Hello, I'm Charmaine Smith, a certified Family Nurse Practitioner. I've practiced as a registered nurse and nurse educator in the state of Alabama for 20+ years. During my tenure as a nurse, I have come to recognize the stigma and negative attitudes that overweight patients encounter. This particular issue is one that is close to my heart.

 

In 2004, my mother passed away from sepsis. In the months preceding her death, my mother visited numerous physicians in an attempt to determine the source of her stomach issues, only to be told the major reason for her illness stemmed from her obesity. My mother succumbed to her illness in December of 2004, and was found to have had a ruptured diverticulum, which is quite treatable with early recognition. For years, I witnessed my mother suffer with self-esteem issues and what she deemed to be ridicule because of her weight. After all, she should just stop eating and exercise, right? Obesity is a chronic disease that can be compounded by a myriad of factors. Shouldn't we exercise and eat healthy? Absolutely and I would never discount the value these activities hold. At The Weights Over, it is my goal to utilize medication with health education to impact physical and mental changes for sustainable weight loss.

 

Let us work together on this journey. I look forward to meeting you. If you’re interested in scheduling a consultation with me, please send an appointment request.