NiuOla Health's Blog

Your Guide to Better Health Starts Here

Welcome to the NiuOla Health Blog, a place where medicine meets compassion, and your health journey is honored with the care it deserves.

I'm Dr. Tui Lauilefue, and as a board-certified internal medicine and obesity medicine physician practicing direct primary care in Olympia, I've dedicated my career to walking alongside my patients through every season of their health. Here, you'll find the same thoughtful, personalized approach that defines my practice: evidence-based guidance delivered with genuine warmth and understanding.

Whether you're working on weight management, dealing with chronic conditions, or just trying to feel your best, this blog is here for you. Every post comes from my heart and my experience treating real people with real lives. People who are busy, who have families and jobs and a million things on their plates, but who want to take better care of themselves.

I believe in small, sustainable changes. No judgment, no unrealistic expectations, just practical advice that actually works for how you live. This is the same approach I take with my patients, because I know that lasting health happens when we meet you where you are.

I'm so glad you found your way here, and I'm honored to be part of your health journey.

Dr. Tui A. Lauilefue, MD
Internal Medicine | Obesity Medicine | Direct Primary Care


What You Need to Know About Inflammation and Weight Gain

September 8, 2025

Have you ever thought you were doing everything “right,” but the scale just won’t move? Chronic inflammation could be one reason why. At NiuOla Health in Olympia, Washington, we help people lose weight in a way that goes beyond counting calories and crash diets. Inflammation and weight gain are strongly correlated, according to several recent […]

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Why One “Bad” Day Doesn’t Ruin Your Progress: Understanding Setbacks

September 4, 2025

Have you ever had a day when you didn’t work out, ate something you weren’t supposed to, or just felt like you were off track? We all have, and that doesn’t mean you failed. We at NiuOla Health in Olympia, Washington, believe in a caring, real-world approach to health. That means understanding that health journeys […]

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My Direct Primary Care Journey: Burnout to Breakthrough

Image of Dr. Tui Lauilefue sitting in a chair in the patient exam room.

September 7, 2024

In 2024, healthcare continues to evolve rapidly. Unfortunately, the traditional model is failing both patients and physicians. As a result of experiencing this firsthand, I embraced Direct Primary Care (DPC), a revolutionary approach to healthcare. My Journey: From Academic Medicine to DPC I started my career at the Queen Emma Clinic in Honolulu, Hawaii. After […]

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Direct Primary Care: Why We Don’t Take Insurance

February 13, 2023

Are you tired of long wait times, rushed appointments, and skyrocketing healthcare costs? Direct Primary Care (DPC) offers a refreshing alternative to traditional insurance-based medical practices. At NiuOla Health, we’ve made the conscious decision not to accept insurance. In this post, we’ll explore the compelling reasons behind this choice and how it significantly benefits our […]

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Direct primary care (DPC) vs. the traditional insurance model

February 3, 2023

Are you tired of skyrocketing healthcare costs, long wait times, and impersonal medical care? If so, you’re not alone. While the traditional insurance-based healthcare model continues to fall short, many are turning to an innovative solution: Direct Primary Care (DPC). In this post, we’ll explore why DPC is revolutionizing healthcare and how it compares to […]

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