About Us

W8MD medical weight loss centers of America was started by two practicing physicians, Dr. Henry C. Sobo, and Dr. Prab R. Tumpati, with a passion to help patients understand the role nutrition plays and help patients not only lose weight but also learn how to lead a healthy life style. Having helped thousands of patients, W8MD physicians understand the factors that lead to weight gain including hormonal(insulin resistance), social, environmental and genetic factors and work with each patient individually to help design a customized weight loss plan that works for them. While many people tend to blame the "victim" including the patients themselves that take the blame on themselves for being obese or overweight, we believe that obesity is a chronic medical condition like hypertension or diabetes and needs a physician well versed in the field of obesity medicine to help treat this condition, and reduce the risks associated with it.

Central distribution of weight and metabolic risk

W8MD understands that central adiposity with belly fat poses more health risk even in those patients that might have relatively normal or near normal body mass index and designs a customized strategy for each patient. Affecting one in three Americans, metabolic syndrome plays a key role in increasing the inflammation in the body and contributes significantly to the metabolic risk associated with this condition including increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and even cancer.

Obesity Medicine and W8MD Physicians 

While 70 percent of the population of the United States are either overweight or obese, physicians typically do not get much education in nutrition and weight control. According to research, 94% of the physicians get little to no education in Nutrition. Lack of proper bariatric medicine training for healthcare providers contributes to our health care system's inability to help their patients lose weight successfully. As well trained and experienced bariatric/obesity medicine physicians, W8MD's are uniquely qaulified to treat obesity and the associated condition.

Who is behind W8MD?

Henry C. Sobo, MD

Chief Medical Officer, W8MD, LLC

In 1985  DR Sobo completed his Internal Medicine residency training at the Maimonides Medical Center   in NYC.  A year later he  lost 75 lbs. utilizing  the VLCD ( Very Low calorie Diet) approach. Dr Sobo decided to help others who had the same important need to lose weight and improve their health. He sought specialty  training in Medically supervised Weight Reduction Medicine . In 1990 he  became is a Board-certified Member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians and has since been certified by the American board of Bariatric Medicine. This is the certifying national organization of physicians with a specialty interest in obesity Medicine and weight reduction. 1994 Dr. Sobo also became  a Diplomate of the American College for Advancement in Medicine. This is the largest national organization of doctors practicing nutritionally-oriented medicine.

Over the last 20 years, Dr. Sobo has enjoyed helping thousands of patients lose weight and improve their health and their lives and he has studied and developed successful approaches to the myriad of difficulties that patients will encounter. He brings all of his experience and passion to help others to W8MD and its doctors and their patients.

Prab R. Tumpati, MD

President & CEO, W8MD

Our founder, Dr. Prab R. Tumpati, has been a practicing board certified internal medicine, sleep and obesity medicine physician with a fellowship training in the emerging field of Obesity Medicine. As a practicing sleep medicine physician, Dr. Tumpati sees a lot of obese patients that are struggling to lose weight.

Obesity Medicine Fellowship Training

Since Obesity is a risk factor for many sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, and sleep apnea in turn can have an effect on Leptins and Ghrelins that control appetite, food intake and weight, there is an inherent association between sleep disorders and weight. Realizing this, Dr. Tumpati joined a fellowship program in the field of Obesity Medicine and has passed a written board examination in Bariatric Medicine/Obesity Medicine.

Having obtained a thorough knowledge and skills in treating patients with obesity and it's more than 50 associated conditions, Dr. Tumpati successfully integrated Obesity Medicine Services in his practice and started W8MD, along with Dr. Sobo, to help other physicians get started with an affordable Medical Weight Loss Program at their location.

Dr Tumpati currently serves as the Medical Director at Poly-Tech Sleep Services in Northeast Philadelphia and staff physician at the Sleep Wellness Center of Pottstown, PA. Dr. Tumpati obtained his medical degree from Osmania Medical College, India and completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Abington Memorial Hospital. Dr. Tumpati travels extensively, licensed in many states in the US and serves as the medical director of Sleep Medical Associates and W8MD Medical Weight Loss Center in New York City located at 2003, Bath Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.

In addition to Internal Medicine, Dr. Tumpati is also board certified in Sleep Medicine and has passed a written board examination in Obesity Medicine and is in the process of full certification.

Having started several successful projects and websites including www.wikimd.org, www.residentscafe.com, www.usmlesource.com, www.wikichristian.org, www.w8md.com, Dr. Tumpati is an enterpreneur. He is well versed with many computer technoligies and has designed and maintains several websites including that of W8MD.

Dr. Tumpati is a member of many proffessional societies including the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Telemedicine Association, and serves as the coordinator of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin in Sleep(AAPIOS).  Dr. Tumpati is married and lives in greater Philadelphia area with his wife, and two kids. You can reach him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ptumpati at gmail.com for any questions.

For Patients

If you are a patient looking for proffessional help in losing weight, you can contact us at 1(800)W8MD-007 to find a center near you. Please be assured that W8MD physicians are well versed with the management of obesity and have helped thousands of patients like you to lose weight and live healthy.

For Physicians

If you are a health care provider interested in becoming a W8MD, you may contact us at our physician line at 1(800)W8MD-002 or visit our physician section for more information.