Many people focus on the number on the scale when it comes to weight management, but that information tells only part of the story.
Metabolic testing, though used in hospitals and research for decades, is gaining new attention as clinics bring these tools directly to patients for personalized weight management.
This approach provides a deeper look at how a person’s body processes energy, allowing clinicians to create precise, individualized treatment plans.
Metabolic testing is noninvasive and painless. For example, indirect calorimetry measures how many calories your body burns at rest by analyzing the oxygen you breathe in and the carbon dioxide you breathe out.
Body composition analysis uses a special scale or device to measure fat and muscle mass, and biometric testing may include basic vital signs or labs to assess overall health. Most testing is completed in 30 to 60 minutes under supervision, and the results give your care team objective data to design a tailored plan.
“Understanding how many calories a patient burns at rest gives us a measurable foundation,” said Dr. Neil McDevitt, Novant Health general and bariatric surgeon. “Instead of guessing how aggressive we should be with nutrition or activity recommendations, we can tailor the plan to match their actual metabolic function.”
“Two patients may weigh the same but have vastly different metabolic efficiency based on their ratio of lean muscle to fat,” McDevitt explained. “If muscle mass increases, metabolism improves – even if the number on the scale doesn’t change.”
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To expand access to full-spectrum weight management, Novant Health General Surgery & Bariatrics - Mount Pleasant recently welcomed Dr. John Cleek, Novant Health obesity medicine specialist, and registered dietitian Summer Hudson to the clinic.
Together, the team is launching a model of care designed to evolve into a comprehensive metabolic center offering patients coordinated support across nutrition counseling, weight-loss medications and surgical options when appropriate.
Unlike many commercial weight-loss programs that offer coaching without medical oversight or require monthly fees, this model treats obesity as a chronic medical condition. Patients undergo biometric testing, body composition analysis and calorimetry, which allow the care team to identify metabolic assets and liabilities, McDevitt said, and design a treatment plan that is both scientifically appropriate and adaptable over time.
“We’re not dividing patients into surgical or nonsurgical tracks,” Cleek said. “Patients are not forced into surgery or lifestyle management as isolated choices. We review cases together, use metabolic data to guide decisions, and adjust treatment plans based on real progress. It’s truly integrated care.”
“Nutrition is foundational,” said Hudson, the registered dietitian. “Our goal is to help patients change their relationship with food, understanding not just what they eat, but how it affects their metabolism and overall health. Metabolic testing gives us the data to make nutrition strategies individualized and sustainable.”
Metabolic testing allows for:
- Precision-based nutrition and activity planning.
- Identification of metabolic adaptation or plateau causes.
- Objective tracking beyond scale weight.
- Earlier intervention when progress stalls.
“Weight is only one metric,” McDevitt added. “Metabolism gives us context. It tells us why a patient is responding the way they are and what we need to change.”
