Rafael Sepulveda Acosta, M.D.

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Advisory Board Member

2023

Sleep Medicine / Obesity Medicine / Internal Medicine

Forbes Health Advisory Board Member

Dr. Rafael Sepulveda Acosta is a board-certified physician with experience in internal medicine, pediatric and adult sleep medicine, and obesity medicine in Northern California. He practices as a sleep medicine specialist and weight management physician in the North Bay of the San Francisco Bay and Sonoma County. His focus and skills include the evaluation and treatment of obesity, weight-related disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, insomnia, parasomnias, behavioral insomnia of childhood and other sleep-related disorders.

Dr. Rafael Sepulveda Acosta is a board-certified physician with experience in internal medicine, pediatric and adult sleep medicine, and obesity medicine in Northern California. He practices as a sleep medicine specialist and weight management physician in the North Bay of the San Francisco Bay and Sonoma County. His focus and skills include the evaluation and treatment of ....Read More

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Board Certifications and Training

  • American Board of Internal Medicine, Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Sleep Medicine
  • American Board of Obesity Medicine, Board Certified in Obesity Medicine

Education

  • University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (B.A. Biology/Biological Sciences)
  • Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (Doctor of Medicine)
  • New York Medical College (Fifth Pathway Medical Internship)
  • The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Sleep Medicine Fellowship)

Achievements

  • American Academy of Sleep Medicine Public Awareness Advisory Committee, Member
  • Obesity Action Coalition, Member
  • Obesity Medicine Association, Member
  • American Alliance for Healthy Sleep, Member
  • California Sleep Society, Member

  • CPAP vs. BiPAP: What’s The Difference?

    Positive airway pressure (PAP) is a common treatment for sleep apnea, a condition that causes breathing to stop and restart during sleep and affects about 30 million people in the U.S, according to the American Medical Association. CPAP and BiPAP...

  • How To Lose Weight Fast, According To Experts

    People strive to lose weight for myriad reasons, and many fall into the fad diet trap promising real results fast. While there are certainly ways to accelerate your weight loss efforts, it’s important to understand that shedding pounds too quickly...

  • Does Medicare Cover CPAP Machines?

    Between 15% and 20% of U.S. adults over the age of 65 have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to research in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is a breathing device that provides constant air...

  • Ozempic Alternatives: 3 Options For Weight Loss, According To Experts

    Ozempic is exclusively approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medication to treat type 2 diabetes, but semaglutide (its active ingredient) has become increasingly popular for its ability to boost weight loss. Even though Ozempic shows promise...

  • 6 CPAP Alternatives For Sleep Apnea, According To Experts

    Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that affects about 25% to 30% of men and 9% to 17% of women in the U.S. OSA diagnoses can range from mild to moderate to severe, and continuous positive airway...

  • How To Lose 20 Pounds In A Month: Is It Possible?

    When it comes to losing weight, choosing a sustainable and safe weight loss program is imperative. In rare instances, losing a large quantity of weight, such as 20 pounds, in a single month may be safe, but experts agree that...

  • How To Lose Thigh Fat, According To Experts

    While myriad weight loss strategies across a variety of platforms claim to focus on fat in certain areas of the body, experts agree targeting fat loss in a specific area of the body, such as the thighs, isn’t a realistic...

  • A Guide To The Best BiPAP Machines In 2023

    Bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines are used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition that blocks the airways during sleep, restricting airflow, as well as other conditions that affect breathing. BiPAP therapy, which involves the use of a...

  • The 9 Best Ways To Lose Weight After 50

    Weight gain is commonly associated with age for both men and women due to a number of factors. The North American Menopause Society cites the slowing of metabolism coupled with less frequent exercise as reasons women may gain weight as...

  • Mounjaro For Weight Loss: Safety, Side Effects And More

    If you have type 2 diabetes, one medication your doctor may prescribe is Mounjaro. Mounjaro is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for treating type 2 diabetes, a condition in which not enough insulin is produced or used by the body,...

  • 7 Best Natural Sleep Aids: Which Ones Really Work?

