U.S. Bariatric's Medical Weight Loss Program: Are You Ready?

The Multi-Disciplinary 'MD' Weight Loss Team Approach

The physicians and staff of U.S. Bariatric believe that the key to weight loss success lies in the multidisciplinary team approach. For the past 10 years, we have utilized this unique approach to successfully and safely transformed the lives of more than 5,000 morbidly obese individuals through a surgical approach to weight loss and changes in lifestyle.
Gastric bypass and adjustable gastric banding have the potential to induce massive weight loss. These procedures are very good ‘tools’ that assist individuals in making behavioral changes such as food selection, the way they eat, how much they eat, and finally (as with a gastric bypass), how their body processes the food. The ‘tool’ of surgery require surgical patients to adopt substantial lifestyle changes in their behavior and attitude toward food, exercise, and life stressors in order to enjoy long-term success. This level of success is difficult for most to achieve on their own. Our postoperative patients understand this struggle.

Surgical intervention is not for everyone. There are medical criteria that one must meet, including having a BMI of 40 or greater. There are also numerous personal reasons why someone would choose not to undergo surgery for weight control. We provide a comprehensive weight loss program for that group of people. Regardless of the amount of weight you would like to lose, we can customize a program to meet your unique needs. The U.S. Bariatric team has journeyed with thousands of successful weight loss patients as they travel the path of physical, emotion, spiritual and social change.

Sincere motivation coupled with intense multidisciplinary team interaction is believed by leading experts in the field of obesity to be the most successful approach for inducing sustained weight loss both short- and long-term.
What is a ‘MD’ Multi-Disciplinary team?

This is a team of professionals that specialize in a unique and individual areas. In the Bariatric field, this group of people may contain some or all of the following: nutritionists, exercise physiologists or physical therapists, psychologists, behavioral health counselors, chaplains, nurses, researchers, chefs, and of course, the physician.

Members of the team will meet with you at various stages in your program. They will offer you encouragement and provide education and direction based on your individual needs and lifestyle. Visits with team members may include ‘homework’ between sessions to facilitate behavior modification and serve as a daily reminder of your established goals. These exercises are to assist you in tackling the challenges that are unique to your situation.

At subsequent visits, the team will evaluate your progress on the recommended plan. As you encounter challenges or obstacles, you and the professional will work together to adjust the plan to better meet your needs.

Each member of this team has the education and experience to assist you in all of the areas that are necessary to achieve your success, health, and happiness.
What makes this weight loss program unique?

As leaders in the field of Bariatric medicine, we are deeply committed to research in our surgical and non-surgical weight loss programs. Our plan of care has been carefully examined through proven research methods to ensure that we incorporate the most up-to-date information and techniques available. This promotes optimal results while maintaining a safe and effective patient care environment.

It has been shown that obesity is a multi-factoral disease. This means that there are many factors that contribute to the disease of obesity. This is best illustrated in two siblings who eat a very similar diet, yet one is overweight, and one is not. Clearly there are more factors to consider and assess regarding the overweight sibling than just calories.

Weight loss requires a very individualized and flexible approach. This is illustrated as one co-worker loses weight on weight watchers, while another did not. We recognize that no two people have the same body or physiology, the same stressors, eating triggers, exercise motivation, and so on. U.S. Bariatric is committed to understanding the dynamics that affect your weight, and designing your program with that in mind.

Numerous factors must be considered when evaluating someone for a weight loss program. Medical history including diet attempts, age of weight gain, and medical problems including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, lipid abnormalities, reflux, asthma, and sleep apnea. The presence of these diseases will assist the medical team in formulating an appropriate and individual plan of care.

Medication history is important because it is clear that certain medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and osteoarthritis, and others, may significantly contribute to weight gain. These factors must be taken into consideration to allow the plan of care to account for those factors.

Body composition obtained through measurements on a specialized scale as well as measurements of waist, hip, thigh, and neck also assist the team in prescribing the appropriate program to meet your unique needs. It has been sufficiently documented that certain body composition types will require a specialized plan. For example, someone who has a large hip circumference, but relatively small waist will require a strong focus to increase metabolism through exercise and possibly medications.

Certain emotional stressors are important to identify prior to and throughout the weight loss period. Emotional stress causes hormone abnormalities that promote weight gain, as well as changes in food preferences. Someone experiencing high levels of stress may require stress management counseling, and possibly medications.

Other factors that will be taken into consideration include: genetics, environmental factors, social and lifestyle factors, appetite regulators, and hormonal defects obtained through predetermined laboratory tests.
Many weight loss programs produce results in the short term. Unfortunately, however, long-term weight regain is common. The program at U.S. Bariatric has a unique interest in your ability to keep the weight off. This is achievable through our maintenance plan that focuses on teaching you the skills needed to be improve your chances for long-term success. In many ways, we feel that this is the most important phase of your weight loss journey.

What does the U.S. Bariatric Medical Weight Loss program offer?
Our program offers a variety of options for diet including a low calorie diet (LCD) comprised mostly of pre-packaged food. This means no counting, weighing, or preparing. Most people find this plan easy to follow. There are modifications to this plan that would allow for more ‘grocery store food’ while still using some pre-packaged products. The transition phase of the program introduces regular food slowly, while decreasing the amount of pre-packaged food consumed. Finally, in the maintenance phase, you will work closely with dietician to make good food choices and learn how to prepare these foods such that you will be able to maintain your weight loss.

Medications may be utilized at the discretion of the physician with your preferences in mind. The most commonly used medications for weight loss are sibutramine, phentermine, and orlistat. These each have specific roles and are used where the physician feels they are indicated for you based on your history, BMI, and other unique factors.

The exercise physiologist will develop a specialized exercise plan for you. After an evaluation, you will have specific goals established to work towards. These will be realistic and take into consideration your barriers to exercise as well as physical limitations.

Weekly weigh-ins and ‘quick checks’ with the nurse are an important part to your success. These assist you in remaining engaged and committed to the program, as well as allowing us the opportunity to monitor your body composition and vital signs. These visits are also a good opportunity to discuss any difficulties you are having. These will be ‘walk-in’ visits and will include one evening per week for your convenience.

Monthly support classes will be offered in the evenings. These classes will focus on behavioral adjustments and lifestyle modification techniques. They are held in a fun environment of peers who are there for a common goal and to show support and accountability for each other. These groups may take the place of a weekly weigh in.

Nutrition and doctor visits will be monthly and may include analysis of diet journals, blood work, metabolic testing or other recommended treatments.
We have two program options for patients to choose from - a basic or intensive plan. Both of these plans are detailed in on the Program Options page of this packet. The maintenance plan, which is vital to your success, will be detailed as well.