Metabolic health and preventive care for adults over 40
Stay healthy for the people who count on you.
I spent 14 years in top hospitals trying to rescue patients after chronic disease had already become a catastrophe. Most of the damage had been building for years. My practice now focuses on the drivers (obesity, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and high cholesterol) so you can stay ahead of them and lower your risk of tragedy.
- Will you be well enough to be there for your children’s graduations and weddings, for your spouse and for your aging parents?
- When did a physician last spend 60 minutes reviewing your health and building a personalized plan to keep you well?
- You know your blood pressure and cholesterol, but has anyone used a risk calculator to assess your actual risk of a heart attack or stroke?
- Obesity isn’t a cosmetic problem. It drives inflammation and insulin resistance, and it’s linked to more than a dozen types of cancer.
No pressure. If I’m not the right fit, I’ll tell you.
Your physician
Varun Verma, M.D.
In person in Cherry Hill, NJ · Telehealth in CA, NJ, NY and PA
Working as a hospital physician at UCSF, Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Mount Sinai in New York, Jefferson Health and Cooper University Hospital taught me something I couldn’t ignore: most chronic disease doesn’t suddenly appear in the hospital. A patient’s worst day, the stroke, the heart attack, the cancer diagnosis or the organ failure, doesn’t happen in an instant. It’s the result of missed opportunities to intervene. By the time patients are sick enough to be admitted, the process has usually been unfolding for years.
That realization pushed me upstream. Today I run a direct-pay practice in South Jersey for adults who want to stay ahead of disease instead of reacting to it.
“Your vital signs, labs and test results are a starting point. They guide us, but I treat the person, not the numbers, and build a personalized plan to improve your health.”
What I do
Find your real risk. Treat it. Follow up every month.
A full evaluation and a plan with real targets
A 60-minute comprehensive visit and a body composition scan, then a 30-minute accountability follow-up to check your progress against your targets.
Treatment and follow-through
A visit with me each month to review your progress, adjust medications and keep you accountable.
A doctor who already knows your story
Secure messaging for non-urgent questions, and a telehealth review after any specialist visit or hospital stay.
Areas of focus
What I treat.
I hold the doctor-patient relationship sacred. This isn’t a prescription vending machine: no questionnaire followed by an automatic prescription, only FDA-approved medications, and only when they’re medically appropriate.
Obesity
Visceral fat drives inflammation, insulin resistance and hormonal disruption, and raises your risk of 13 types of cancer. I treat it with a medical plan, including GLP-1 medications when indicated.
Low testosterone in men
Fatigue and low drive deserve a careful workup, not a guess. I find the cause first and treat confirmed low levels.
High blood pressure
The silent killer. I confirm your real numbers with home readings and treat to a clear target.
High cholesterol
Plaque builds for decades. I look beyond the standard panel, at ApoB and Lp(a), when it would change the plan.
Insulin resistance
It starts years before diabetes. I catch it early and work to reverse the trend.
Fatigue and low energy
It usually has a treatable cause, from poor sleep to thyroid disease. I find it first, then treat it.
In practice
Case study
M., 44 · Healthcare professional
Came in for: obesity and high blood pressure
Six months in, M. had lost 16 pounds, his A1C was back to normal and he had dropped one of his two blood pressure medications.
At start
A1C 5.8
BP 135/80 on 2 meds
194 lbs
At 6 months
A1C 5.4
BP 120/80 on 1 med
178 lbs
Case study
J., 48 · Surgeon
Came in for: low testosterone
J. came in with fatigue and low mood, asking about testosterone. His workup also showed an elevated cholesterol particle count and inflammation marker. With a statin, targeted supplements and his training, his fatigue resolved and he gained muscle.
At start
LDL 104
ApoB 86
hs-CRP 3.2
Fatigued
At 6 months
LDL 54
ApoB 59
hs-CRP 0.24
Fatigue resolved, more muscle
Case study
S., 52 · Executive
Came in for: heart health
S.’s cholesterol wasn’t optimal, so we ordered a coronary calcium score, and he chose to manage it with diet and exercise instead of a statin. His comprehensive labs through Function Health also turned up a surprise: an elevated mercury level, which we traced to his frequent meals of high-mercury fish and corrected. To lose weight without injections, he chose Foundayo, an oral medication.
At start
Mercury elevated
177 lbs
At follow-up
Mercury normal
168 lbs
Details changed for privacy. Individual results vary. These examples do not guarantee or predict any particular outcome.
What patients say
In a patient’s words.
Over the years, my family and I have experienced his compassion firsthand. He doesn’t just treat symptoms; he takes the time to understand how our lifestyle plays a role in our health. Every visit feels personal, never rushed. He balances deep medical expertise with sincere human connection, a rare combination these days.
C.M.
Pricing
A doctor in your corner.
You spend years taking care of the people who count on you. This investment and focused attention to your health is how you make sure you’re around, and healthy, to keep doing it.
Treating the drivers early is almost always less expensive, and far less disruptive, than treating a heart attack or stroke later.
Each monthly consult focuses on lowering your risk factors and keeping you accountable to your nutrition and movement plan, with guidance between visits for non-urgent questions. Month-to-month, with no long-term contract.
New patient comprehensive intake
$500for 30 days
The opposite of a rushed 15-minute visit: a thorough evaluation of your history, labs and body composition, and a plan built around your life, not a template.
- 60-minute comprehensive physician visit
- Body composition scan and grip strength test (in person, Cherry Hill, NJ office only)
- Labs and diagnostic testing ordered when indicated
- Prescription medication when appropriate
- 30-minute accountability follow-up to review your progress
Ongoing physician care and accountability
$300per month
A monthly visit with the physician who knows your case. I review your labs, weight and body composition, refine your medication and nutrition plan, and hold you to the goals we set together.
- Monthly physician visit
- Body composition and grip strength rechecks at in-person visits
- Medication management and lab review
- Secure messaging for non-urgent questions
- Physician support: telehealth reviews after specialist visits, new diagnoses or hospital stays
- I’m there to guide you, answer your questions and address your concerns along the way
Labs, imaging and medications are billed separately. See additional costs
Frequently asked questions
The details.
Does this replace my primary care physician?
No. Keep your primary care doctor for annual physicals, vaccines, cancer screening and general medical care. I focus on weight, metabolic health and cardiovascular risk, with more time and attention than a standard visit allows, and I work alongside your other doctors.
Do you provide urgent care or sick visits?
No. For a sudden illness or injury that needs an in-person exam, imaging or a procedure, go to urgent care. For an emergency, call 911.
You’re never on your own, though. If you’re an established patient and something new comes up, like a new symptom, an unexpected lab result or a new diagnosis, please message me. I’ll always help you understand what’s going on and whether you need to be seen in person.
Do you accept insurance?
No. I work directly for you, not for an insurance company. That keeps my time and attention on your care, not on billing codes and prior authorizations. I’m not able to see Medicare beneficiaries at this time.
Are there any additional costs?
Your monthly fee covers your physician consults and the care between them. Labs, imaging and medications are billed separately by the lab, imaging center or pharmacy. Please call your insurance company about coverage, since many plans don’t cover comprehensive bloodwork. I’ll discuss any testing with you before ordering it.
See all questions: cost, medications, body composition, testosterone and more →
Health Improvement Institute
Find out what concrete steps you can take today.
These problems build quietly for years. The sooner you act, the more of the damage you can stop, and even reverse.
A no-pressure conversation about what’s going on and whether this is the right fit for you.
Explore Working With MeIf I’m not the right fit, I’ll tell you openly and suggest other options.
