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Knownwell Opens 6 New Clinics in Chicago

Obesity care company knownwell expanded into six new clinic locations across greater Chicago. The company now operates eight clinics, as it has existing locations in Boston and Dallas. Knownwell also provides virtual care services to patients across New England, Texas and Illinois.

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The obesity rate has stopped increasing in the U.S., due in part to the growing use of GLP-1s — with one in eight Americans having taken one last year. While it’s certainly good news that the obesity rate is no longer growing, it’s important to remember that patients seeking to lose weight still face plenty of obstacles on their care journey, pointed out Brooke Boyarsky Pratt, founder and CEO of obesity care company knownwell.

“With so many treatment options and an overwhelming amount of jargon in the industry, patients often find themselves confused and uncertain about which approach is best for them. Even worse, they are often finding unsafe and untested compounded GLP-1s on the market — oftentimes not even realizing they aren’t taking branded medications,” she explained.

In her view, there is a clear need for a comprehensive, patient-centered solution that simplifies patients’ decision-making and guides them toward appropriate care. That’s what Boston-based knownwell seeks to provide. The company, founded in 2023, offers virtual support to patients and provides in-person care through its clinics in Boston, Dallas — and now Chicago.

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On Thursday, knownwell announced its expansion into six new clinic locations across the greater Chicago area. 

This means knownwell now operates eight clinics — the six new locations along with the existing clinics in Boston and Dallas. The company also provides virtual care services to patients across New England, Texas and Illinois, Boyarsky Pratt said.

She pointed out that patients with obesity often don’t feel welcome in traditional provider settings.

“Many individuals with obesity leave doctor’s appointments feeling judged and belittled, leading some to avoid doctors altogether. knownwell offers thoughtful and welcoming primary care and metabolic treatment, which is a stark contrast from the overall market that focuses on episodic obesity care,” Boyarsky Pratt remarked.

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Her company’s clinicians are trained to be empathetic and inclusive for patients of all weights, she explained. Additionally, knownwell’s clinics offer larger exam tables, furniture, medical equipment and medical gowns so that patients feel more comfortable. 

Through its judgment-free environment and personalized care plans, knownwell seeks to improve patients’ health outcomes and reduce costs associated with obesity. Adults who see their primary care physician regularly have 33% lower healthcare costs and 19% lower odds of dying prematurely than those who see only a specialist, Boyarsky Pratt noted.

“We provide a ‘one stop healthcare shop’ for patients that is covered by their insurance, available in-person or online, and provides both primary care and obesity medicine. This care model includes a multi-disciplinary care team. There is not another healthcare company that was designed bottom-up to serve patients with overweight and obesity in a comprehensive fashion,” she declared.

Some of knownwell’s competitors include One Medical, Calibrate and Noom.

Unlike One Medical, knownwell’s spaces are designed for patients in larger bodies, and the company provides a full obesity care offering, including dietitians, health coaches, and specialized clinicians, Boyarsky Pratt stated.

She also noted that knownwell offers primary care and hybrid services beyond coaching, as well as employs W2 clinicians who offer synchronous care in a clinically-rigorous manner, including retrieving medical records. This sets the company apart from Calibrate, which also charges a monthly subscription fee that insurance may not cover, Boyarsky Pratt added.

As for Noom, she said the startup does two things that knownwell never will: provide digital only-services and offer compound GLP-1s.

“We believe that in a few years, knownwell will be the obvious healthcare home that patients with overweight and obesity will choose across the country. In the long term, we also believe we are well positioned to move into value-based care for a segment of our patient population. Our goal is to lead the transformation of obesity care in the U.S. by championing a patient-centered approach that prioritizes better health outcomes, reduces healthcare costs and is rooted in compassion and respect,” Boyarsky Pratt stated.

Photo: Peter Dazeley, Getty Images