Knownwell Opens 6 Weight-Loss Management Clinics in Chicago Area
Healthcare Startup Expands into Midwest with Stigma-Free Approach
Health care startup Knownwell has opened six clinics in the greater Chicago area, focusing on weight-loss management for adults and adolescents. This marks the Boston-based company’s foray into the Midwest and its largest expansion since launching in 2023.
Illinois’ Obesity Epidemic
In Illinois, more than 35% of adults are obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Knownwell’s Midwest expansion aims to “directly address this growing health epidemic by providing adults and adolescents with a stigma-free environment,” the company said in a statement.
Clinic Locations
Knownwell has opened clinics near Lincoln Park, as well as suburban sites in Elgin, Schaumburg, Huntley, Romeoville, and Westmont.
Services Offered
The company offers metabolic health services, primary care, nutrition counseling, and behavioral health services, both online and in-person. Knownwell will partner with local health systems for bariatric surgery and medical weight loss.
Treatments
Knownwell’s treatments include prescriptions of medications like Ozempic, a popular weight-loss drug known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. This class of drugs was originally meant to treat diabetes, but they surged in popularity after the Food and Drug Administration approved them for weight loss in 2021.
Market Medical Director
Market medical director Dr. Anthony Auriemma is a physician specializing in obesity medicine. He previously served as medical director for Ascension Medical Group Illinois Weight Loss Solutions.
Weight-Loss Treatments
Weight-loss treatments have been in the spotlight as medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have grown in popularity. Doctors and researchers say the injectable drugs are effective tools in treating obesity.
FDA Approval
The American Medical Association has urged health insurance companies to cover the drugs, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has said doctors should consider giving the medications to kids 12 and older who are struggling with obesity.
Monthly Use
Monthly use of the medications soared in people ages 12 to 25, according to a 2024 analysis of U.S. retail pharmacy records from 2020 to 2023.
Knownwell’s Expansion
Knownwell opened its first clinic outside of Boston in 2023, followed by a location in Dallas last year.
CEO and Founder
Brooke Boyarsky Pratt, founder and CEO of Knownwell, has struggled with obesity since childhood. She started the company after learning that “most Americans have experienced stigmatizing care at the doctor’s office,” according to the company’s website.
Co-Founder
Knownwell co-founder Angela Fitch is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard University and former co-director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center.
Investment
Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz invested $20 million in Knownwell in 2024.
Conclusion
Knownwell’s expansion into the Chicago area marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to provide stigma-free weight-loss management services. With a focus on metabolic health, primary care, and nutrition counseling, Knownwell is well-positioned to make a positive impact in the lives of adults and adolescents struggling with obesity.
FAQs
* What is Knownwell’s approach to weight-loss management?
Knownwell takes a stigma-free approach to weight-loss management, focusing on metabolic health, primary care, and nutrition counseling.
* What services does Knownwell offer?
Knownwell offers metabolic health services, primary care, nutrition counseling, and behavioral health services, both online and in-person.
* What medications does Knownwell prescribe?
Knownwell prescribes medications like Ozempic, a popular weight-loss drug known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
