About the author

Meet Dr. Sandra Cortina.

MD, FRCPC, MPH, ABOM Dipl

An internal medicine specialist and obesity medicine physician helping people unlearn diet culture and understand the biology behind their weight.

More books

Dr. Sandra Cortina, smiling, seated in a black chair, wearing a red dress and a polka-dot neck scarf — **Diplomate** American Board of Obesity Medicine

"Optimizing your weight is about optimizing your physiology. It's all about bringing back order to the disorder of obesity."

Her work

Evidence over myths.
Care over blame.

Dr. Cortina is passionate about helping patients unlearn diet culture myths and replace them with evidence-based approaches to clinically meaningful weight loss.

She practices obesity medicine in the heart of New Westminster, British Columbia, and virtually through an online clinic open to patients across the province. She has a special interest in ADHD and Binge Eating Disorder, and in managing the many causes of obesity that help make treatment succeed over the long term.

As an advocate for science communication, she shares accurate weight-management information on social media and works to debunk misleading trends. Running on Empty carries that same mission: a clear, compassionate explanation of the biology that diet culture leaves out.

In practice

Cortina Weight Medicine

In person in New Westminster's River Market, and online for patients anywhere in British Columbia. Covered under MSP for BC residents with a referral.

Visit the clinic website

Medical Weight Management
Binge Eating Disorder and ADHD

In her words

"Obesity is complex—diets aren't the answer. Let's talk evidence-based medical care."

Keep reading

More books by Dr. Cortina

How to lose weight for good

Calories In ≠ Calories Out

How diet culture got it wrong, what weight loss science says, and what you can do now to make weight loss happen.

Dr. Cortina exposes the myths perpetuated by diet culture and reveals the science behind weight gain and obesity, including why obesity is a disease centred in the brain. With compassion and expertise, she cuts through the misinformation to offer up-to-date, evidence-based strategies for managing weight, so readers can leave yo-yo dieting behind for sustainable, long-term success.