Medical Weight Management Program - Frequently Asked Questions
» Do I qualify?
» What kind of diet will I be on?
» How much weight will I lose?
» Can I just purchase the beverage?
» How much should I weigh?
» How often do I need to come?
» What kind of diet will I be on when I have finished with the fasting portion of the program?
» Will
my insurance cover this program?
» How long do I have to be in the maintenance phase?
» How do I get started?
Do I qualify?
You must have a BMI of 30 or greater and be at least 18 years old to be considered for the program.
What kind of diet will I be on?
This is a fasting program. You will be using a low carbohydrate, high protein meal replacement beverage for a period of time. You will not be eating other foods during this period.
How much weight will I lose?
The expected rate of loss is 2 pounds per week but there is great individual variation. Most people consistently lose between 2 and 5 pounds per week.
Can I just purchase the beverage?
The Medical Weight Management Program is a medically screened and medically monitored program that includes not only the use of a meal replacement beverage but more importantly education in the form of nutrition education and behavior change. This is a complete program designed to enable you in making lifestyle changes to enhance your efforts to maintain your weight. The meal replacement beverage is only a tool in the overall process and is therefore, not available to purchase outside of the program.
How much should I weigh?
Most people have a particular weight goal in their minds when they begin the program. The staff can assist you in determining what would be a reasonable, achievable and more importantly, a healthy weight for you. Regardless of your weight goal, you will begin to see improvements in health very quickly, often within the first month. Ninety percent of the health benefits from weight loss are achieved with as little as 10% loss of you initial weight.
How often do I need to come?
You will be attending a treatment session each week consisting of a clinic visit with the nurse. Your labs will be drawn once per month and you will visit with the Medical Director once per month. Each week you will also attend a group session that focuses on either nutrition or behavior change. Your time commitment is approximately 2 hours per week and treatment sessions are held at our clinics at the Medical Center, Sugar Land and Willowbrook.
What kind of diet will I be on when I have finished with the fasting portion of the program?
Fasting works well for a limited period of time. Once you have completed the fasting phase (Phase 1) or at the point where you can no longer remain compliant with the fast it is time to gradually transition to food or Phase 2. This is done in a controlled stepwise fashion over several weeks. The meal replacement beverage will slowly be withdrawn and regular food and calories added back in. Your caloric needs are individual to you and are based on your gender, age, weight, height and level of physical activity. You will ultimately be on a full food diet incorporating foods from a variety of food groups. You will not require special foods. The ultimate goal is to return you to normal eating with a food plan just for you.
Will my insurance cover this program?
Due to limited insurance coverage and a lengthy approval process, we no longer accept insurance assignment for our Medical Weight Management program. Instead, we have created a flat rate that offers a significant discount from regular charges on individual services. The package includes the following services: weekly clinic visits with a nurse, dietitian and counselor; weekly group sessions; monthly labs and physician oversight.
How long do I have to be in the maintenance phase?
This is the most difficult phase of the program. It is during this phase where you will put together all of the knowledge you have accumulated over the previous fasting and transition phases. Maintaining weight loss takes a lot of work on your part. The maintenance phase (phase 3) is offered in 16-week blocks. We highly recommend that you remain in Phase 3 for a year after you complete your weight loss treatment.
How do I get started?
Everyone who is interested in the program is asked to attend a free one-hour orientation session to learn more about the program. Orientations are held at all of our locations: Medical Center, Sugar Land and Willowbrook. Call 832-667-LOSE (5673) to reserve your spot.
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