Medically reviewed by Robert Fortino, DO, Founder and Medical Director. Updated October 2026.
Key takeaways on low testosterone and men’s metabolic health
- Low testosterone is part of men’s metabolic health, along with waist size, blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol and muscle mass.
- Low testosterone and belly fat feed each other, so it makes sense to evaluate them together.
- To diagnose low testosterone, doctors look for consistently low morning levels plus symptoms. One blood test isn’t enough.
- Testosterone therapy isn’t right for everyone, and it can lower fertility. Dr. Fortino follows every TRT patient himself.
- Dr. Fortino sees men in Philadelphia and in Turnersville, Gloucester County, NJ. New patients pay a transparent $100 flat fee that covers the full exam, medical history review, seca body composition scan, lab work prescription and follow-up appointments.
Most men who come to see me about low testosterone don’t open with “I think my testosterone is low.” Instead, they tell me they feel worn out by mid-afternoon. They’ve gained weight around the middle, even though they eat the same way they always have.
On top of that, the gym doesn’t pay off like it used to, and their interest in sex has faded. Some say another office told them their numbers looked “fine.” Others say a provider handed them a prescription after a single blood test.
I’ve evaluated men for low testosterone and medical weight loss for nearly thirty years at my offices in South Philadelphia and in Turnersville, Gloucester County, NJ. In my experience, the two are rarely separate problems.
In fact, both belong to a bigger picture: men’s metabolic health. The way your body handles blood sugar, fat, muscle and hormones all connects. So in this post, I’ll explain how low testosterone fits into that picture, and why the right diagnosis matters more than a fast prescription.
Why do low testosterone and weight gain go together?
Low testosterone and weight gain often feed each other. First, low testosterone makes it harder to build and keep muscle. As a result, your body stores fat more easily, especially around the belly. That belly fat, in turn, can push testosterone even lower. To break the cycle, you usually need to address both at the same time.
I’ve strength trained and powerlifted for 40 years, so I know firsthand how much muscle matters for energy, strength and metabolism. When a man tells me he trains hard and still loses ground, I want to know why. Sometimes testosterone explains part of it. Often, though, sleep, nutrition, stress, alcohol or a medication plays a role too.
That’s why I look at the whole person at every evaluation. It’s also why we use a seca body composition scan, which measures fat and muscle separately and tells us far more than weight alone.
How is low testosterone connected to men’s metabolic health?
Low testosterone ties closely to cardiometabolic health: blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol and belly fat. For example, men with obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome have higher rates of low testosterone. For that reason, the American Urological Association guideline recommends considering a testosterone test for men with diabetes, even without other symptoms.
However, many men never hear about this connection. Often, one provider checks testosterone on its own, while another manages weight and blood sugar somewhere else. As a result, the connection between them can get missed.
As a board-certified internal medicine physician, I’d rather see the full picture in one practice: your labs, blood pressure, body composition, medications and how you actually feel.
What men’s metabolic health includes
Men’s metabolic health comes down to a handful of markers: waist size, blood sugar, blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL (“good”) cholesterol and muscle mass. Testosterone is closely tied to these markers. When several of these markers drift the wrong way at once, the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease rises, often years before a man feels sick.
Fortunately, these markers tend to improve together. For instance, when you lose belly fat, protect muscle, sleep better and eat in a way that steadies blood sugar, you can improve insulin resistance, blood pressure and testosterone at the same time.
That’s why our care combines metabolic nutrition education, lifestyle medicine and regular seca body composition checks. We add testosterone treatment only when it’s medically appropriate. Learn more about our men’s health and weight loss care.
Why one blood test isn’t enough
Testosterone rises and falls throughout the day, and it peaks in the morning. Because of that, a single test, especially an afternoon one, can mislead you. The Endocrine Society’s guideline calls for consistently low morning levels plus symptoms before a doctor makes a diagnosis.
I follow that standard. In other words, symptoms alone don’t confirm low testosterone, and neither does a single low number. If you want to see how levels compare by age, read our post on average testosterone levels in men.
Testosterone therapy is a medical decision, not a quick fix
For men with confirmed low testosterone and symptoms, testosterone replacement therapy can make a real difference. Still, it isn’t right for everyone. It can lower sperm production, so men who want children soon need a different conversation. TRT also requires ongoing lab work and in-person follow-up, so we can keep your levels and red blood cell counts where they should be.
For many men, losing fat, protecting muscle and sleeping better raise testosterone on their own. These changes can also help treatment work better. That’s why I start with an honest look at what’s driving your symptoms, not with a prescription.
Where can men in or near Gloucester County go for combined weight loss and testosterone evaluation?
Men in or near Gloucester County, NJ can see Dr. Robert Fortino at his Turnersville office in Washington Township, which has served South Jersey since 2012. Dr. Fortino evaluates weight, testosterone and cardiometabolic health in one practice, so you don’t need separate providers to understand how they connect.
The office sits at 129 Johnson Rd, A3, Turnersville, NJ 08012. Dr. Fortino sees men from across Gloucester County, including Sewell, Glassboro, Deptford, Mullica Hill, Williamstown, Pitman, Woodbury and Swedesboro. Learn more about our South Jersey low testosterone care, or visit our Philadelphia office on South Broad Street in South Philadelphia, minutes from Center City.
Choosing a physician, not a franchise
Many men tell me they don’t want to go through a high-volume men’s clinic, where care can feel rushed and every patient can leave with the same package. I understand that. After all, your hormones, weight and metabolic health are personal, and you deserve a doctor who knows your history.
Our practice is physician-led and independent. I personally perform every Low Testosterone Exam & Diagnosis, and if you start testosterone therapy, I follow your care myself at every visit. We tailor your plan to your labs and goals. We also keep pricing transparent, we don’t use long-term contracts, and we never pressure you to start treatment.
What to expect at your Low Testosterone Exam & Diagnosis
First, we’ll talk through your symptoms, health history, medications and cardiometabolic risk factors, and I’ll do a full physical exam and I’ll answer any questions you have. Then you’ll leave with a prescription for the lab work because we need to check your testosterone levels.
At your follow-up visit, I’ll review your lab results with you and explain what they mean and what your options are. If treatment is medically appropriate, it can begin at that visit, and I’ll follow your care myself from there.
How much does a Low Testosterone Exam & Diagnosis cost?
We keep pricing transparent at both our South Philadelphia and Turnersville, Gloucester County offices, so you know the cost before you book. For new patients, the Low Testosterone Exam & Diagnosis costs a flat $100 fee. That fee covers your full examination, a review of your medical history, a seca body composition scan, time for all your questions, the prescription for your lab work and your follow-up appointments.
There are no hidden fees and no long-term contracts. If you start testosterone therapy, the medication is priced separately, and we’ll go over that cost with you before you begin. The lab work itself is a separate outside fee. Your insurance may cover it; if it doesn’t, you’ll pay for it out of pocket.
So if you notice changes in your energy, weight, waistline or drive, take a closer look at your metabolic health instead of guessing. Meet Dr. Fortino, then call our South Philadelphia office at (215) 336-8000 or our Turnersville office in Gloucester County, NJ at (856) 318-4100.
Or Schedule a Low Testosterone Exam & Diagnosis online.
