Weight Issues Treatment in Greenville, SC
Functional medicine weight management in Greenville, SC. Dr. Hendry identifies hormonal and metabolic barriers to weight loss and addresses them at the root. Call (864) 365-6156.
"I have been going to Dr. Hendry for 2 months now, for Acupuncture and Supplements. After 2 months, this is the best I have felt in over 2 years. My energy is so much better, my gut and digestion is back to normal."
— Danny Pyatt · March 2026 · Google Review
What Is Weight Issues?
The patients who come in unable to lose weight are not eating more than they're burning. They've tried that. Some have tried it repeatedly over years. The issue is that the body's weight regulation system isn't a simple scale with calories in on one side and calories out on the other. Insulin resistance is the most common metabolic barrier I find — and it makes weight loss physiologically difficult without addressing it first. When cells resist insulin's signal, circulating insulin stays chronically elevated. Elevated insulin is the body's primary fat-storage signal. No amount of caloric restriction overrides this mechanism consistently. The same person eating the same calories will store more fat when their insulin is elevated than when it isn't. Thyroid dysfunction slows resting metabolism measurably. Sleep deprivation raises ghrelin and lowers leptin — altering hunger and satiety biology in ways that aren't addressable by willpower. Cortisol from chronic stress drives central fat accumulation and carbohydrate cravings. These are biological states with measurable markers. They require biological correction, not better adherence to the same approach that has already failed.
Common Symptoms
Root Causes: A Functional Medicine Perspective
Insulin resistance — the most prevalent metabolic driver of excess weight — occurs when cells stop responding to insulin's signal to take up glucose. The pancreas compensates by producing more insulin, and elevated insulin drives fat storage while blocking fat release. A diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar perpetuates insulin resistance in a vicious cycle.
Thyroid dysfunction significantly slows metabolic rate. Cortisol from chronic stress drives central adiposity and carbohydrate cravings. Low testosterone in men and hormonal imbalances in women create metabolic environments that favor fat storage and muscle loss. Gut dysbiosis — particularly an imbalanced ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes bacteria — extracts more calories from food and produces metabolic endotoxemia that drives weight gain. Sleep deprivation raises ghrelin (hunger hormone) and lowers leptin (satiety hormone), creating biological hunger that is not addressable by willpower.
How We Treat Weight Issues at IHP
Dr. Hendry's functional medicine approach to weight begins with identifying which biological barriers are active: comprehensive metabolic testing (fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, complete thyroid panel, cortisol rhythm, sex hormones), gut microbiome assessment, inflammatory markers, and nutritional status. This assessment reveals the specific drivers requiring correction.
Treatment combines dietary interventions targeted to the biological pattern (low glycemic for insulin resistance, thyroid-supportive nutrition, anti-inflammatory for inflammatory patterns), targeted supplementation (berberine and inositol for insulin resistance, thyroid support, adaptogenic herbs for cortisol management), sleep optimization, and acupuncture — which has documented effects on appetite regulation, stress hormones, and metabolic function. Acupuncture at specific points reduces ghrelin, improves insulin sensitivity, and supports metabolic rate.
Dr. Hendry's Approach
I approach weight difficulties as a diagnostic problem. The question isn't 'how do I get this patient to eat less?' It's 'why is this patient's body resisting weight management despite genuine effort?' That question has measurable answers. Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, a full thyroid panel, cortisol rhythm, sex hormones, inflammatory markers — one or more of these almost always identifies the biological barrier. Once I know what's actually happening, I can intervene specifically. Berberine and inositol for insulin resistance. Thyroid optimization if T4-to-T3 conversion is impaired. Adaptogenic herbs and sleep protocols for cortisol dysregulation. Gut restoration if dysbiosis is contributing to metabolic endotoxemia. The correction of underlying physiology often produces weight movement where nothing else has — not because we've found a trick, but because we've finally addressed the actual problem.