Existing patients: 718 615-4001
New patients: 718 521-2840

Conditions

Common Challenges People Face When Trying to Lose Weight

Posted By Dr. Alexander Shapsis

Challenges people face when trying to lose weight, Dr. Alexander Shapsis of Atlantic Gastroenterology located in Brooklyn NY

It has been determined that approximately 42% of Americans fall into the category of “obese.” The statistics continue to rise and become more and more concerning every year. Excess weight doesn’t just mean you need a new wardrobe–it also means individuals are at an increased risk of specific medical conditions and health problems, from cancer to diabetes, heart disease, and strokes. While there are several diets and ways to maintain a healthier weight in today’s day and age, there are many challenges that individuals face when it comes to losing excess weight and maintaining a healthier weight. Dr. Alexander Shapsis … Continue reading

Why should we be treating obesity as a disease? Answers from a Professional

Posted By Dr. Alexander Shapsis

Why should we be treating obesity as a disease? Answers from a Professional in Brooklyn Area

Obesity continues to be a growing problem in the United States. And with almost half of all patients on Medicare benefits, or those with a BMI over the score of 40, considered obese, it will cause increasing healthcare costs with time. Patients over the age of 65 with severe obesity are likely to double by the year 2030. The United States healthcare system spends over $500 billion each year to help individuals with obesity and other coexisting conditions that are often related, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Dr. Alexander Shapsis is a Board-Certified gastroenterologist at EndoSlim Clinic of … Continue reading

Pfizer’s Oral Diabetes Drug Could Freshly Join the Lineup of Sought-After Drugs for Weight Loss

Posted By Dr. Alexander Shapsis

Pfizer Weight Loss Drug in Brooklyn NY Area

In the news today, many patients are learning about certain Type 2 diabetes medications that can be used for those without diabetes to aid in weight loss. Patients who are obese are often fighting many coexisting medical conditions that are a result of excess weight on the body. Weight loss can be challenging for many, so by considering certain diabetes drugs such as Ozempic, patients have a fighting chance at getting their bodies to a healthier weight. However, patients considering injectables such as Ozempic and Wegovy may reconsider if they fear needles, as these medications are injected and not taken … Continue reading

What are the primary health risks of prolonged stress levels?

Posted By Dr. Alexander Shapsis

Health Risks of Stress Brooklyn NY Area

While stress is inevitable, there are many reasons why patients should take great care to control it and keep it in check. Our Board-Certified gastroenterologist, Dr. Alexander Shapsis, of Atlantic Gastroenterology of Brooklyn, New York, can educate patients on stress hormone imbalances and how cortisol and the body’s natural stress response can cause weight gain. The production of cortisol is just one of the many health risks of stress. What is cortisol? Cortisol is best described as a hormone produced by your adrenal glands and is best known as the primary stress hormone. When stressful situations occur, the body increases … Continue reading

A Look At The Long Term Effects of Ozempic and Wegovy

Posted By Dr. Alexander Shapsis

Ozempic and Wegovy in Brooklyn NY Area

Medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have proven to be highly effective in promoting weight loss and treating diabetes. But what many Brooklyn, New York residents who visit Dr. Alexander Shapsis at Atlantic Gastroenterology may not realize is that the long-term effects of these medications rely on you staying on them. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy. It is being hailed by many as a miracle drug in the battle against obesity. However, the long-term outlook entirely relies on how long you stay on the medication. As long as you are on it and are following your … Continue reading

EndoSlim: Shed weight, gain a new lease on life with safe bariatric surgery alternative

Posted By Dr. Alexander Shapsis

Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty in Brooklyn NY Area

A Board-Certified gastroenterologist, Dr. Alexander Shapsis of Atlantic Gastroenterology, is on the leading edge of minimally-invasive interventions to support safe and effective weight loss. Dr. Shapsis may recommend EndoSlim as a low-risk alternative to Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy from his state-of-the-art clinic in Brooklyn, New York.  EndoSlim Also known as EndoSlim or the “accordion procedure,” ESG is a minimally-invasive technique involving a device equipped with a flexible tube (endoscope) and stitching or suturing capabilities to reduce the stomach size. The stomach walls are sutured to achieve a smaller, tubular gastric reservoir or structure. ESG is in contrast to LSG, a bariatric procedure that involves … Continue reading

Irritable Bowel Syndrome / IBS

Posted By Julie Litvak

Irritable bowel syndrome in Brooklyn NY Area

“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food,” this famous Hippocrates quote dates back to 400 BC. While since then, the birth of modern medicine has outdated the practices of those times, this particular quote (and many others) from the man known as the father of medicine still holds strong and true today. What we eat and the decisions we make about what to put into our bodies make all the difference. For many, that difference translates to the quality of life and resolution of symptoms. When it comes to irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, the standard of … Continue reading

Research connects the dots between depressive symptoms and “gut” bacteria; it holds promise for better treatments

Posted By Dr. Alexander Shapsis

Human Gut Microbiome in Brooklyn NY Area

When Atlantic Gastroenterology supports “gut” health, we are also doing our part to protect the mental and emotional health of our patients in Brooklyn, New York City, and the greater Tri-State Area.  A study published in the online edition of Nature December 6, 2022, represents significant strides in connecting the dots between the human gut microbiome and risk factors for mood disorders, including depression. “Microbiome” refers to bacteria, viruses, and fungi, while “gut” refers to the digestive tract. As a board-certified gastroenterologist, our own Dr. Alexander Shapsis specializes in preventing, diagnosing, managing, and treating conditions associated with the GI tract … Continue reading

New research supports early evaluation and prevention of advanced liver damage among at-risk patients

Posted By Dr. Alexander Shapsis

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Brooklyn NY Area

Atlantic Gastroenterology underscores the importance of early screening to our patients in Brooklyn, greater New York City, and the Tri-State Area. Furthermore, our team, led by board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Alexander Shapsis, stays on the leading edge of research that supports proactive diagnoses, risk reduction and prevention, and early treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and other conditions.  Notably, a study published in the November 1, 2022, issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation demonstrates great promise for our ability to identify and prevent advanced fibrosis among first-degree relatives of those individuals with this form of liver damage. Fibrosis arises … Continue reading

GI symptoms more common in COVID-19 patients than thought

Posted By Dr. Alexander Shapsis

GI symptoms more common in COVID-19 patients than thought

Doctors around the world have been testing patients suspected of contracting the coronavirus mostly for respiratory symptoms. But a recent study of 206 COVID-19 positive patients, conducted in China’s Hubei Province, has revealed that 99 of them (46 percent) also had digestive tract symptoms. The gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms included anorexia (83.8 percent), diarrhea consisting of “loose” or “poorly formed stools” up to three times a day (29.3 percent), vomiting (8.1 percent), and abdominal pain (four percent). The duration from the onset of the disease to hospital admission for patients with GI symptoms was found to be longer than with other … Continue reading


Call Atlantic Gastroenterology

New patients: 718 521-2840 Existing patients: 718 615-4001