William S. Yancy Jr., MD, MHS
Accepting New Patients
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Duke Health Provider question
My goal is to improve patients’ quality of life and prevent or reverse chronic conditions using effective, sustainable weight management strategies.
– William S. Yancy Jr., MD, MHS

William S. Yancy Jr., MD, MHS

Internal Medicine Doctor, Medical Weight Management Specialist

Duke Health Provider question
Accepting New Patients
Call for an Appointment
800-235-3853
Duke Lifestyle and Weight Management Center
919-471-8344
Duke Outpatient Clinic
Where I See Patients
Duke Health & Fitness Center - Durham, NC
Duke Lifestyle and Weight Management Center - Durham, NC
Duke Outpatient Clinic - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Internal Med, Internal Medicine
My goal is to improve patients’ quality of life and prevent or reverse chronic conditions using effective, sustainable weight management strategies.
– William S. Yancy Jr., MD, MHS

About Me

I am a general internal medicine doctor, obesity medicine specialist, and clinical researcher. I have focused my career on the research and management of obesity and its related health issues. I became interested in weight management during my training because I recognized I could treat my patients’ health problems more effectively, and with less medication and fewer devices and procedures, if I could help them manage their weight. I grew up in Durham and came back after residency to join Duke Health. In 2015, I became Director of the former Duke Diet and Fitness Center, now called Duke Lifestyle and Weight Management Center, and certified in obesity medicine. Duke Lifestyle and Weight Management is a multidisciplinary center with experts in medicine, nutrition, fitness, and behavior who are focused on helping patients improve their health via lifestyle change and weight loss using a patient-centered, comprehensive approach.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English

Call for an Appointment

800-235-3853
Duke Lifestyle and Weight Management Center
919-471-8344
Duke Outpatient Clinic

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Internal Med, Internal Medicine
Fellowship
General Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, 1999-2001
Residency
Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 1995-1998
Chief Resident, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 1998-1999
Education
MD, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University (North Carolina), 1995
MHS, Duke University, 2001

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

I have led numerous clinical trials investigating the safety, effectiveness, tolerability, and feasibility of dietary approaches and medications for weight management. Through this research, I have developed particular expertise with the low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet, the low-glycemic load diet and the low-fat/reduced-calorie diet. I have also led studies examining the relationship of obesity with health, healthcare use, and quality of life. My recent projects focus on improving the long-term adherence to lifestyle modifications related to weight management and use novel behavioral counseling, technology, behavioral economics, and healthcare system redesign.

Publications and Grants

Insurance Accepted

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.

    • Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
    • Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
    • Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
    • Aetna HMO
    • Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
    • Aetna Managed Choice POS
    • Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
    • Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
    • Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
    • Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
    • Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
    • Aetna Open Choice PPO
    • Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
    • Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
    • Aetna Select HMO
    • Aetna Traditional Choice
    • Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
    • Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
    • Aetna/CVS Health
    • Ambetter of North Carolina
    • Blue Advantage
    • Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
    • Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
    • Blue Select
    • NC State Employees Health Plan
    • *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.

    • Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
    • Cigna Choice Plus
    • Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
    • Cigna Open Access
    • Cigna Open Access Plus
    • *Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.

    • Duke Basic
    • Duke Select
    • Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
  • Gateway Health Alliance
  • Healthgram
    • Humana Choice (PPO)
    • Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
    • Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
    • Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
    • Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
    • Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
  • MedCost
    • First Medicare Direct
    • Medicare Part A
    • Medicare Part B
    • AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
    • Carolina Complete Health
    • Healthy Blue
    • NC Medicaid Direct
    • WellCare of North Carolina
    • TRICARE Prime
    • TRICARE Prime Remote
    • TRICARE Select
    • AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
    • AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
    • AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
    • All Savers Alternate Funding
    • All Savers Fully Insured
    • United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)
    • United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
    • United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
    • United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
    • United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
    • United Healthcare Option PPO
    • United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
    • United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
    • United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
    • United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
    • United Medical Resources (UMR)
    • *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.

Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.

External Relationships

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies or institutions listed below. This information has been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.
  • FoodMinds, LLC