Jennifer Brown, MD

When I walk up steps these days, my left knee crunches. It’s a bit disconcerting. If I hike too far or sit in the wrong position for too long, my knee swells and aches. I have osteoarthritis in that knee, but I can’t write it off as part of the normal aging process.Osteoarthritis has long been thought to be caused by repetitive mechanical stress on our joints as we age. The prevailing theory has been that the cushioning cartilage in our joints breaks down by daily microtrauma, until eventually w...

IntroductionOver the past 3 decades, the prevalence of obesity has skyrocketed. The obesity epidemic in the US contributes substantially to rising chronic disease rates, early mortality, and exorbitant healthcare costs. I’m an obesity medicine specialist who treats patients in a rural community that has one of the highest obesity rates in the country. Obesity is a challenging disease to manage — successful long-term weight loss requires a comprehensive team approach. In my community, there are n...

Some people seem to never gain weight no matter how much they eat, while others try every fad diet around and never lose an ounce. Some can drop 15 pounds just by “setting their minds to it.” Other people wholeheartedly embrace the weight loss advice of “eat less, move more,” yet continue to gain weight.As an obesity medicine physician , I see my patients’ frustration when they can’t lose weight, even if they do everything right. There’s a reason this happens, and it often has little to do with...

Rural populations, comprising 20% of the US population, have long struggled with limited access to healthcare compared to their urban counterparts. Rural communities are often geographically isolated, have fewer healthcare providers, lack public transportation, and have higher rates of poverty. These factors contribute to disparities in access to quality healthcare services in these areas. This disparity is reflected in the higher prevalence of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and other chronic...