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| Are you really ready for Physician Supervised Weight Loss? |
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| What is Bariatric Medicine? |
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| Primer on Prescription Diet Pills |
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Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much weight can I lose?
It's up to you. We help you set step-wise weight loss goals. An initial weight loss goal of 10% of your body weight is good start. A final goal of reaching that weight that puts you at a BMI of 24 is ideal. However, if you lose just 10% of your body weight, you will reduce your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart attack and you will find that you have more energy during the day.
2. How fast can I lose the weight?
The more weight that you have to lose, the faster your initial weight loss will be.
3. Is there a weight loss guarantee?
We guarantee that you can lose up to 10% of your body weight in the first month. If you have less weight to lose, your weight loss will be slower. It is safest to lose no more than 1 pound per week as you near your weight loss goal. Slower weight loss will give you the time to establish the habits necessary to maintain your new weight and keep your appetite under control!
4. How long is your program?
Life long! Remember, we are first and foremost a medical practice. You probably have had a long term relationship with your primary care physician or gynecologist. We encourage the same long term relationship with our doctor, as your bariatrician, if you are serious about achieving long term weight maintenance.
Let's face it; you probably didn't gain the excess weight overnight. Excess weight is a chronic condition. And like high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and other chronic conditions, optimal weight control requires long term, medical management with periodic "intensification of therapy" during the occasional "flare ups" that may occur over the course of your life.
Our economical program plans, for those who qualify, include 6, 9 or 12 month weight loss phases followed by a 12 month weight maintenance phase that is renewable. We have many non-program plan participants as well.
5. How often do I have to come in?
Patients with chronic medical conditions are required to visit up weekly during the first several week in our program, particularly is we have prescribed medication for them. We strongly encourage all other patients to visit us weekly for weigh-ins, blood pressure checks and counseling during the first several weeks in our program then biweekly as they successfully approach their weigh loss goals. Bi-monthly to quarterly visits are recommended for patients in maintenance depending upon their needs.
6. Can I visit your offices to find out more?
Absolutely. We offer a free introductory visit during which we introduce you to the benefits of our program and conduct a weight loss readiness assessment. Call our office to schedule a free introductory visit with a member of our support staff.
7. Do you offer a weight maintenance program?
Yes. Once you have achieved your goal weight, you become eligible to participate in our weight maintenance program.
8. Can I eat regular food from the grocery store?
Yes, we encourage it.
We know that there are popular, non-medical weight loss programs that tease you by advertising "lose all the weight you want for $1 per pound!" in order to sell you prepackaged foods once you sign a contract. We believe that in order to maintain your weight loss, you have to learn how to eat everyday, healthy food. We give you the tools and teach you methods to control cravings so you can make good food choices.
10. Which prescription diet medications do you prescribe?
Our Doctor may prescribe any of a number of FDA approved weight loss medications. The Doctor may prescribe medications that are FDA approved for other purposes but that also help control appetite. This will be discussed in detail during your visit. Over time, our Doctor will wean the medications down so that they will remain effective for you. We may dispense a 7 day supply up to a 30-Day supply of prescription medications depending upon the Doctors prescription, for those patients who meet our program criteria. Find out more at a free introductory visit.
11. Are prescription appetite suppressants safe?
Yes, when taken under the supervision of a Doctor who is familiar with the indications and contraindications for their use.
12. What do you mean by "pharmaceutical grade" vitamins?
Pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements are available only through a Doctor's office. They are manufactured to specific standards of purity, content and bioavailability. Our nutritional supplement partner adheres to these standards voluntarily. The FDA enforces no standards on over the counter (OTC) supplement manufacturers although this is likely to change in the near future.
13. Do you accept insurance?
No. Unfortunately, most insurers do not cover bariatric medical services, medical weight loss or the treatment of obesity. Obesity is widely recognized as a chronic medical condition that increases one's risk for many potentially life threatening diseases. In spite of this increased risk, obesity treatment is rarely if ever a covered benefit.
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