Medication coverage is a separate question and depends on each plan’s pharmacy benefit and prior-authorization criteria. Some employer plans exclude anti-obesity medications even when the medical visit is covered, so verifying both medical and pharmacy benefits before starting treatment is the right step.
Editorial Note #
This guide was published on 2026-05-11 and reflects research current as of that date. Verify licenses, phone numbers, and current business status before engaging any firm.