By Tricia Granchi, MSN, FNP-C |
Most Common Health Concerns of 2025
The Chronic Concerns Patients Brought to Our Functional Medicine Team
The majority of health issues patients bring to a functional medicine provider aren’t sudden or acute. They tend to be persistent, complex and deeply personal. These concerns often impact daily quality of life without ever showing up in an urgent care setting. They may not be “emergency room issues,” but they’re everyday issues, and they deserve to be taken seriously.
Here are the Most Common Health Concerns of 2025, based on real survey data submitted to the functional medicine team at Donaldson.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Patients want to lose weight. They want to balance hormones. But more than anything: They “Just want to feel better.”
#1: “I Just Want to Feel Better” (47.5% of Respondents)
This phrase is foundational to the practice of functional medicine. It captures the frustration, exhaustion and resilience of patients who have tried everything and are still left without answers.
Sometimes, they haven’t felt heard by their existing healthcare providers. Other times, their symptoms haven’t fit neatly into a traditional diagnosis. Either way, there are answers out there — and functional medicine is designed to find them.
“At the end of the day, people just want to feel better. Patients tell me it all the time; they want to be proactive about health instead of reactive about symptoms!”-Tricia Granchi, MSN, FNP-C
Weight Loss Solutions
(42.8% of Respondents)
The rise of GLP-1 medications in 2025 brought weight loss to the forefront but many patients quickly realized that medication alone wasn’t the full answer. More people sought comprehensive care that addressed nutrition, movement, mindset and sustainability.
Functional medicine providers help patients lose weight and keep it off, without compromising long-term health.
The rise of GLP-1 medications in 2025 brought weight loss to the forefront but many patients quickly realized that medication alone wasn’t the full answer. More people sought comprehensive care that addressed nutrition, movement, mindset and sustainability.
Functional medicine providers help patients lose weight and keep it off, without compromising long-term health.
Hormone Balancing Solutions
(39.4% of Respondents)
This surge in responses reflects a growing number of women advocating for better perimenopause and menopause care. These patients want education, relief and proactive plans that make this stage of life more manageable and empowering.
It’s not just something they simply “have to get through.” They can live a full life while reducing their symptoms.
This surge in responses reflects a growing number of women advocating for better perimenopause and menopause care. These patients want education, relief and proactive plans that make this stage of life more manageable and empowering.
It’s not just something they simply “have to get through.” They can live a full life while reducing their symptoms.
Gut Health & GI Issues
(34.9% of Respondents)
Chronic bloating, constipation, acid reflux and IBS can disrupt nearly every area of life — from sleep and focus to mood and energy. Functional medicine looks beyond temporary symptom relief, using advanced diagnostic testing and root-cause analysis to rebuild the gut without relying on a long list of medications, each with its own potential side effects.
Chronic bloating, constipation, acid reflux and IBS can disrupt nearly every area of life — from sleep and focus to mood and energy. Functional medicine looks beyond temporary symptom relief, using advanced diagnostic testing and root-cause analysis to rebuild the gut without relying on a long list of medications, each with its own potential side effects.
“Online communities have been so beneficial for perimenopausal & menopausal women in recent years. They get to discuss the tough stuff — the symptoms their mothers may have suffered through in silence. They urge each other to find real solutions to get through this gracefully.”-Tricia Granchi, MSN, FNP-C
#5: Sexual Wellness (16.2% of Respondents)
Sexual wellness is a key part of overall health. More patients are realizing that pain, incontinence or loss of desire don’t have to be accepted as normal. We offer holistic and advanced treatment options, including O-Shot therapy, diVa laser treatments and surgical interventions (when appropriate) to restore comfort and confidence.
Longevity & Performance
(15.3% of Respondents)
These patients aren’t waiting for symptoms to show up. They’re optimizing for vitality now! Whether it’s about sharpening cognitive function, improving sleep, recovering faster after workouts or staying sharp at work, functional medicine empowers high performers to maximize their healthspan, not just their lifespan.
These patients aren’t waiting for symptoms to show up. They’re optimizing for vitality now! Whether it’s about sharpening cognitive function, improving sleep, recovering faster after workouts or staying sharp at work, functional medicine empowers high performers to maximize their healthspan, not just their lifespan.
Nutrition Guidance
(11.4% of Respondents)
It may not seem as urgent as fatigue or bloating, but personalized nutrition guidance is the foundation of many patients’ long-term success. It is critical to each custom care plan we curate. Working with licensed dietitians ensures you understand your body’s needs, triggers and opportunities for improvement. That’s something an app or AI cannot do.
It may not seem as urgent as fatigue or bloating, but personalized nutrition guidance is the foundation of many patients’ long-term success. It is critical to each custom care plan we curate. Working with licensed dietitians ensures you understand your body’s needs, triggers and opportunities for improvement. That’s something an app or AI cannot do.
Fertility Optimization
(5.5% of Respondents)
While lowest on the list, fertility remains one of the most significant concerns we address. We don’t perform IVF, but we do help prepare the body for conception by resolving nutrient deficiencies, regulating cycles and uncovering underlying health challenges impacting fertility. In some cases, this optimization eliminates the need for more invasive treatments.
While lowest on the list, fertility remains one of the most significant concerns we address. We don’t perform IVF, but we do help prepare the body for conception by resolving nutrient deficiencies, regulating cycles and uncovering underlying health challenges impacting fertility. In some cases, this optimization eliminates the need for more invasive treatments.
“Patients come to us when they want answers. Sometimes that’s in their late 20s, when they want to get ahead on their career & health. Sometimes, it is when they’re early in menopause & they want to take back control of their lives! Either way, we are here to listen first, then act proactively.”
-Tricia Granchi, MSN, FNP-C
About The Author
Tricia Granchi, MSN, FNP-C, is a functional medicine expert based in Columbus, Ohio. She specializes in building personalized wellness plans that incorporate nutrition, movement, testing, and lifestyle medicine to address complex concerns. Tricia approaches every patient with empathy and insight because sometimes the most important diagnosis is the one the patient didn’t even know they needed at first.
About The Data
Data & Methodology
The data used in this report were generated from 12 months of patient surveys submitted through the Donaldson Plastic Surgery website. More than 600 HIPAA-compliant entries were analyzed after removing patient names and any additional identifying information.
Patients were allowed to select multiple concerns, which is reflected in the data structure.
| Concern | % of Respondents | % of All Selections |
| “I Just Want To Feel Better” | 47.5% | 22.3% |
| Weight Loss | 42.8% | 20.1% |
| Hormones | 39.4% | 18.5% |
| Gut Health / GI Issues | 34.9% | 16.4% |
| Sexual Wellness | 16.2% | 7.6% |
| Longevity / Performance | 15.3% | 7.2% |
| Nutrition | 11.4% | 5.4% |
| Fertility Optimization | 5.5% | 2.6% |
If you are looking for a breakdown of exact total respondents per each health concern selection in this survey, please contact us directly.
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