About Dr. Dolgoff - Board Certified Pediatrician

Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. - Pediatrician & Child Obesity Specialist

Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. is a pediatrician, child obesity specialist, and author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right (Rodale, 2009). Her evidence-based child weight loss program boasts over a 90% success rate and has been featured on WABC News, WNBC News, Fox 5 Morning Show, My9 News, and WPIX News. Dr. Dolgoff has also filmed pieces with The Today Show, NightLine, and Extra. She is a contributing blogger to the Huffington Post and regularly speaks on childhood obesity prevention and treatment.

Children from 45 different states are losing weight with her online weight loss program at DrWeigh.com. Dr. Dolgoff maintains medical offices in Manhattan, NY and Roslyn Heights, NY, where she provides personalized consultations for children, teens, and families.

Education & Early Career

Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. grew up in Roslyn, New York. Dr. Dolgoff attended Princeton University where she graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Molecular Biology. During her undergraduate studies, she was elected to the Sigma Chi International Research Honor Society based on scientific research conducted at Princeton. Dr. Dolgoff earned her Reebok fitness instructor certification during this time and taught fitness classes at Princeton University and at various gyms in the Princeton area, combining her passion for health and fitness with her academic pursuits.

Medical School & Training

Dr. Dolgoff continued her education at the NYU School of Medicine, where she earned the prestigious award for Outstanding Student in Pediatrics. She served as president of the NYU Chapter of the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society, one of the highest honors in medicine. While at NYU, she also founded and ran the NYU School of Medicine Step Aerobics Fitness Program and taught at Synergy Fitness Clubs in Manhattan, maintaining her commitment to promoting physical fitness and wellness.

Dr. Dolgoff completed her Pediatric Residency training at Columbia Presbyterian’s Children’s Hospital of New York, one of the nation’s leading pediatric training programs. She has previously worked as a private practice pediatrician and is a Board Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Dolgoff is affiliated with Long Island Jewish and North Shore University Hospitals.

Professional Achievements & Recognition

Dr. Dolgoff has established herself as a leading expert in pediatric obesity treatment and prevention. Her innovative Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right program simplifies nutrition education using a traffic light system that categorizes foods, making healthy eating accessible and understandable for children and families. This evidence-based approach has helped thousands of children achieve sustainable weight loss without restrictive dieting or calorie counting.

Media Recognition

As a sought-after expert on childhood obesity, Dr. Dolgoff appears frequently on national and local media. Her expertise has been featured on major networks including NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s NightLine, MSNBC Health Watch, Fox 5 News, and numerous other television programs. She provides practical, science-based advice that resonates with families struggling with childhood weight issues.

Published Author

Dr. Dolgoff’s book, Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, published by Rodale Press, has become an essential resource for parents seeking to help their children develop healthy eating habits. The book provides comprehensive guidance on nutrition, portion control, physical activity, and behavior modification strategies specifically designed for children and adolescents.

Clinical Expertise

Dr. Dolgoff specializes in:

• Childhood and adolescent obesity treatment and prevention
• Pediatric nutrition counseling and meal planning
• Family-centered behavior modification strategies
• Sustainable lifestyle change programs for children and teens
• Evidence-based weight management protocols

Her approach emphasizes whole-family involvement, recognizing that lasting change requires support from parents and caregivers. The program focuses on education rather than restriction, teaching children to make informed food choices that support their health goals while still allowing flexibility and enjoyment.

Philosophy of Care

Dr. Dolgoff’s philosophy centers on empowering children and families with the knowledge and tools they need to make lasting lifestyle changes. Rather than focusing solely on weight loss, her program emphasizes building healthy habits that children can maintain throughout their lives. She believes that education, support, and positive reinforcement are more effective than restriction and shame in achieving sustainable health outcomes.

The Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right system was designed to be simple enough for young children to understand while providing enough structure to support meaningful change. By categorizing foods into green (eat freely), yellow (eat sometimes), and red (eat rarely) categories, children learn to make better choices without feeling deprived or confused by complex nutritional information.

Community Impact

Through her online program, Dr. Dolgoff has expanded access to quality pediatric weight management services beyond the New York area. Families across the United States benefit from her comprehensive program, which includes personalized meal plans, nutrition education lessons, recipe databases, food journals, weight tracking tools, and ongoing support through message boards and resources.

Dr. Dolgoff’s work addresses a critical public health challenge. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, childhood obesity rates have risen significantly in recent decades, with serious implications for children’s physical and emotional health. Her program provides families with an accessible, effective solution backed by medical expertise and proven results.

Current Practice

Today, Dr. Dolgoff continues to serve families through both her medical practice and her online program. She maintains offices in:

• Manhattan, New York - Serving families throughout New York City
• Roslyn Heights, New York - Serving families on Long Island

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Dolgoff remains active in education and advocacy, writing regularly on childhood nutrition topics, speaking at conferences and events, and working to raise awareness about childhood obesity prevention and treatment.

Her commitment to helping children achieve healthy weights through compassionate, evidence-based care has made her a trusted resource for families nationwide. With over a decade of experience treating childhood obesity and thousands of success stories, Dr. Dolgoff continues to lead the field in pediatric weight management.

For more information about Dr. Dolgoff’s program or to schedule a consultation, visit DrWeigh.com or contact her offices directly.