Pouya Shafipour, MD, MS

Board Certified Family Medicine Specialist

Dr. Pouya Shafipour is a Family Medicine Specialist, Primary Care Physician, and a Weight Loss Specialist based in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Shafipour specializes in dietary, nutritional, behavioral, and exercise counseling to manage obesity and medical conditions related to excessive weight gain or loss. Dr. Shafipour received a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, an MS in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University, and an MD from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He completed his internship in general surgery at UC Irvine and a residency in family medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and became board certified in family medicine in 2008.

wikiHow's Editorial ProcesswikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.

Forum Comments (2)

How can I gain weight?
Weight gain requires a healthy diet high in complex carbohydrates, fruits, and healthy protein along with exercise to help build lean mass. Usually I recommend adding some protein shakes and healthy snacks to help with weight gain while preventing abdominal fat building.
I've tried everything and can't lose weight!
There are many common mistakes people make when trying to lose weight. People usually try to lose weight using a mixture of intense exercise and low-calorie diet, which often makes them hungry and cranky and leads to them breaking the diet and either failing to lose weight or even gaining more weight. Calorie counting without taking into consideration the quality of calories is another common mistake. Eating your food at certain times is also critical to guarantee hormonal balance and optimal fat loss. People also often consume too much protein to lose weight. Unless you're a competitive athlete or lift weights daily, you do not need to consume tons of protein to keep your metabolism going or improve it. Excess protein intake has been linked with higher risk of cancer development in the long term and healthier societies, such as Blue Zones, do not consume a lot of protein daily.

Q&A Comments (45)

See more comments

Co-authored Articles (25)

How to

Lose 15 Pounds in 3 Weeks

Losing 15 pounds in 3 weeks is going to require some serious dedication and calorie-cutting, but don’t worry—it is possible! However, it’s not exactly the healthiest goal to set for yourself because losing weight t...

How to

Lose 15 Pounds in 2 Weeks

While experts recommend losing between per week for a sustainable, healthy way to lose weight, depending on your current weight, genetics, and water weight, you may be able to lose more than that (at least in the short ...

How to

How to Lose Weight: Easy Diet & Exercise Strategies

Board certified family medicine specialist Pouya Shafipour, MD, MS, discusses the best ways to shed poundsThere are many reasons why you might want to lose weight. If you have been significantly overweight or obese for a...

How to

Lose Weight As a Teenager

If you want to lose weight, know that you’re embarking on a long-term journey with significant health benefits. Instead of going on a drastic fad diet, focus on making small changes to your diet and lifestyle to meet m...

How to

Lose 20 Pounds in 2 Weeks

It's extremely difficult to lose 20 pounds in two short weeks, and losing that much weight that quickly is often not safe. Surgery and weight loss pills are among the options many people use to drop such a large amount o...

How to Lose Weight as a Teenage Girl: Diet, Exercise, & More

Follow these diet and exercise tips to live a healthy lifestyle Most teens feel self-conscious about their bodies, especially if you can afford to shed a few pounds. The secret to losing weight quickly and safely is not ...

How to

Lose 20 Pounds in a Month

Losing weight doesn’t have to involve crazy fad diets or grueling workouts that leave you feeling completely drained. In fact, studies show that fad diets don’t really work in the long run and most people end up gain...

How to

Lose 5 Pounds in 2 Weeks

Losing 5 pounds in 2 weeks takes some hard work and patience. A healthy weight loss is considered 1 to 2 pounds per week, so losing 5 pounds in two weeks or 2.5 pounds per week is a bit more ambitious. You will have to m...

How to

Lose Weight Like a Model

Looking at models and celebrities may have you wondering what type of diet or exercise program they're following to keep their thin and toned look. Many models have the expert help of trainers, dietitians and an unrestr...

How to

Gain an Inch on Your Hips

With most cultures obsessed with being slim and losing weight, people who want to gain weight often have a hard time finding resources to help them. In trying to gain weight safely, you will need to follow a healthy diet...

How to

Lose Thirty Pounds in Two Months

Weight loss can seem like a lofty goal, but you can realistically learn how to lose thirty pounds in two months by eating smart and adding exercise to your daily routine. To lose that kind of weight in the nine-week in t...

How to

Lose Weight Fast (For Women)

Research shows that women tend to lose weight more slowly than men, which can be frustrating if you're trying to take weight off quickly. If you want to lose weight fast and keep it off, then skip the fad diets. Your be...

How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way

You don't have to starve yourself to lose weight; in fact, you shouldn't. Losing weight the healthy way involves a commitment to your plan and patience. Following guidelines for a healthy approach to weight loss is also ...

How to

Make Healthy Breakfast Meals

Balancing your nutritional needs in the morning will give you more energy, boost your brainpower, and stop you from getting hungry before lunch. However, a pancake breakfast with bacon or a bowl of sugary cereal isn't al...

How to

Gain Weight if You Are Underweight

Though it can be easy to forget that many people struggle daily with gaining weight, being underweight can cause health and self-image issues just as being overweight can. No matter what your reason for gaining weight is...

How to

Talk to Your Partner About Their Weight

Discussing someone’s weight is never a comfortable conversation. The conversation can be particularly tricky if this person is your long term partner. If you notice your partner's health, stamina or self esteem is bein...

How to

Lose Weight (for Girls)

Losing weight in a healthy way can be tough. If you’re struggling with your weight, making healthy food choices and getting enough exercise can help. During your weight loss journey, it’s also important to care for y...

Losing 50 Pounds in 3 Months: Easy & Effective Tips

Safe and effective ways to lose weight & keep it off According to the CDC, the ideal rate of weight loss is about 1 to 2 pounds per week, which is about 12 to 24 pounds in 3 months. However, some people experience faster...

How to Lose 70 Pounds Quickly & Safely

Expert tips from weight loss doctors, nutritionists & personal trainersIf you have a goal of losing 70 pounds, you might not know what to do or how to start. Luckily, we’re here to help! We’ve compiled a complete gui...

How to

Help Your Overweight Girlfriend or Boyfriend Be Healthy

More than one third of American adults are overweight or obese. This is an issue since obesity is a major risk factor for so many different diseases and medical conditions, and maintaining a healthy weight is one of the ...
See more articles