    About one-third of U.S. adults aren’t regularly getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep a night, according to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2020 Sleep in America Poll. Yet most of us are aware that sleep is important, and...

  • How Much Should I Weigh? Charts By Height, Age And Gender

    Weight is one of many data points used by health care professionals to assess a person’s physical health. While research continues to evolve regarding the role body weight plays in overall well-being—and no single ideal weight exists for all individuals—a...

  • How To Lose Fat And Gain Muscle At The Same Time

    When setting weight loss goals, it’s important to focus not only on losing fat, but also on retaining muscle mass. Skeletal muscle supports the body’s structure and generates essential movements, such as walking, personal grooming and eating. Unintentional muscle loss...

  • How Much Weight Can You Safely Lose In A Month?

    Countless images of unrealistic body types and “lose weight quick” claims can make rapid weight loss promises from certain fad diets feel all the more enticing. But when it comes to long-term weight loss, success depends on making a variety of sustainable lifestyle...

  • Obesity Statistics

    Obesity currently affects four out of 10 Americans, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While weight and overall health aren’t always connected, obesity is often considered a cause of multiple comorbid and chronic medical...

  • Why You’re Always Tired, According To Experts

    If you’re always tired, you aren’t alone. In fact, chronic fatigue is a main reason for 10% to 20% of primary care visits, according to a 2021 literature review in the German medical magazine Deutsches Ärzteblatt International. Whether you’re having...

  • 5 Common Dreams—And What They Mean

    Dreams are a funny thing. Sometimes you wake up and remember every detail of a strange, mind-altering journey, and other times you might feel like you didn’t dream at all. The truth is that everyone dreams—the average person will spend...

  • How Your Bedding Can Affect Your Sleep

    Quality sleep is an important part of overall health. In fact, a lack of sleep can contribute to a number of serious health conditions, including (but not limited to) type 2 diabetes, heart disease and increased risk of stroke and...

  • Lower Abdominal Pain: Symptoms, Causes And Diagnosis

    Lower abdominal pain can range from mild to severe, occurring anywhere from your belly button to your pelvis. Sometimes, it’s no more than a dull, aching sensation that’s easy to ignore. Other times, it presents as sharp, stabbing pain that...

  • What Is Weight Bias, And How Does It Affect Medical Care?

    Weight bias in medical care settings, which involves health care professionals stigmatizing and judging patients with the disease of obesity, is widespread. Obesity as a disease state leads to dangerous consequences for more than 40% of U.S. adults and 20%...

  • 5 Ways To Lose Belly Fat, According To Experts

    Washboard abs, a toned tummy and a flat stomach are the dreams for many. While a trim middle can be difficult to achieve without a strict lifestyle and a dose of favorable genetics, there are good reasons to reduce your...

  • CBD For Sleep: How It Works, Benefits And Risks

    If you’re desperate for quality sleep, you’re not alone: About 70 million U.S. adults suffer from chronic sleep problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While vast resources are available to help improve sleep—from supplements and...

  • How To Choose A Sleep Specialist

    If you struggle to fall asleep at night, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a third of U.S. adults say they typically don’t get enough sleep. Unfortunately, this lack of shut-eye is correlated...

  • How Sleep Deprivation Affects Your Health

    Sleep deprivation—defined as less than seven hours of shut eye per night for adults—impacts up to one-third of American adults. And even more teenagers suffer from lack of sleep. Over 57% of middle schoolers and more than 72% of high...

  • 6 Expert Tips For Falling Asleep Faster

    Dreaming of falling asleep more easily? You’re not alone. One-third of Americans report not getting the recommended amount of seven hours of sleep a night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And for some portion of...

  • What Is Sleep Apnea? Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

    Affecting an estimated 22 million Americans, sleep apnea is a common condition that causes your breath to stop or get very shallow for anywhere from a few seconds to minutes. It may occur multiple times an hour, according to the...

Health Philosophy

"As a weight management and sleep medicine physician, I believe in approaching patient care in an integrated manner with the intent to heal and trigger a life-changing experience in the patient’s well-being. Collaborating with patients to carve a clear path in achieving a healthy body weight and improving sleep quality brings joy to the practice of medicine."