Comprehensive Weight Control Program

Our Approach

Our professionals view obesity as a chronic condition disease, influenced by genetics and physiology, as well as lifestyle. And each patient is treated with respect and understanding as we tailor a plan based upon an individual with varying needs. We treat all aspects overweight and obesity of the disease through a multi-disciplinary approach.

*Include pie chart here* with weight management in the middle, and nutrition, physical activity, behavior modification, and medication as parts of the pie.

Nutrition

Helping each patient incorporate a healthier diet and increase their level of physical activity are at the heart of our program. However, wWe realize that lifestyle changes, although beneficial, are often the most difficult changes to tacklemake. Our registered dietitians can help you overcome your obstacles to living a healthier lifesytle, and guide you towards making these changes lasting.to work a healthier way of eating into your lifestyle. In addition to information to help you with weight loss, our dietitians can also provide counseling on nutritional concerns regarding cardiac disease, diabetes, the metabolic syndrome and kidney disease.

Physical Activity

A very individualized plan for increasing your routine for physical activity will be outlined by our staff. Before you know it, you’ll improve your fitness, and feel more energetic. If you have medical concerns that restrict your movement, and Exercise will be addressed during your visit. If you are interested in a prescribed exercise regimen, we can refer you to a highly qualified exercise physiologist.

Behavior Modification

Whether overeating is related to stress, old habits, or emotions, we believeare aware that the way people feel, think, and behave may influence food intake. Understanding these connections may help you gain better control over your eating behavior. If additional guidance is needed, wWe can also refer you to a psychologist for counseling on non-food-related issues and lifestyle changes necessary for a healthier you.

Medication

The use of medication to aid weight loss is sometimes a very necessary component of treatment. The physicians will conduct a thorough medical history before prescribing any medication for the treatment of obesity.

Several medications currently used to promote weight loss are: • Phentermine (Ionamin, Fastin, or Adipex • Sibutramine (Meridia) • Orlistat (Xenical • Metformin (glucophage) • Symlin (pramlintide) or Byetta (exenatide) • Topamax (Toprimate) or Zonegran ( )

In some cases, the use of weight control medications such as Symlin (pramlintide), Byetta (exenatide), Orlistat (Xenical), sibutramine (Meridia), or phentermine (Ionamin, Fastin, or Adipex), may be indicated during the course of treatment. Not every patient is an acceptable candidate for medication. In general, only patients who have a body mass index of 30 kg/ m2 , or have a body mass index of 27 kg/ m2 are 30% or more over their ideal body weight and have medical complications are treated with medications. See chart at end of pamphlet to determine your body mass index. Medication is not always effective in providing improved weight loss outcomedoes not work for every patient. On Average, 40% of patients who take weight loss medications lose and maintain a 10% of body weight loss. Since weight management is a chronic condition, it may be necessary for yYou may have to continue to take medications chronically in order to maintain your weight loss. There are certain risks involved in taking medication. These risks will be reviewed with you in detail, so that you have all the information you need to make the right decision. While onFollow-up to medication, your care at our center includes medical monitoring, nutritional counseling, and behavior modification. Medication visits are bi-weekly initially, then monthly, and finally, bi- monthly when your weight stabilizes. Further details can be discussed at the time of your visit.

Meal replacements (Optifast, HMR, protidiet) HMR-Link

For patients at immediate health risk from obesity or those with large amounts of weight to lose, we offer an 800 calorie-per-day liquid diet program which includes medical monitoring coupled with behavior modification and counseling. For patients who have mild/moderate weight control problems, we offer a modified liquid diet which offers a combined regimen of liquid supplements and meals.

Please see below for more information on the specific phases of our program:

PHASE I - ENTRY PHASE Your initial evaluation will be conducteddone by a dietitian; information from your private physician may be required. If you are on a liquid diet or using weight control medications, you will be required to have an EKG, SMA-18, CBC, TSH test and cholesterol tests (TC, HDL, LDL, TG), or to provide results of these tests from your private physician before treatment begins. You will also need a note from your private physician describing your state of health; or you can arrange to have a physician here at the program center. After evaluation, a treatment plan will be prescribed based on your medical needs and personal desires. In some cases, your medical regimen will be modified in consultation with your physician to help you lose weight.

PHASE II - WEIGHT LOSS You will begin your weight loss period under the guidance of one of our registered dietitians, whom you will see on a regular basis, in an individual setting. If your weight loss regimen includes medication, you will see the physician on your second visit for an initial prescription and then regularly for monitoring.

PHASE III - WEIGHT MAINTENANCE Once you have lost weight, improved your health and feel ready to maintain your weight, the staff will concentrate on guiding towards teaching you behavioral and nutritional methods ofthat goal maintaining your weight loss. Your schedule for frequency of visits is based upon a individual basis. You may choose to come for visits less frequently as you learn all the strategies for weight managementif you choose.